Taking visitors to your company on a tour of the installations requires a certain amount of planning. You should prepare especially: the route and the duration of the visit. If you are going to carry out a tour in English, you may take a copy of a selection of the English phrases below (adapted to your needs) attached to a clipboard. It is better to practise the English expressions aloud until you are happy with the pronunciation. Ideally, memorise a few of the key English phrases.
You should take particular note that the dynamics of the visit and that the English language used may change depending on the size of the group. A large group requires a more formal address while with one to three people you would get physically closer to them and would use less formal English expressions.
When with a large group, each time you stop to talk about something, you should remain still, look and speak facing the group with your back towards or by the side of the object or place you are describing. Look at faces; not at the floor or in the air. Choose a place where you can speak: do not obstruct the movement of people working. If necessary, you can stand on something (a pallet, box, etc.) so that the group can see and hear you better.
You should choose a place where the visitors can hear you without excessive noise from machinery, etc.
When explaining the workings of a noisy machine, it is preferable to do so before arriving and then you can take the group to the machine without further explanations once standing in front of it. For example:
"We are going to see the machinery which... We will now go and see the machinery I've been explaining. We'll stop briefly for a minute to watch then please follow me to the rear entrance where you may ask questions." >>
Indicate with an outstretched arm or even with two thumbs pointing back over your shoulders. Be careful not to speak when looking away from the group (or they may not hear you).
When you are with just one, two or three people, you may position yourself at their side and be facing the object or place you want to explain.
It is advisable to plan the route of your company tour so you know how long it will last. If you inform your visitors at the beginning of the visit of its duration, they will not become impatient about catching a plane, etc. during the visit.
Good morning, ladies and gentleman. Could I have your attention, please? Welcome to Acme. My name is Mary and I'm going to give you a tour of the installations / offices / plant / factory. The tour will last about thirty minutes. >> (Formal visit for larger groups.)
Good morning. Nice to meet you. I'm Mary. Come with me and I'll show you around. It'll just take thirty minutes. >> (A less formal visit for individuals and very small groups. You should also ask names if you have not been introduced.)
If you would like to follow me, we will begin our tour of the premises. >>
Please, follow me. >>
In front of you is... >>
On your right, you will see... >>
Up ahead and to your left, you will see... >>
As we turn the corner here, you will see... >>
In the distance... >>
If you look behind me, now... >>
If you look up, you will notice... >>
Off to the north... >>
Look to the east... >>
To the west... >>
In a few moments, we'll be passing... >>
We are now coming up to... >>
As you will see... >>
You may have noticed that we came past a large blue-coloured machine. That was... >>
Take a good look at... >>
I'd like to point out... >>
Keep your eyes open for... >>
Over there is... >>
Shall we now walk over here? >>
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask at any time during the tour. >>
The company was founded in 1972 by (founder's name). >>
The company was the brainchild of (name). >>
The company was started by (name) at the end of the nineteenth century. >>
In the early days... >>
In those days, the company was based in (place name). It was transferred to its present location 6 years later. >>
Its first product was... >>
The company was the first to announce the development of... >>
It delivered the first (product name) in March of 1973. >>
Since its inception, this company has led the field in the area of (company activity). >>
For 40 years the company has led the industry in new technology, product development and customer-oriented after-sales support. >>
It was only some years later that the company started getting involved in (company activity). >>
In 1986, the company took the leap into the U.S. market and founded (new company name) in (place name). >>
In 1990, the takeover of (company
name) located at (place name) took place. >>
In 1992, the company started a joint venture with the company (name) in (place name) which was the point of departure for a successful strategic partnership between both companies. >>
In 2000, the company was relocated from (place name) to (new place name) and began production of new products. >>
Thanks to (company name's) enduring success, as early as in 2004 it became necessary to build a new and larger factory. >>
Moreover, in 2008, it became a necessity to make new investments in the acquisition of additional machines and equipment. The number of staff members has increased nearly threefold between 2008 and 2013. >>
Today, (company name) occupies a leading position for (service or product name) soltions in
different sectors of the market.
>>
Our offices are on the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth floors of this building called (building name). >>
It is the third highest building in the city and one of the most recently constructed. >>
It has a very good location overlooking the river and park areas. >>
It is very well situated for staff and visitors with the train station at just a five-minute walk away and a taxi-rank almost opposite the front entrance. >>
There is ample parking space for employees and visitors below the building and close to the park area next to it. >>
For our most prestigious clients there is a heliport on the building roof. >>
Our premises were constructed 10 years ago using moern lighteight materials and full insulation.
>>
There are ample garden areas around the premises where staff can relax and have a coffee during breaks. >>
All waste water produced by the plant is fully treated at our sewage plant before being returned to the river. >>
There are over twenty-five offices here at (company name). There are also five hundred square metres of open plan office. >>
This company employs one hundred and twenty-five permanent staff as well as over fifty outsource workers. >>
On the floor below this one, there is a small gymnasium exclusively for company staff and visitors with all-day opening hours. >>
Apart from the offices, there are also two reception areas, four conference rooms fully equipped with the latest video-conferencing machines, communal rest areas with kitchenettes, and a cafeteria area with seating for fifty people. Lunches are provided from one-thirty to three-thirty at very economical prices - if you're interested after the tour! >>
There are toilets to our right if you would like to take advantge of tm before I begin the tour of the offices.
>>
Our offices are so designed that all areas have natural exterior lighting and soundproof glass, which greatly reduces our lighting and heating consumption and also
allows us to be more environmentally friendly. >>
The plant has over one thousand five hundred square metres of ground floor area. >>
The warehouse stands fifteen metres high, sixty metres long and thirty metres wide. >>
It can store up to two thousand tons of (substance name) at any one time. >>
There are three main buildings at the plant. The first is where manufacturing takes place, there is another for storage of dangerous and possibly volatile products and a third for storage of non-volatile compounds. >>
This room is where packaging takes place. Goods are then loaded onto pallets and await transport. >>
To enter this area, hard-hats are required. Please pick one up on the bench over here before following me inside. >>
The wareseas a loading dock on one side and can handle up to twenty forklifts working at any one time.
>>
This crane in the loading dock can load lorries of all sizes. >>
Communications with the local airport, rail station and motorways are excellent allowing easy door-to-door delivery. >>
The local seaport is only forty kilometres away and fifty percent of our goods are shipped to our main clients and distributor outlets. >>
(More formal for larger groups...)
Well, that concludes our tour. I hope you have enjoyed it and have found it interesting and informative. If you have any further questions, I should be very happy to answer them now. >>
On behalf of (company name) and myself, I should like to thank you all for visiting us today. I wish you all a very pleasant journey home. >>
(Less formal for small groups...)
So, that's the end of our tour. I hope you've enjoyed it. Can I help you with any last questions? >>
Thanks for visiting us today. I hope you have a good trip home. >>
(More useful information...)
If you are leaving us now and need to get public transport home, the train station is just five minutes away by foot. Please, ask at
reception for a street plan. >>
If you need a taxi to the airport, the taxi rank is just opposite the main entrance. The airport is about a twenty-minute taxi ride. >>
Enjoy the tour!
Copyright © 2023 Practising English
All rights reserved