York Business Tips

(York, North Yorkshire, England, UK)

The city's main businesses are tourism, retail and hospitality, and the large number of students in the vast University of York contribute to its wealth. As a result, there is an enormous range of shops and restaurants in central York, providing an excellent choice for tourists, visitors and locals.

There are a large number of historic tourist attractions in and around the city centre, such as the Minster and the medieval city walls, and these continue to thrive as the city enjoys high annual visitor numbers. York's buoyant hotel industry also reflects the high number of tourists and the city is full of family run B&Bs.

York has certainly grown as an important financial city in the area and on the outskirts are a number of large businesses, often being located in the direction of nearby Leeds, to the south-west, as well as Hull to the south-east. The pace of business life in York is generally quite relaxed and informal, with so much of the city revolving around the seasonal summer tourism scene.

Business Hours and General Etiquette

The locals in York are fairly formal in both dress and manners, and normal business courtesies should usually be observed. The degree of formality necessary depends on the nature of the business, with financial and legal professions tending to being much more formal than most of York's large software houses and similar firms. Many men still wear smart suits and ties, and short sleeve shirts are acceptable during the summer.

Business hours in the York area are usually from Monday to Friday, between 09:00 and 17:30, although some of the offices and businesses may close slightly later. Many of York's shops are open longer and often during the weekends, and some supermarkets are open 24 hours. Local banks usually open from 09:00 to 17:00 and larger banking branches may also open on Saturday mornings.

Working lunches are a particularly informal way to do business in the city of York and locals are quick to use first-name terms when appropriate. After-work drinks are often popular, particularly on a Friday, with central bars and pubs being located around Back Swinegate, Church Street, Deangate, Grape Lane, Low Petergate and Stonegate.

Greeting Someone

A brief and friendly handshake is usually the customary greeting in York and generally throughout England. It is acceptable to address new acquaintances on first name terms.

Smoking

York's eateries and other public spaces now operate a strict 'no smoking' policy. All offices and businesses in York are also now 'non-smoking' and although the English have neither a positive nor a negative attitude to smoking, it is best to only smoke when in the company of like-minded people.