Foreign language competence amongst British managers is generally poor. This characteristic
seems to have its historical roots in times when British companies traded mostly with other English
speaking nations and dependencies. At that time, there was virtually no need for knowledge of other
languages. In the vast majority of British companies, this historical legacy manifests itself as managers
being reluctant to speak any language other than English. If your English language capabilities are not at a
satisfactory level, it is strongly advisable to travel with an interpreter. However, using this service
deprives you of the unique opportunity of direct contact and, in some cases, may not allow you to develop
the business relationship in the way you desire.