Bournemouth Business Tips

(Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK)



Bournemouth Business TipsThe main businesses in central Bournemouth are tourism, retail and hospitality, although more recently, the banking, finance and insurance sector has become an important part of the town's economy. Bournemouth is a busy town, with tourists arriving throughout the year. As a result, there are a large number of shops and restaurants in the town centre, providing an excellent choice. There are also numerous tourist attractions in and around Bournemouth and these continue to thrive as the seaside resort expands. The hotel industry also reflects the high number of tourists and the town is full of hotels and guest houses, with competitive prices.

Bournemouth has certainly grown as an important financial town in the area and on the outskirts are a number of large businesses, including many large financial institutions, such as JP Morgan and Chase, American Express and Zurich International, as well as numerous large office buildings. The pace of business life in this seaside town tends to be fairly relaxed and less hectic than other areas of England.


Business Hours and General Etiquette

In both dress and manners, locals in Bournemouth are fairly formal and normal business courtesies should still be observed. The degree of formality necessary depends upon the actual nature of the business, with financial and legal professions being more formal than computer and media organizations. Many men still wear suits and short sleeve shirts are acceptable in the summer months in Bournemouth. Woman may also wear suits, but tend to be more casual in appearance.

Bournemouth Business TipsBusiness hours in the Bournemouth area are usually from Monday to Friday, between 09:00 to 17:30, although some Bournemouth offices may close slightly later. Many shops are open longer and often throughout the weekends, and some supermarkets are open 24 hours. Banks generally open from 09:00 to 17:00 and larger branches may also open on Saturday mornings.

Working lunches are a popular way to do business in Bournemouth and locals are quick to use first-name terms when appropriate. Some exclusive restaurants in town have a strict dress code, although most are more informal and a relaxed dress code is acceptable. Drinks or dinner is a popular way to end the hard working week and there are many pubs and wine bars in central Bournemouth that are popular with local Dorset businessmen and women.

Greeting Someone

A brief and friendly handshake is usually the customary greeting in Bournemouth and generally throughout England. New acquaintances are often addressed on first name terms.

Smoking

Many restaurants in Bournemouth have a strict 'no smoking' policy, although some do tend to cater for smokers in different areas. Most offices and businesses are now 'non-smoking' and although the British have neither a positive nor a negative attitude to smoking, it is best to only smoke when in the company of like-minded people.