Traditionally, UK manufacturing has been very skilled at spotting a trend, waiting until it has proved its substance and then running fast to get on board.  However, in today’s climate, companies will not score real successes by being fast followers.  Take one very topical example.  A lot of European manufacturers are suffering because they didn’t spot outsourcing opportunities early enough.  The people who are going to be most successful in China are those who are already there, who have built up the relationships, invested both capital and resources and are now positioned to profit from them. 

However, it is not too late, and indeed there are interesting lessons learned that we can now take into account.  Our ability to serve complex organisations in their move towards globalisation, is our key differentiator.  Offering expertise on investment countries is a critical service that allows us to continue to serve the industry.

Companies considering moving operations to China need to evaluate this opportunity.  Deloitte’s Greater China Desk in the UK provides the highest quality strategic, advisory and support services to clients considering expansion, planning or undertaking acquisitions, disposals, refinancing, joint ventures, or other forms of strategic alliance in Greater China.

We have also developed a programme, run by a recently returned non-working expat spouse, which gives invaluable knowledge and insight into life in China for intending expatriate Europeans.  With the cost of relocating an executive being so high, one priority must be to assist spouses and families to adapt to their new surroundings quickly and happily, so that the working partner can focus on the job in hand. 

China is not an easy country for westerners to adapt to.  Customs and etiquette are very different.  Eastern Promise provides details around the services within this programme.