Trouva, the online platform for independent fashion and lifestyle businesses, has opened a tech hub in Lisbon, Portugal to sidestep any potential EU talent recruitment issues caused by Brexit.

The business which was founded in London two years ago, told the Mail on Sunday that it made the move to open the centre to ensure it could continue to recruit EU IT talent, as it was as yet uncertain how this issue might be affected by Brexit.

Co-founder Mandeep Singh told the publication that the business already had a very international workforce with most non-British staff hailing from the US, France or Germany. “It’s really about having a cross-border team and attracting the best people,” he said. “Having the base in Lisbon just makes it easier.”

Trouva, whose name derives from “trouvaille” or lucky find, offers a global shop window to independent fashion and lifestyle boutiques. It delivers to the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia and the EU (inc Switzerland) and boutiques and retailers on the platform include The Idle Man, Wild Swans in Islington, ALC in Edinburgh and Fox + Feather in Bristol.

It was established by a team of retail and online experts from brands such as Notonthehighstreet.com, Jack Wills and One Fine Stay. Its backers include Octopus Ventures, Playfair Capital and Index Ventures who between them have been instrumental in the success of businesses such as ASOS, Farfetch, Net-A-Porter and Zoopla.