UK B2B cold email rules in 2026: PECR, sole traders and the new £17.5m fines
Short answer: PECR's email consent rule doesn't apply to corporate subscribers (limited companies, LLPs, Scottish partnerships, some government bodies). You must still say who you are, give an opt-out in every message and honour it. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships count as individuals: email them only with consent or a soft opt-in. Since 5 Feb 2026 the maximum PECR fine is £17.5m or 4% of worldwide turnover.
Checklist before a B2B campaign
- Each recipient checked as a Ltd/LLP (Companies House or their own site); if unsure, treat as an individual
- Prefer generic inboxes (info@, hello@). Named addresses are personal data, so you need a UK GDPR lawful basis (usually legitimate interests) and a privacy notice
- Identity and a working opt-out in every email
- Suppression list screened before every send
- No bought-in lists of individuals
Need a targeted list of UK companies (not individuals) from public business pages? A custom scraper that keeps only corporate inboxes is one option.
Next step: see Unadhi custom scrapers and lead lists. Get a free 25-row sample first and pay only if it is useful.
Official sources
- https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/direct-marketing-and-privacy-and-electronic-communications/business-to-business-marketing
- https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/direct-marketing-and-privacy-and-electronic-communications/guide-to-pecr/electronic-and-telephone-marketing/electronic-mail-marketing/
- https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-for-small-organisations/direct-marketing-and-data-protection/marketing-and-data-protection-in-detail/
- https://dpnetwork.org.uk/uk-gdpr-and-pecr-key-duaa-reforms-take-effect/
General information, not legal advice. Unadhi is not affiliated with the UK Government, the ICO/Information Commission or any EU authority.
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