Reading’s The Jargon Group acquires Basingstoke’s XL Communications

The Jargon Group, an international media, marketing, and corporate communications business with an office in Reading, has acquired Basingstoke-based public relations firm XL Communications.

This acquisition comes as The Jargon Group continues to expand in the UK, having already invested in teams and offices in Reading, Cardiff, and Manchester. The company expects annual fees to surpass £3million in the next financial year.

The XL Communications team, which was founded in 2007, specialise in mobile, technology, transport and other related industries. The team’s expertise will be integrated into Jargon PR, giving The Jargon Group additional advisory capability as it continues to expand. Founder of XL Chris Bignell will also become Chief Operating Officer of The Jargon Group as part of the acquisition.

Chris said: “I’ve known about the growing reputation of The Jargon Group for some time, and it was a simple decision to join forces. Our shared interests and values - specifically our focus on delivering high-quality results that help clients deliver on their business goals, makes this an ideal partnership. I look forward to contributing to the growth and development of the business as a whole in my role as COO of The Jargon Group.”

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The acquisition of XL Communications is the latest in a series of deals for The Jargon Group over the past three years including: the acquisition of Vantage Marketing in November 2020, Souter PR in July 2021, GloHouse Media in October 2022, and Pelican Communications in December 2022.

Founder and CEO of The Jargon Group Simon Corbett said: “The acquisition of XL Communications makes a great deal of sense. Both companies shared a commitment to delivering best in class PR campaigns for clients in technology and related industries. Both companies are based close to the M3/M4 technology corridor and share similar values. I’m looking forward to working with Chris to help further grow the group both organically and by acquisition.

“I am focused on delivering a three-year growth strategy which has included a series of strategic acquisitions. Despite the challenges facing the economy, client demand for PR and communications services continues to grow and The Jargon Group is well set to benefit from this demand.”

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