Thoughts on operating in poland

Thoughts on operating in poland

• 1.
  UKTI Presentation: Discoveryour Opportunities in Poland Workshop February 2016 Michal Chantkowski MA BSc Thoughts on operating in Poland A Polish perspective
• 2.
  Why are wehere?  Business opportunities in Poland  Understanding the background  How can we help?
• 3.
  Our background  Wehave operated in the North East since 2009  Based in Sunderland  Working with minority ethnic people in the region, especially Eastern European migrants, including the Polish community  A range of targeted projects, including advice and guidance, advocacy, employability, culture, environmental work (also energy advice), English classes  Trust of the local Polish community and over 550 ICOS’s members  Sunderland Community Safety Award Nomination (Sunderland Echo, 2013), Sunderland BME One Voice Award – Employer (2015)
• 5.
  The culture andthe country  Poland is often associated with the East of Europe…  However, its geographic position place it in the middle of Europe (Central Europe)  Poland’s real geographical position is linked to its history and culture. Poles are both – “Eastern” and “Western”. While being disciplined, they are also creative and independent people.  Before communism, the most important cultural influences could be attributed to French and to a lesser extent – German (including Prussian and Austrian). This has influenced our day-to-day life, as well as the legal framework and the legal culture (e.g. Napoleonic Code)  Linked to the above is the codified rather than common law legal system and the legal culture… (need for paperwork)
• 6.
  continuation  An adivide between towns and large cities driving economic development  Also, an urban – rural divide  More socially conservative than the UK  A higher level of participation university education and vast majority of university students progress onto master’s level. Knowledge is respected. Primary and secondary education is developing quickly; university education still some time to catch up  Poland is not a class-based society (albeit not completely classless).
• 7.
  The language…  Polishis a complicated language but not impossible to learn the basics  There are good reasons for that…  Pronunciation will might be the problem – prepare yourself for a lot of “sh”  More words and a more “precise” language and perhaps less flexible language e.g. – Szklanka = Shklanka = a Glass (an item) Vs. Szklo (Shklo)– Glass (e.g. window glass)
• 8.
  Some tips:  Followthings up  Be honest  Poles like complaining - it does not mean they are necessary sceptical about your project idea or that they do not like you  In Poland, titles (e.g. a PhD) are matter more than in the UK and business culture is slightly more formal (especially applies to people over the age of 40 and the public sector)  Trust is very important and in Poland it is hard to gain it if you are not conducting business in person (e.g. try to meet your partners/clients in person and then follow-up over the phone / skype / a webinar etc.  Polish people are risk-takers and might sometimes seem to rush into new schemes, ventures etc.
• 9.
  Local and regionalgovernment  Gmina – 1-tier authority Responsible e.g. for primary/secondary education, local transport and roads, culture, but also ID cards…  Powiat – 2-tier authority /responsible e.g. for public health, social security, water management, environmental protection (many of those functions in the UK are undertaken by quangos, private entities and national agencies – e.g. the Forestry Commission)  Some cities and larger towns are unitary authorities (BUT still independed of regional authorities)  Wojewodztwo (Voivodship)– regional authority and the regional assembly. A bot similar to English devolved authorities – e.g. infrastructure. Their status does not depend on negotiation with the government  Boundaries for health services, regional government and emergency services overlap along regional lines
• 10.
  Map courtesy ofWikipedia
• 11.
  How are theygoverned?  All tiers of government are elected  Key influencers are local and regional politicians and officers.  Civil service now (theoretically) independent of local politics. “New” and “old” civil servants  Government officials not yet wedded to the idea of soft power…  Departments and government agencies are also key influencers of local and regional decision making  As in e.g. France, local and regional officials are not always good at cooperating with one another
• 12.
  How to engagewith Polish clients?  Since EU enlargement in 2004, about a million Poles have moved to the UK. For many, this will prove to be a one-way ticket, at the same time, we know that there is a constant flow of people backwards and forwards.  Poles in the UK can guide cooperation between UK and Poland-based businesses – as interpreters of language, but also, as interpreters of culture
• 13.
  Why work inPoland, why work with the Poles?  The shortest and simplest answer is: our cultures are different and complimentary.  Poles will be focused and driven – English people can and will negotiate and compromise to achieve results.  Business people are always pragmatic (that is, when successful) and both Poles and English are more than capable of this  Additionally -> an open door to other countries in the region – especially Ukraine, Slovakia and Lithuania
• 14.
  How can wehelp?  Translations / interpreting  Courses / intercultural training / taster language / language tuition  Events  Experience of EU exchange programmes
• 15.
  THANK YOU! How canwe help? [email protected] [email protected] www.icos.org.uk / www.necs.org.uk 0044 792 698 4180