Cold email to sole traders and limited-company contacts is permitted under PECR for B2B, but consumer cold email requires soft opt-in or consent.
PECR 22/23 summary
- B2B to limited companies: permitted with suppression mechanism - B2B to sole traders/partnerships: treated like consumer, needs consent - Consumer: needs consent or soft opt-in (existing customer + similar product)
Financial services overlay
All content must still be compliant as a financial promotion (s21) if it invites engagement with investment activity.