How UK Businesses Compete Internationally (AQA GCSE Business)

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Lisa Eades

Written by: Lisa Eades

Reviewed by: Steve Vorster

Globalisation & UK Business

  • Globalisation is the business and economic integration of different countries

    • It has increased cross-border movement of people, goods, services, technology and finance

  • Globalisation has occurred for a number of reasons

Diagram: Reasons for Globalisation

Globalisation has been driven by developments in technology, saturation of domestic markets and deregulation 

Globalisation has been driven by developments in technology, saturation of domestic markets and deregulation 

  • Developments in technology have allowed for faster communication, transfer of data and online sales around the world

  • Improved transport networks enable international business travel and improved distribution of products

  • Deregulation, such as the removal of trade barriers, as well as simpler financial systems, has made trading internationally easier

  • Governments have taken steps to increase trade so people, products and finance can move more easily across borders

  • Market saturation in their home country means that growth can only be achieved if businesses find new target markets overseas

  • The increase in tourism and access to overseas media has familiarised consumers with global brands

How UK Businesses Operate Globally

1. Importing and Exporting

  • UK businesses trade internationally by importing and exporting goods and services

    • Imports are goods and services bought by people and businesses in one country from another country

      • Imports result in money leaving the country, which generates extra revenue for foreign businesses

        • In 2023, the UK’s biggest import good was cars, valued at approximately £41 billion

    • Exports are goods and services sold by domestic businesses to people or businesses in other countries

      • Exports generate extra sales revenue for UK businesses selling their goods abroad

        • In 2023, the UK's biggest export was business and financial services such as consultancy or insurance, valued at approximately £200 billion

    • On the whole, the UK imports more goods and services than it exports

2. Multinational Companies

  • UK businesses can become multinationals to access markets and resources such as labour or raw materials overseas

  • A multinational company (MNC) is a business that is registered in one country but has research, manufacturing or sales operations in different countries

    • E.g. AstraZeneca's headquarters are in Cambridge but they operate R&D centres in five countries and manufacturing sites across 16 countries

  • MNC’s choose locations based on factors such as cost advantages and access to markets 

    • Slazenger is a UK-based sports brand whose manufacturing takes place in in the Philippines due to the country's lower production costs

  • MNC's have access to a large customer base with potential for high levels of sales and can set up operations inside trade blocs to avoid import tariffs or quotas

3. Joint Ventures

  • UK businesses can temporarily join with overseas businesses

  • A joint venture is an agreement between two or more businesses to combine their resources and expertise to achieve a particular goal

    • E.g. Nestle and Starbucks entered into a joint venture in 2019 with a specific project to create a new line of coffee products

  • Joint ventures reduce the risks involved in entering new overseas markets, as they usually involve a domestic partner that is familiar with the business environment

Competing with Overseas Rivals

  • Globalisation means that UK businesses need to compete effectively with overseas rivals

    • British companies can rarely compete on price in overseas markets due to their relatively high wage and operations costs

Competing with Overseas Rivals


Method


Explanation

Design

  • UK businesses have a strong reputation for design and innovation, especially in fashion and consumer products

  • Those that invest in R&D, develop unique designs, and use cutting-edge technologies produce highly differentiated, attractive products

Quality

  • Many British brands, especially luxury goods, have built a reputation for high quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail over decades or centuries

  • This perception of quality allows UK businesses to charge premium prices and achieve customer loyalty

Heritage & branding

  • For certain products, such as Scotch whisky and Cheddar cheese, their British origin has a special appeal for overseas customers

  • Using this heritage in marketing activity can be very persuasive

Niche products

  • Businesses that focus on specialised, high-value niche products where they can achieve high profit margins are likely to be successful

Benefits of Globalisation for UK Businesses

  • Globalisation has provided many opportunities for British businesses to expand, access new markets and obtain new resources

The Benefits of Globalisation to UK Businesses


Advantage


Explanation

Large markets

  • Global markets have many more customers than domestic markets

  • Higher sales increases revenue and should increase business profit

    • E.g. Shark's vacuum cleaners and health grills have gained a 40% market share in the US

Economies of Scale

  • Higher output as a result of increased sales can reduce business costs

  • These economies of scale can increase profits and  improve business competitiveness

    • E.g. Unilever sells more than 400 brands in over 190 countries and is the fifth largest consumer goods company in the world

Labour

  • Domestic staff shortages can be overcome by employing workers from other countries

  • Labour-intensive businesses can locate in regions with lower wage costs to reduce outgoings

  • High-quality specialists from anywhere in the world can be employed 

    • E.g. UK sports brand Sweaty Betty designs its clothing in Britain but outsources production to China, Cambodia, Turkey and Portugal

Taxation

  • Head offices can be moved to regions with favourable tax regimes to reduce costs

    • E.g. British finance company Stripe moved its headquarters from the U.K. to Ireland in late 2020

Drawbacks of Globalisation for UK Business

  • Globalisation means that businesses face a range of complex challenges

    • Increased competition from international rivals may put domestic firms out of business

      • International firms also benefit from lower costs and greater economies of scale, so they can offer lower prices than smaller domestic businesses to consumers

      • Large overseas competitors can spend more on research, marketing and distribution than a small domestic business

      • Access to cheaper labour or materials allows them to sell products at lower prices

    • Domestic public limited companies risk being taken over by foreign rivals

      • Capital can flow easily across borders

      • Most countries allow foreign businesses to take ownership of domestic businesses

        • E.g. In 2009 UK confectionary company Cadburys was acquired by US company Kraft in a hostile takeover

    • Global distribution networks can be affected by natural disasters or other interruptions, such as accidents or terrorism

      • In 2021, the grounded container ship Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal for six days, causing delays to deliveries of goods such as semiconductors, which impacted technology manufacturing around the world

Examiner Tips and Tricks

This topic contains a large number of key terms that you need to revise carefully so that you can use them correctly and with confidence in your explanations. You will not usually achieve marks for definitions.

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Lisa Eades

Author: Lisa Eades

Expertise: Business Content Creator

Lisa has taught A Level, GCSE, BTEC and IBDP Business for over 20 years and is a senior Examiner for Edexcel. Lisa has been a successful Head of Department in Kent and has offered private Business tuition to students across the UK. Lisa loves to create imaginative and accessible resources which engage learners and build their passion for the subject.

Steve Vorster

Author: Steve Vorster

Expertise: Economics & Business Subject Lead

Steve has taught A Level, GCSE, IGCSE Business and Economics - as well as IBDP Economics and Business Management. He is an IBDP Examiner and IGCSE textbook author. His students regularly achieve 90-100% in their final exams. Steve has been the Assistant Head of Sixth Form for a school in Devon, and Head of Economics at the world's largest International school in Singapore. He loves to create resources which speed up student learning and are easily accessible by all.