A British tech company setting up in France post-Brexit faces the same press as before, but with different questions. French journalists are no longer interested in Brexit itself. They want to know why you chose France, what you bring to French clients, and who speaks for you on the ground. This guide details what has changed, what hasn't, which media to target, and a 90-day plan.

Last updated: October 2026.

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Why are British tech companies choosing France to enter the EU?

France is the leading European market for foreign investment. The 2026 EY European Attractiveness Survey recorded 852 foreign investment projects in France in 2025, ahead of the UK (730) and Germany (548). Business France, using a broader methodology, counted 1,878 foreign investment decisions in 2025, accounting for 47,734 jobs.

For a British company, France offers three key advantages: access to the single market from an EU member state, a large domestic market, and a dense tech ecosystem centered around Paris. The media follows the same geography. The 2026 social barometer from the Assises du Journalisme counted 34,029 press card holders in 2025, 54% of whom were based in the Île-de-France region.

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What has Brexit changed for a British company dealing with the French press?

Brexit has changed your legal status, not how a journalist evaluates a story. Since the end of the transition period on January 1, 2021, the UK has been a third country to the EU. Three consequences matter for your press strategy.

• Regulated sectors require a local entity. British financial players lost their European passport on January 1, 2021. A fintech looking to serve clients in the EU needs a licensed entity in a member state. Obtaining this license in France is a major hook for the trade press.
• Your French entity becomes your proof. A Paris office, a French country manager, or a first French client shows the journalist that you are truly setting up shop. A company selling into France from London gives them nothing to write about.
• The Brexit angle is exhausted. In 2017 and 2018, French media covered British companies moving to Paris as a story in itself. Six years later, "a British company sets up in France post-Brexit" is no longer a pitch. Your market, your product, or your data must drive the announcement.

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How do French journalists view a British tech company?

French journalists judge a British company like any other newcomer: on its local relevance. They aren't hostile; they are overwhelmed. According to the 2026 Cision State of the Media report, 72% of journalists find less than a quarter of the pitches they receive relevant, and according to the 2026 Muck Rack State of Journalism report, 88% immediately discard pitches outside their beat.

Three elements make a British company "newsworthy" in France: a French client or partner willing to be quoted, a spokesperson available for interviews in French, and data on the French market. Without these, even a great track record in the UK remains "foreign." An article in the Financial Times or TechCrunch reassures investors, but a French newsroom rarely sees it as a reason to write a story.

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Should you pitch French journalists in English or French?

In French. Some tech journalists read English without difficulty, but the business and trade press work in French, and a pitch in English signals that the company hasn't yet invested in the market. Write your press release and press kit in French from the start, rather than translating the British version.

Interviews are more flexible. A British founder can answer in English for tech and business media, especially in print. Radio, television, and regional press generally require a French-speaking spokesperson. Plan to have one, even if it's just a country manager, for the second wave.

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Which French media cover incoming British tech companies?

Choose media by sector and format, not by audience size. The table below lists the most useful outlets for a British tech company and what each one covers.

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Two English-language media outlets also cover French tech: Sifted and Tech.eu. They are useful for European visibility, but they do not replace coverage in a French media outlet when it comes to convincing French buyers. For a detailed list by sector, see our guide to tech media for French startups.

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What does a 90-day PR plan in France look like for a British company?

A launch in France takes about three months, the time it takes for journalists to discover a company that was previously unknown to them. The plan below is the sequence we follow for foreign companies.

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Across five published three-month assignments, Linker secured between 7 and 15 pieces of coverage, with a median of 10, and a first publication in 30 days on average. A British company that does not yet have French clients should expect to be at the lower end of this range.

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How much does PR cost in France compared to the UK?

Specialized agencies cost roughly the same in both countries. A tech-focused PR agency charges €3,500 to €7,000 (excl. VAT) per month in France. Whito's 2026 compilation of UK rates places a standard agency between £3,000 and £8,000 per month. The gap widens with London-based and specialized agencies, starting at £15,000 per month.

A three-month launch in France with a specialized agency therefore costs approximately €10,500 to €21,000 (excl. VAT). Our comparison of the cost of PR in France, the UK, and the US details the ranges and hidden costs.

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French agency, London agency, or European network?

Choose based on who will write and pitch to the press in French. A London agency can handle the strategy, but they will need a French team or partner to reach Parisian newsrooms. A European network offers a single contract for multiple countries, with quality varying from one office to another. A French agency knows the press, writes in French, and can report in English.

For a first European market, a French agency is generally the most effective choice, with a lead agency in London if you already have one. Our selection of PR agencies in France for foreign tech companies and our ranking of European PR agencies for tech scale-ups compare the options. For an American company, our PR guide for US startups in France covers your case.

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Where does Linker fit in?

Linker is an independent PR and LinkedIn agency, founded in Paris in 2022, that works with tech startups and scale-ups. It writes in French for the French press and reports in English to foreign teams. It combines PR with the LinkedIn presence of executives, which helps a newcomer establish a presence between articles. See our page PR agency in Paris to discuss your launch in France.