What is your perception of the UK?

Perceptions are important. They are frequently more powerful than facts and almost always out of date.

What people think of us is a source of constant fascination. But when it comes to a country, those perceptions matter. They matter to our ability to influence other countries and thus to our role in the world. They matter for trade - more than 70% of companies believe that source of origin is significant in purchasing decisions. They matter in our ability to attract inward investment and tourism. And yes, they matter to our sense of pride.

There is a consensus, backed up by research that the perceptions around the world do not reflect the reality of the UK. How far apart the two actually are, and which are the significant areas, will depend largely on your political views and the familiar British habit of self-denigration.

Changing out of date perceptions around the world is primarily the task of government departments and agencies such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Council, British Trade International and the British Tourist Authority. But they cannot do the task alone. Every company working overseas has an opportunity and interest in promoting a positive image of the UK. Every tourist travelling overseas is an ambassador for the UK and even residents have a role to play at home, making the UK a welcoming country.

The government recognised the gap between perceptions and reality, and established Panel 2000 - a group of people drawn from a wide spectrum of interests - to think about how the UK could close the gap.

Panel 2000 proposed the creation of the Britain Abroad Task Force as the means by which their ideas could be brought to fruition. Our task is therefore to blow on the sparks they ignited and to help all the bodies involved in the promotion of the UK - public and private sectors - to work together to close the gap.