Business English Language Points

Proposal Template

This template outlines the structure for a business proposal.

Introduction

The purpose and reason for writing the proposal.

The aim of this proposal is to [state the main objective] (e.g., suggest ways to improve communication between remote and office workers).

Over the past [period] (e.g., few months), [describe the current problem] (e.g., there has been a decline in teamwork and productivity).

This proposal outlines the main issues and suggests effective solutions.

Problems Identified

Describe the main problems affecting the situation.

Problem 1

[Describe the first specific problem]

One major issue is [problem] (e.g., lack of communication between employees working from home and those in the office).

This results in [consequence] (e.g., misunderstandings and duplicated tasks).

Problem 2

[Describe the second specific problem]

Another significant problem is [problem] (e.g., low motivation among remote workers).

This leads to [consequence] (e.g., decreased productivity and engagement).

Suggested Solutions

Propose clear solutions for each problem.

Solution 1

[Propose a solution to the first problem]

It is recommended to [concrete action] (e.g., implement regular team video meetings).

This would [benefit] (e.g., improve communication and teamwork).

Solution 2

[Propose a solution to the second problem]

To address this issue, it is proposed to [concrete action] (e.g., organize monthly online social events).

This will [benefit] (e.g., boost morale and create stronger connections among employees).

Conclusion

Brief summary + final recommendation.

In conclusion, by addressing [key problems] (e.g., communication and motivation issues), the company will benefit from [benefits] (e.g., increased productivity and a more collaborative environment).

It is therefore recommended to [main action] (e.g., implement the proposed solutions as soon as possible).


Workplace Vocabulary

Structure: How the company is organised.

Strategy: A plan to achieve business goals.

Open-plan office: An office without walls dividing different workspaces.

Atmosphere: The general feeling or mood in the workplace.

Image: The public perception of the company.

Flexibility: The ability to adapt to change.

Hierarchy: The different levels of responsibility and authority within the organisation.

Organisational behaviour: How people interact and work together in a business.

Values: The principles or standards that guide behaviour in the company (e.g. equal pay).

Induction programme: Training for new employees when they start.

Mentor / Mentee: A mentor guides and supports a less experienced person (mentee).

Online courses: Learning programs delivered over the internet.

Blended learning: A combination of face-to-face and online learning.

Job-related training: Practical training focused on specific job tasks.

Career development: Long-term training to help employees grow professionally.

Skills set: A group of abilities needed for a job (e.g. communication, emotional intelligence).

Benchmarking: Comparing your company’s performance with the best in the industry.

Needs analysis: Identifying what skills or knowledge employees need to improve.

Motivation: The reasons why people work hard and want to improve their skills.


Company Culture Example

At [Company Name], we believe that a strong corporate culture is the key to success. Our open-plan offices create a friendly and collaborative atmosphere, where employees feel valued and motivated.

We are proud of our company values, promoting equality and flexibility in the workplace. Our clear hierarchy and effective organisational behaviour encourage leadership and teamwork at all levels.

We invest in career development and offer job-related training, as well as blended learning options that combine online courses and face-to-face mentoring. New employees benefit from a detailed induction programme, and every mentee is supported by an experienced mentor.

Through benchmarking and regular needs analysis, we continuously improve our training courses and enhance the skills set of our team. At [Company Name], motivation drives everything we do, and our positive image reflects our commitment to excellence.


English Language Points

Collocations and Expressions

set to announce (estar listo para anunciar)

sparked controversy (desatar controversia)

take into account (tener en cuenta)

pose a threat (representar una amenaza)

highly unlikely (muy improbable)

make an effort (hacer un esfuerzo)

come to an agreement (llegar a un acuerdo)

pay attention (prestar atención)

Phrasal Verbs

settle down to a new job (adaptarse a un nuevo trabajo)

fall for a trick (caer en un engaño)

put up with difficult situations (soportar algo difícil)

run out of time (quedarse sin tiempo)

come up with an idea (ocurrírsele una idea)

carry out research (llevar a cabo una investigación)

give up smoking (dejar de fumar)

turn down an offer (rechazar una oferta)

Advanced Structures

hardly had he arrived when… (apenas había llegado cuando…)

not only did she win, but… (no solo ganó, sino que…)

so difficult was the test that… (tan difícil era el examen que…)

were it not for his help… (si no fuera por su ayuda…)

little did they know… (poco sabían ellos…)

no sooner had he left than… (apenas se fue cuando…)

Prepositions and Connectors

✅ interested in

✅ insist on

✅ apologize for

✅ good at

✅ capable of

✅ depend on

✅ succeed in

✅ prevent from

Grammatical Structures

✅ If I had known… (3er condicional)

✅ She must have forgotten. (Modal en pasado)

✅ I’d rather you went now. (Preferencias con “would rather”)

✅ It’s high time we left. (Expresión con “high time”)

✅ He denied having said that. (Gerundio tras “deny”)

✅ Despite being tired, he kept working. (Gerundio tras “despite”)

✅ I regret not studying more. (Gerundio tras “regret”)

✅ She had no choice but to accept. (Expresión fija: no choice but to…)


Tips for Language Exercises

  • If there is a gap after a verb, you probably need a preposition (insist on, good at, depend on).
  • If the space is before an adjective or noun, check collocations (highly unlikely, pose a threat).
  • If the verb is in the past tense and the space is after “if”, it is probably a conditional (If I had known…).
  • Phrasal verbs appear frequently, learn the most common ones (run out of, put up with, turn down).