A foreign guide to the UK

Bad teeth, bad food, football hooligans – that's the press the Britain gets in other countries. It’s also a nation where those types are often imagined to be living harmoniously alongside distinguished, posh middle-class men in top hats and women with parasols.

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But stereotypes aside, what information is really being fed back to our foreign friends about us Brits? We scoured the travel guides to see how we're really perceived by the rest of the world.
The people
"Calmness in the face of adversity, a laconic sense of humour, a sense of decency and fair play, and mastery of understatement are all fundamental facets of the British character – at least, as seen by the British themselves. Ask the French and you might get a rather different list of attributes that includes stand-offishness, anti-intellectualism, public drunkenness and being crap at cooking." - Lonely Planet, Great Britain, 8th Edition
Bit harsh. We're not that bad at cooking. Thanks to our calmness in the face of adversity and laconic sense of humour we can laugh that kind of misconception off. Not that there aren't ways to make us cry...
"The nostalgic English – especially after a few pints – can get downright weepy about their White Cliffs of Dover." - Frommer's England 2010, published in the US
Those white cliffs - get you every time don't they?

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The culture
"The British are famously addicted to forming orderly queues, be it for buses, train tickets, or to pay at the supermarket. The order is sacrosanct and woe betide any foreigner who gets this wrong. Few things are more calculated to spark an outburst of tutting – about as publicly cross as most Brits get – than 'pushing in' at a queue." - Lonely Planet, Great Britain, 8th Edition
Yep, queuing – we love it. Can't get enough of it. Unless it's getting dangerously close to 4pm and it's not looking like we're going to be back in time to boil the kettle...
"From the lowliest 'caff' (cafeteria) in the working-class districts of Birmingham to the Queen's posh Buckingham Palace suite, class tradition melts at four o'clock every afternoon as the nation pauses to partake of its most beloved ritual: Afternoon Tea." - Frommer's England 2010, published in the USA
Although not 100% factually accurate there are worse descriptions of collective England out there:
"England is a nation of overweight, binge-drinking reality TV addicts" - Rough Guide to England, 8th Edition – published in over 200 countries
Alright, Rough Guide, don't hold back.
The places
"Liverpool and Manchester are as depressing places as you're likely to find anywhere... whilst the locals can be entertaining on a good day, the weather is shit, heroin is epidemic (but meth is catching on) and you've got a better chance of thugs putting you in hospital for no apparent reason than in any other part of England – and that's saying something." - US website Road Junky Travel
Calm down, calm down. That's one way to look at two of our most happening, cosmopolitan cities. But what is the international conception of England's capital?
"When a yobbo in a car - radio on full-blast, mobile glued to the ear, indicator controls untouched - nearly runs you over at a pedestrian crossing and you protest, he dissolves into road rage as only Londoners know it." - Lonely Planet, London
Enough said.
The food
"Brits love a big hearty feed of bangers and mash, fish and chips with mushy peas, pork pies or pasties. Curry also rates highly (a popular import from colonial days in India) along with loads of other dishes reflecting Britain’s multicultural population. With all that good food going around, it’s hardly surprising more than 60 per cent of people in the UK are either overweight or obese." – www.tnt.com, travel magazine for Australian, New Zealand and South African expats
"With all that food going round?" It’s not like we eat it all at once. At least some guides are beginning to realise that the UK’s culinary habits are changing, and our reputation for bad food is no longer justified...
"If you want to see what Britain is eating today, just drop in at Harvey Nicol’s Fifth Floor, in London’s Knightbridge." – Frommer’s England 2010
Absolutely – it’s where we eat all the time!

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10 ways to tell you're ready for a baby

Every time you switch on the television you see nappy adverts, everyone you know seems to be revealing they are pregnant, but how do you know whether you are ready to be a parent? The answer is it's such a big life-changing event that the no-one is really prepared for what it entails, but there are some tell-tale signs to suggest that you are willing to swap your high heels for comfy flats, short skirts for elasticated waists and are willing to sacrifice the spareroom for a nursery…

1. You and your man have discussed buying a kitten

Or a dog/rabbit/Guinea pig or all of the above! You obviously have the urge to nurture, feed, cuddle and have some level of responsibility and you are obviously prepared to part with some cash for pet food/vet bills. Is your need for a pet actually hiding your need for a baby? Are you seeing how your partner deals with a pet first before you announce you want a baby, or, are you testing him to see how much poo he ends up scooping up in the park, or keeping note of the early morning dog walks he offers to do? If you find yourself talking about your pet incessantly, dressing it up, cancelling nights out or rushing home to give your pet a cuddle, it is safe to say you are ready for a baby!

2. You prefer a night in to a night out

Yep, it happens to the best of us, the thought of donning our glad rags and going out on the town is far less appealing than settling down on the sofa with an M&S ten-pound meal deal and Desperate Housewives on the TV. Essentially your lifestyle is ready for a baby.

3. You dream of babies

If you have dreams of yourself walking along with a babe in arms, or holding a toddler's hands, it's fair to say that you're ready for a baby. Even if your conscious mind is screaming NO, NO BABIES, your sub-conscious mind is already in a baby store loading up the trolley.

4. You stop and admire other people's babies

If you find other peoples snotty, whingy babies cute then you are definitely ready for a baby. If you talk naturally to children and volunteer for babysitting your friend's children it's time for you to embrace the fact that you are more than ready for your own.

5. Your spare room looks empty and sad

Isn't it time you started shopping for butterfly wallpaper or train bedcovers? Doesn't your spareroom deserve to be more than just a room you pile the clean washing into before you (groan) get around to ironing it?

6. You've already chosen your babies' names

And told all your friends so that they don't steal your favourite names… Even without gurgle's babynamer for help - you're ready!

7. You've been around the world and had exotic holidays

Once babies arrive you'll be swapping those long haul flights for family campsites in rain drenched Devon, so if you've had lots of foreign holidays already or you've taken a 'year out' to travel, you'll be less likely to resent the fact that having children means you have to cap the luxury!

8. You've already cut down on alcohol/caffeine/smoking

Since these are two things that you must either cut out on or cut down on, it's going to be great help to you if you already reduce your consumption of them or if it wouldn't bother you to not have them everyday. If you think it would bother you, talk to your GP who can give you the right advice about cutting down or stopping.

9. You've both 'talked' about having babies

If you've had the 'talk' and it didn't end in him declaring he never wants babies and you in floods of tears, but felt more like a joint decision to have babies soon, then you are both probably ready. Making the decision to try for a baby is always going to be scary - but the good news is, once you do fall pregnant, you've got a whole nine months to prepare yourself, your partner, your mum, your spareroom… for the arrival of your little one!

You've sneaked into a baby store and 'pretended' you're buying a present for someone…

…But really you're imagining what you'd buy if you had a little baby to dress up and care for. If you found yourself nodding to at least five of the answers above, it's pretty certain that you are ready for a baby.

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The top 10 places to work

Britain's best employers have been revealed - but what separates a great place to work from the rest?

The best companies to work for in the UK have been revealed this month in the 10th annual survey from the Great Place to Work Institute . The scheme ranks the UK's major employers by gauging the strength of the relationships between staff and management.

It also looks at how employees feel about their jobs and the companies they work for. Here are the top 10 this year:

1. Baringa Partners

2. Danone

3. Impact International


4. Microsoft

5. Novo Nordisk

6. NetApp UK

7. Diageo GB

8. General Mills UK

9. Danone Waters UK & Ireland

10. Admiral Group

As you can see, management consultancy Baringa Partners topped this year's poll. Elsewhere in the top 10 are household names like last year's winner Danone, Microsoft, drinks giant Diageo and insurer Admiral.

The scheme's chief executive Tom O'Byrne suggests the best firms understand that “progressive people management and generous benefits” are only part of creating a strong workplace culture and cites “trust” as the key element that makes a great place to work.

This “trust” is established through good communication and benefits that go way beyond a bonus and free mobile phone. So if you're looking for a top place to work, what benefits should you look out for?

The pension dilemma

Britain's major employers are struggling to deliver their pension obligations as the economy continues to stumble out of recession. Britain's 100 leading employers collectively face a £66bn shortfall in their pension scheme investments - and as a result gold-plated “defined benefit” pension schemes that pay a full salary on retirement are rapidly disappearing.

The new Government has yet to make any major moves on pension reform - which means job-hunters should look carefully at a company's pension scheme. Most firms now offer new employees a “defined contribution” pension which pays out a variable sum on retirement depending on how much has been saved.

Many employers link their contribution levels to employee length of service - which means, as a new employee, it's key to find a firm that automatically matches whatever sum their staff put into the scheme. Staff at all firms can obtain income tax relief on their pension contributions (although this will soon be restricted for higher earners) - so make sure you claim this too.

You can also boost your retirement income through investing into a self-invested personal pension (Sipp) - find out more about Sipps with this free guide.

Health and fitness benefits

Progressive employers all take great stock by providing healthcare plans and nurturing the well-being of their staff - and no wonder. Sickness absence in the firms comprising the survey's list of the 50 top UK employers was 30% lower than the national average - saving those organisations £20,760 per 100 employees per year.

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So what form do these initiatives take? One common benefit is free private medical healthcare - yet be aware that this is considered by HMRC as a taxable benefit. In real terms, the taxable benefit value of private health cover deducted at payroll is £500 for individuals, around £1,000 for individuals and their partners and £1,250 for full family cover.

Whether you want to pay to obtain the obvious benefits of private health cover is up to you - but there are other tax-neutral schemes to promote health and well-being that are well worth hunting down. Many firms offer free gym membership which can be worth as much as £75-a-month, while on-site treatments such as massage, acupuncture and medical check-ups are also increasingly common. Free eye tests are another perk to look out for.

Another great programme is the Government's cycle to work scheme , which offers workers the chance to buy a bike through their payroll at a reduced cost. Tax relief is applied to the contributions and VAT is waived - typically helping participants save as much as 40% or 50% after a year on the retail price of a new bike. Ask if your firm is taking part.

Work / Life balance

New mums returning to work perhaps have the hardest time of all workforce members - so it's key to find an enlightened employer. One benefit that may soon disappear is the childcare voucher scheme - these are offered to working parents through tax-efficient payroll deduction but could, along with the Child Trust Fund, soon be revised under the new Government.

Elsewhere, many employers run childcare facilities such as onsite nurseries and emergency childcare schemes that can help parents find nurseries or medical help at short notice. Flexible working practices are also becoming increasingly common - a recent poll of 741 multinational employers found that 21% have instituted flexible working schemes such as “work from home” days in the past year.

Financial perks

Stringent new income tax laws could see employers move away from bonuses in future - which means it's worth looking out for employee share schemes. And these aren't just for senior executives - the UK Sharesave scheme allows workers to buy shares tax-free through payroll contributions. At the end of the investment term, workers can either buy shares or receive their investment back plus interest.