In a survey in 2000, 700 firms were asked about the UK's image for business.

• 51% said that the UK's image abroad had a major impact on export success
• 26% said that the UK's image abroad did not reflect business creativity
• 33% said that their firm would benefit if the UK were seen to be more innovative and creative

Source: PACEC research for the Design Council.

Britain, world-beater for business - Newspaper headline Jan 2001
Britain is the best place in the world to do business according to a survey. Ten leading industrialised countries were ranked according to the ease of obtaining access to investment, the amount of Government red tape and the availability of skilled labour. Britain scored 49 out of a maximum 60 while America scored 45, Spain 43, Germany and France 38 and Sweden 34 points.

English, the language of the EU - according to a poll of 16,000 carried out by the EC
A third of EU citizens speak English as their first foreign language compared with 9.5% who use French and 4.2% who use German.