ConferenceCall.co.uk blog Posts

Amazingly, it’s been seven years since Greece became the first eurozone country to be bailed out by the European Union (EU), European Central Bank (ECB) and International Money Fund (IMF).

It looks like the the nation’s economic fortunes could finally be on the up – Fitch Ratings has upgraded Greece’s credit rating to B-, up one notch from its CCC rating – but the crisis-battered country is still well below investment grade.

In spite of this ongoing economic uncertainty, or maybe because of it, Greece could offer a great investment opportunity – so if you’re thinking of exporting to Greece, here’s everything you need to know…

Around the world Conference calling Guides & How-Tos

Dubai is the UK’s 12th largest export market and the largest in the Middle East with bilateral goods and services trade worth £10.6 billion.

And if you think it’s all about oil in Dubai, think again – the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has diversified its economy to the point where non-oil sectors now contribute more than two-thirds (70%) towards the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

More than 4,000 British companies, including BP, Shell, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Standard Chartered, HSBC and RBS, operate from the UAE, while 779 commercial agencies and 4,762 British brands have invested there.

If you’re thinking of joining them and doing business in, or exporting to Dubai or anywhere in the UAE, here’s all you need to know…

Around the world Conference calling Guides & How-Tos

There are around 120,000 UK residents in the UAE, meaning expats make up the majority of the population. And of the 13 million people visiting the UAE in 2013, 1 million were from the UK.

So there’s definitely business to be done in Dubai – and if you’re thinking of exporting you’ll need a reliable, easy to use and cost-effective international conference call provider.

Here’s how to set up a conference call in just a few simple steps…

Conference calling Guides & How-Tos

House prices in the UK have rocketed by an eye-watering 181% since the start of the millennium. Getting on the property ladder is now arguably tougher then ever, with prospective buyers now expected to stump up an average of £211,000 for their first home – almost three times than the amount needed back in 2000, when the average spend was £75,000.

Our expectations of what we look for in a property have also shifted in that time, and while things like off-road parking,  and a new kitchen or bathroom can all increase the value of a house, there’s another, less obvious factor that could push up the price of a property – a superfast broadband connection.

Small business Technology Work from home

The UK and Ghana have far-reaching historical, economic and political connections and not only have several British businesses that been trading in the Ghanaian market for over a century, some of the biggest names in the financial  and telecommunication industries have a presence out there – big names like Barclays, Standard Chartered and Vodafone.

Top UK goods exports to Ghana include:

  • beverages
  • medicinal and pharmaceutical products
  • road vehicles
  • electrical machinery and appliances
  • machinery specialised for particular industries
  • iron and Steel
  • textile fibres (not manufactured)

If you’re thinking of doing business in, or exporting to Ghana, here’s all you need to know…

Around the world Conference calling Guides & How-Tos

Although those who voted to leave the EU don’t like to admit it, the eurozone is the UK’s largest trading partner, but it’s very much a two-way street – if you examine both imports and exports it becomes apparent the eurozone economies do more business with the UK than any other nation.

The UK accounted for 14% of eurozone exports between 2007 and 2011 and 10% and more recently it took over Fance and USA to become Germany’s single largest trading partner – in the first three quarters of 2012 Germany’s combined trade with the UK came to £128 billion (€153 billion).

If you’re looking to do business there, here’s everything you need to know about exporting to Germany…

Around the world Conference calling Guides & How-Tos

It’s just over a year since the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU), and just over a few months since the government triggered Article 50 and start two years of negotiations to thrash out a deal for Britain’s exit.

It’s safe to say the whole affair has been something of a farce since the votes were counted, and while the leave vote was cast largely on NHS funding and immigration, the only thing that’s become clear since the vote is that these two issues will not be dealt with as promised.

And that means migration is still a hot-potato in British politics and among the electorate – those who oppose it insist it’s bad for the job prospects of British-born citizens, while those in favour insist it’s essential to grow a thriving and culturally diverse country.

So, is migration good or bad for the UK economy?

Around the world News Small business

It’s hard to believe it been over three years since the UK’s new flexible working regulations came into force and now all employers will have to seriously consider their flexible working practices – it has to be right for both the employer and the employee.

With so many variables involved though, things can quickly get complicated.

So if you’re an employer or an employee considering the options, it’s a good idea to break flexible working down into two components – ‘flexi-time’ and ‘telecommute’.

Flexible working

France is the world’s fifth largest economy, and with 65 million inhabitants it has Europe’s second largest consumer market – so if you’re thinking of exporting to France, it’s a pretty big market to aim for.

It’s also a stepping stone for other eurozone markets and a geographical hub for business within European Union (EU), it’s a geographical hub for anyone wanting to do business within Africa and the Middle East.

Services generate 80% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the economy is built upon a number of world class industries, including Europe’s largest aerospace and nuclear industries and the second-largest agri-food and chemical industries.

France also has Europe’s third-largest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and pharmaceutical sectors.

Here’s everything you need to know about exporting to France…

Around the world Conference calling Guides & How-Tos

Finland is a highly industrialised nation, with an economy driven largely by exports, particularly of high tech goods and services, and forest industry machinery and products.

This heavy reliance on exports – the export market accounts for 50% of Finland’s GDP – coupled with the country going through something of an economic downturn in recent years, mean it’s not the best place to import to.

Even so, in 2014, exports of goods and services from the UK to Finland totalled £2.6 billion – so if exporting to Finland is on your to-do list, here’s everything you need to know…

Around the world Conference calling Guides & How-Tos