Yorkshire Post owner National World buys Rotherham Advertiser and Insider Media

Insider Media is a leading business-to-business media company which organises almost 100 business events across the country each year.

The business had revenues of £6.3 million in 2022 and the purchase will grow National World’s existing events business.

Insider Media is forecast to generate year-on-year profit growth once again at the end of the current financial year.

It will run as a separate division within National World, with Mike Hartley, a former MD of Insider Media taking on the same role in an interim position.

Insider Media has been running for 33 years and publishes six magazines on top of its events work.

Managing director, Marlen Roberts, is retiring and said: "The current shareholders wanted to ensure that the company had a strong future and National World is a buyer that will continue to invest in high-quality content as well as the business infrastructure and the people.”

National World has also purchased the Rotherham Advertiser, a newspaper which was founded in 1858.

The acquisition also includes two weekly tabloid free newspapers; the Dearne Valley Weekender and the Rotherham Record, and bi-monthly lifestyle magazine Chase.

A National World spokesperson said: “The Rotherham Advertiser complements National World’s reach across the South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire markets, presenting opportunities to reach rural communities and enhance our key revenue sectors.”

The Advertiser will be managed by the Yorkshire business unit.

National World’s Chairman David Montgomery said: “Over the last 12 months we have made a number of targeted investments and acquisitions designed to accelerate our progress, increase our capabilities and grow the audience for our high-quality content.

“National World offers a unique combination of digital news, specialist content and targeted audience engagement, helping it build deeper relationships with its readers and users.

"Today’s acquisitions are in line with that strategy as we reposition the business towards our new operating model.”

The Advertiser will join other existing titles under National World ownership including The Scotsman, The Portsmouth News and The Sheffield Star, as well as the Northern Ireland-based Newsletter.

The Newsletter is the oldest English language newspaper in the world.

Advisers to the sellers on the Insider Media deal were Mark Wilson of Headpoint Advisors, Richard Griffiths of Higgs LLP solicitors and Anthony Wooding the Audit Partner at Hurst Accountants LLP.