Why Is English Important in Business?

English is the language of business and communication worldwide. It helps you work with international colleagues, clients and partners. Business English is the English used in international trade, banking, finance, healthcare and many other professional environments. It needs clarity, specialised vocabulary and often a more formal style.

Business English needs to be appropriate

You can't use language that is too informal when you meet a new colleague or client for the first time. The wrong expression could cause offence, or even cost your company a contract. Understanding business culture, both in the UK and in your trading partners' countries, helps you choose the right words.

Accuracy matters

Short, clear sentences make your message easy to understand. Mistakes and misunderstandings cost time and money. At the same time, it's important to be polite, so that being concise doesn't sound rude.

Small talk builds relationships

Informal conversation helps build good working relationships. Many British business people start a meeting with a little small talk, perhaps about the weather or the journey, and return to it at the end, asking about weekend plans, sport or family.

Practise real business tasks

The best way to improve is to practise the tasks you do at work: presentations, meetings, phone calls, emails and negotiations, with a teacher who can correct you and suggest better ways to express yourself.

Study business English with ILC

At ILC's schools in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Colchester and Portsmouth, you can combine General English with specialist lessons on our Main Course + Specialist Subject, or focus on your own needs with one-to-one lessons. If you can't travel to the UK, you can study with us online. See also our essential business English vocabulary.