UK media group blames Brexit for relocation to Ireland

International media group Capital Business Media has relocated its UK content marketing and SEO division to Ireland in response to Brexit, amid fears that Britain will fail to secure a data transfer deal despite ongoing talks over an adequacy agreement.

The group, which also has offices in London and New York, will now deal with all content marketing and SEO needs through a new Irish company, Inscriptio.

While the EU and UK have agreed to carry on data transfer negotiations for at least another four months – with a potential two month extension on that – there is still the possibility that the firm’s ability to send emails to the subscribers of its six magazine and online titles, as well to the panel of its business research division, will be jeopardised.

Earlier this month, trade body the DMA warned that an adequacy deal – which would keep data flowing freely – is still unlikely, and warned firms to prepare business for the chance of a no deal on data by June 2021.

Capital Business Media claims to have one of the largest databases of small and medium sized businesses and their senior management. With the firm working for clients both in the UK as well as within the EEA, it claims the move to Ireland was “essential”.

Commenting on the decision, group managing director Richard Alvin said: “During 2020, we saw a 200% increase in demand within our dedicated content marketing as a result of the rapid digital growth of businesses.

“With so many concerns surrounding Brexit possibly threatening the day to day operation of this division within the UK, we knew in order to sustain this growth and continue offering our services, we needed to launch the division as a separate firm outside of the UK.

“It was a very easy decision considering the planned expansion of the company, and we knew that having a dedicated office based in Ireland would not only ensure our compliance, but also open up opportunities for our continued growth.”

Capital Business Media is a full-service business media company which owns and publishes Business Matters, Fund Manager Today, Travelling for Business, EV Powered, Not Ltd, Stay & Improve and Property Portfolio Investor.

The company also publishes corporate B2C titles under licence for Aston Martin Lagonda and the Infiniti Motor Corporation.

Ironically, Inscriptio clients will include the UK Government’s Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, as well as O2 and Vodafone, and hundreds of UK and Europe based small and medium sized businesses.