Leicestershire companies are learning Russian business language and culture at sessions across the East Midlands offered by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). 

The intensive one day workshops held by Dr Rachel Farmer of Nottingham based training company RSF Consultancy, are specifically tailored to cater for British companies wanting to do business in Russia. 

Dr Rachel Farmer, Director of RSF Consultancy and a Russian expert said: "A lot of Russian business is about relationship building. To have an understanding of the culture, customs and language of the people you want to do business with can be a distinct advantage."

The workshops cover understanding and speaking basic business Russian, reading the Russian alphabet, and Russian business culture, including etiquette, body language and the way people communicate. 

Andrew Wilde, Business Development Manager at Leicestershire firm GL Industrial Services said:  "I have always had to use interpreters to communicate even the most basic conversation, so learning simple things like how to say hello, thank you and how to offer your business card is going to prove invaluable for me.

"I have always found it difficult to recognise Russian words, so leaving the workshop with the ability to read the Cyrillic alphabet was a real achievement; I am really looking forward to putting my new found skills into practice!"

The Russian workshops, which continue up to 12 February, form part of a new programme of business language and culture sessions offered by UKTI throughout the year.  

Suzannah Hutton, Language & Culture advisor at UKTI East Midlands said:"These workshops are an ideal way for companies to gain a real understanding of the culture and learn key phrases in the language of the country where they are aiming to do business.

"We are receiving a fantastic response from the Russian workshops, with people telling us they feel inspired to go on and learn even more!

"The economic downturn in the UK has made East Midlands companies even keener to export. 

"Our job at UKTI is to give them the tools they need to make their export ambitions a success - language and culture workshops are one of the many initiatives we have on offer to support the region's exporting businesses. 

"Language and culture workshops will be held at various locations around the East Midlands throughout the coming year and will cover every language from French and German to Japanese and Mandarin!"

For further information about these business language workshops contact Suzannah Hutton on: 01332 826432 or email: suzannah.hutton@uktiem.co.uk