• GDP: US$2.2 trillion (2005).
• Main exports: Manufactured goods, food, beverages and tobacco.
• Main imports: Manufactured goods, machinery and fuels, and food.
• Main trade partners: Germany, USA, France, Ireland and Netherlands.

The UK is a member of the G8 group of the world's leading industrial nations. Engineering (especially of military products), chemicals, electronics, construction and textiles are the main components of the industrial sector. Among service industries, tourism, media, retail, financial services, telecommunications and computer services are the most important and have undergone rapid growth, while heavy industries have suffered relative decline. Unemployment in 2006 stood at 2.8%.

The UK's external economic relations are now dominated by the EU (which accounts for 70% of all UK trade), and the overriding issue facing the government is the extent to which they are willing to integrate into the European economy.

The argument is now focused on whether Britain should adopt the Euro. Many political and business leaders favour membership, but there is huge opposition in the country at large. The conclusion of the debate may be decisive to Britain's economic future.

Businesspeople are generally expected to dress smartly (suits are the norm). Appointments should be made and the exchange of business cards is customary. A knowledge of English is essential.

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700/1800.

The UK conference scene is well organised with several publications comprehensively listing every possible kind of venue (including dedicated centres, hotels, universities, football grounds, race courses, manor houses, castles and theatres). Birmingham and London have an international reputation; there are several excellent conference venues.

There are other towns with facilities of near comparable size. Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle are among the cities offering a variety of venues, whilst smaller towns such as Chester, Inverness, Llandudno, Salisbury and York offer uniquely attractive environments. The large political parties of the UK traditionally hold their conferences in seaside towns during the winter; locations include Blackpool (the famous Winter Gardens), Bournemouth and Brighton.

Those looking for convention venues will find the maximum seating capacity (19,000 persons) in London; however, if organisers wished to book Wembley Stadium they could probably do it, so, effectively, there is no upper limit. All parts of the UK are easily accessible by rail and air from London. The British Conference Destinations Directory gives brief regional details and is published by the British Association of Conference Destinations.

The British Chambers of Commerce
65 Petty France, St James's Park, London SW1H 9EU, UK
Tel: (020) 7654 5800.
Website: www.chamberonline.co.uk

British Association of Conference Destinations
6th Floor, Charles House, 148-149 Great Charles Street, Birmingham B3 3HT, UK
Tel: (0121) 212 1400.
Website: www.bacd.org.uk

VisitBritain has an online venue search facility (website: www.visitbritain.com/business).