East Midlands jumps to second in top fraud hot spots

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East Midlands jumps to second in top fraud hot spots

The East Midlands has jumped from 12th to second position in the top hot spots for fraud, according to accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO LLP.

The firm’s annual FraudTrack 2024 report shows that the region is the second most prevalent region for UK reported fraud only behind London & the South East, reporting an increase of over 10,000% in fraud value. Compared to the previous 12 month period, the East Midlands also saw a 90% increase in the number of cases in 2023.

Among the notable cases in the region were a fraudulent investment scheme operated by a Spalding man, a Nottinghamshire-based home improvments scam, and a case brought against a UK car dealer regarding alleged ‘fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation’ in connection with a disputed software contract.

The BDO report showed that the overall value of reported UK fraud increased to £2.3bn in 2023, a 104% increase on 2022 and the second largest annual fraud value recorded by the firm since it first started analysing fraud data in 2003.

However, the true level of fraud is likely to be significantly higher, BDO has warned, as some organisations choose not to report the frauds they suffer. The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales revealed that fewer than one in seven fraud offences are reported to the police.

While the number of high value cases (over £50m) in BDO’s FraudTrack report increased by 60% in 2023, the total number of reported cases also rose, up by 18% to a three-year high.

The factors behind the rise include the large increase in online scams, phishing and system breaches, and huge spikes in Authorised Push Payment (APP) transactions when fraudsters trick the unwary into transferring money to them.

Sannan Khan, Partner and Head of Regional Investigation and Economic Crime Risk Management Services at BDO in the Midlands, said: “We are not surprised by the East Midlands jumping 10 places from 12th to second in the list of most prevalent regions for UK reported fraud. This is consistent with the surge in frauds that our forensic investigations teams are seeing on the ground.

“Many people choose not to report fraud because of shame or embarrassment. Businesses are also reticent about coming forward because of fears around negative publicity, reputational damage, and a lack of faith that the authorities will take action.”

One particularly concerning development is the rise in online fraud factories or cyberfraud centres, with reports of hundreds of thousands of individuals being trafficked to work for crime syndicates. The UN has recently estimated that such fraud factories are generating billions of dollars in revenue.

Looking back at the 10 year trend of data, the report identifies that not only are the number of reported cases of fraud rising but the amounts involved are also getting bigger. BDO has warned that this trend is likely to continue as new fraud-enabling technology and AI present new opportunities for fraudsters.

Khan added: “While we hope the introduction of the Government’s Online Fraud Charter will encourage the technology sector to narrow the opportunities for online fraud, the sad reality is that the fraudsters will be looking to stay one step ahead by exploiting new options like AI.

“The failure to prevent fraud offence and reforms to the identification doctrine introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 should provide in-scope organisations significant incentives to revisit their fraud and wider economic crime risk management frameworks.”

Unit D progressing at pace at Beauchamp Business Park

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Unit D progressing at pace at Beauchamp Business Park

Construction is underway on Unit D at Beauchamp Business Park, a new commercial development in Kibworth, Leicestershire. The steel frame is complete, with cladding and roofing works now ongoing at the 10,000 sq ft building. Completion is expected in May 2024.

Beauchamp Business Park is being brought forward by Clowes Developments and its team including IMA Architects, TanRo, Millward Consulting Engineers, Gateley’s Legal and Postins Project Services. Philips Sutton and TDBRE have been instructed as agents on the scheme.

A sign of the popularity of the site, the freehold of Unit D has already been acquired by a local company. IMA Architects has worked closely with the purchaser to update the initial plans to make sure they met the requirements of the business. The building will be split into two 5,000 sq ft units, each with their own service yard.

Construction of the first phase of Beauchamp Business Park began in September 2023 and 80% of the units were sold or under offer within two months of being made available for enquiries.

The second phase of Beauchamp Business Park has secured planning consent and will see the creation of two additional terraces and a self-contained detached unit to be used for B1 and B2 use class.

Construction is scheduled to begin in Summer 2024 with completion expected in early 2025. When complete, Beauchamp Business Park will feature a series of freehold and leasehold industrial units ranging from 1,270 sq ft to 10,085 sq ft.

Clowes Developments have retained IMA Architects who are providing all architectural services and acting as Principal Designer on the scheme.

Ben Hall, Director at IMA Architects, adds: “As the initial plans were amended to meet the needs of the occupier, construction work on Unit D has been delayed slightly, so we are pleased to now see the steel frames in place.

“Working closely with occupiers to ensure they get the building that matches their needs is hugely important to us and we are looking forward to delivering the building in the coming months.”

Kevin Webster, Associate Director at Clowes Developments, adds: “Our long-standing relationship with IMA Architects enables a fluid design process from inception to delivery.

“This flexibility provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with end users by tweaking plans to suit their requirements, something we have found useful over the years. We look forward to bringing forward phase two in the next few months and encourage enquiries through our agents TDBRE and Philips Sutton.”

Housebuilder acquires Pleasley site to deliver £90m new home development

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Housebuilder acquires Pleasley site to deliver £90m new home development

A housebuilder has secured a multi-tenure new homes development site at Pleasley Hill, after exchanging contracts on 22-acres of land at Pleasley Hill Farm, Mansfield.

Subject to planning, Avant Homes Central will build 396 of its two-, three- and four-bedroom homes which will have a gross development value of £90m.

The housebuilder will be investing circa £55m to deliver this development, supporting local businesses and communities over a six-to-seven-year period.

The site will form part of a mixed-use development of up to 850 dwellings across a wider area, which will also include retail and commercial space.

Avant Homes Central’s proposed development will deliver 396 new homes covering all price points and a range of tenures, including 40 houses designated affordable housing. The housebuilder’s new homes will also be available for those customers wishing to access the private rented sector (PRS).

Avant Homes Central has also committed to community contributions of around £2.1m towards the provision of local services, education and healthcare.

The housebuilder acquired the site from a private vendor for an undisclosed sum.

Matt Barker, director in charge at Avant Homes Central, said: “Our Pleasley Hill Farm site acquisition represents an exciting opportunity for us to expand our development footprint into Mansfield.

“As a housebuilder, we want to build quality new homes for everyone and this site is an ideal location for us to deliver our range of practically designed, energy efficient homes in a place people want to live.

“We look forward to working with Mansfield District Council and submitting our plans to deliver a new and thriving community within the town.”

Nottingham domestic abuse charity one step closer to safe properties for survivors

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Nottingham domestic abuse charity one step closer to safe properties for survivors
£3m plans by Nottingham’s largest domestic abuse organisation, Juno Women’s Aid, to buy its own properties to house survivors have taken a major step forward.
The charity has made offers on nine houses and is viewing several more, so that it can secure 18 homes that it hopes will be ready for women and their children to move into this summer so they can start building new lives.
The progress comes after it received ‘life-changing’ funding of £3,075,000 from Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC), which provides finance for ‘extraordinary’ charities and social enterprises.
Juno has been searching for the safe two and three-bedroom accommodation – which will be available to families for two-year tenancies – across Nottingham city and south Nottinghamshire.
Yasmin Rehman, CEO at Juno Women’s Aid, which has been running its services for 40 years, said the 18 properties will be secured with the first tranche of funding it has received, and is looking to secure additional funding for a further ten properties.
Yasmin said: “Things are moving ahead at pace – we have nine houses under offer and going through conveyancing. This funding marks a huge difference in what we can offer to the women we help. Instead of an emergency, sticking plaster approach, this is a longer-term strategy that will not only save lives but create the opportunities for long-lasting change.
“Being able to move survivors and their families out of a refuge and into one of these properties means they can start to build an independent life, putting down roots and creating safe social networks. They will be able to put their children into local schools and be helped to find work or training courses.”
Juno believes the social investment loan, distributed by SASC’s Social and Sustainable Housing Fund II, can support around 110 women and 220 children during the loan term. It will also benefit families with older male children who are often unable to access other refuge accommodation.
In 2022-2023, Juno worked with 2,726 women, 472 children and young people, fostered 56 pets, and received nearly 16,000 calls on its helpline. It supports 500-600 women and children in Nottingham and south Nottinghamshire at any one time.
Its domestic abuse services include a drop-in service; refuge provision, specialist one-to-one and community outreach support for women, children and young people; justice team support through civil and criminal court proceedings, group work programmes and access to Nottingham College training and education.
Yasmin praised the financial support that Juno’s services receive through the charity’s commissioners at Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and the office of Nottinghamshire’s police and crime commissioner Caroline Henry.
But she admitted these were challenging times for the charity sector in the face of local government financial difficulties.
“It’s a tough time because everybody is stretched and wondering what is going to happen in the coming months,” she said. “In turn, people are coming to us with their own financial pressures. We have women saying they are going to stay in the house with their abuser because they either own the house or the tenancy is in their name and they don’t want that cycle of moving again and again.”
But she added: “We have to remain optimistic and we will find a way through. Buying these properties and developing a housing management arm, that is paid for completely separately from our public sector-funded services, is a game-changer for us.”
Juno also works in partnership with private sector organisations, including The Island Quarter and architects Marchini Curran Associates in Nottingham.
“It would be wonderful if the wider business community could help to support these women in their new homes through donations to us,” said Yasmin. “They could provide supermarket vouchers so they can shop for food or the basic items they need and also in choosing their own furniture when we take them to charities like The Arches.”
She added: “We want to give women and their children some valuable breathing space and support them in their new lives. Domestic abuse, if you experience it, should be an experience in your life – it should not define you for the rest of your life.”
Mark Bickford, CEO of Social and Sustainable Capital, said: “We are delighted to hear that Juno Women’s Aid has made significant progress in terms of using the investment from our SASH fund to purchase properties that will become safe havens for many women and children fleeing domestic abuse and enable them to rebuild their lives.
“Owning these properties will be transformative for the charity – making its model and services more sustainable and enabling it to support many more women and children.”

Lincolnshire IT support firm becomes part of Air IT

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Lincolnshire IT support firm becomes part of Air IT
Lincolnshire IT support firm SCS is now part of Air IT, the Nottingham-based Managed Service Provider (MSP) for SMEs. Matthew Stead, Managing Director of SCS, says: “We’ve spent the last 30 years developing and growing SCS into a successful regional business with an enviable local reputation. “By joining Air IT, we’ll be able to offer additional technical expertise, skillsets and new exciting capabilities, whilst continuing to deliver the highest levels of service to our clients. We are very much looking forward to continuing our journey of growth and establishing Air IT as the IT partner of choice for SMEs in Lincolnshire and beyond.” James Steventon, CEO at Air IT, said: “I’m delighted to welcome SCS to Air IT. They’re a great addition to our team, sharing a similar approach, culture, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service to clients. “With a strong focus on our core services including managed IT support and Microsoft technologies, we’re looking forward to combining our joint knowledge, skills and experience to deliver even greater results for our valued clients.” SCS will be operating from the same premises with the same staff as before.

New business owners don’t need to go it alone, says Leicestershire Growth Hub

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New business owners don’t need to go it alone, says Leicestershire Growth Hub
Starting a new business can seem like a daunting prospect for many. There can be so much to think about and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. With this in mind, LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub is running Business Boost: Focus on Start-up Support on 12 March 2024 for would-be and new business owners. The free morning event will provide practical advice and support through a variety of expert speakers covering key business start-up topics for anyone thinking about or who has just started a business in Leicester and Leicestershire. Speakers will provide information on business planning, growing through social media, finance and well-being. This includes:
  • Raj Raithatha, NBV Enterprise Solutions: Business Planning, your roadmap to success
  • Barry Taylor, Laugh Therapy UK: March to WELLth: Happiness, Play and Laughter for Wellbeing and Business Success
  • John Morley, i-Sourcer: Using LinkedIn to grow your business, what worked for me and the benefits of advertising online
  • Gau Naik, Exemplas: Accessing the Right Money at the Right Time
An event highlight will be an inspirational talk by businesswoman, Sandra Wiggins entitled “You could say, I did it my way!” Sandra has forty years of diverse experience in business and working in male-influenced industries – Engineering, Logistics, Hospitality, Sign, Print & Display with the crescendo being the last ten in entrepreneurship and SME manufacturing. Sandra’s journey inspired her to establish, in partnership, Women On Boards CIC®, an innovative social enterprise championing gender equality and opportunities for female entrepreneurs. She will share her story with lessons learned so far, including her highs and lows, the importance of relationships, and a good sense of humour. To provide extra assistance on the day, there will be several specialist start-up support providers exhibiting at the event, who will be on hand to discuss their services and answer any questions. This includes Sir Thomas White Loan Charity, Loughborough University, Leicester Startups, the Federation of Small Businesses, First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans and NBV Enterprise Solutions. Sue Tilley, Head of Business, Innovation and Partnerships at the LLEP, said: “Moving into self-employment and starting up can be a lonely business. It helps if you have a support network – somewhere to go for guidance or someone to bounce ideas off. “We want people to feel supported and empowered to succeed in their new ventures, which is why we’ve organised Business Boost. It’s an opportunity to take advantage of the wealth of free help and information available, be inspired and connect with the right people and organisations.” Business Boost: Focus on Start-up Support will take place on Tuesday 12 March at Leicester Racecourse. The event runs from 9.30 am to 2.00 pm and includes a networking lunch. Anyone interested should book via the Business Gateway website, by Friday 8 March.

Lincolnshire timber firm to be sold

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Lincolnshire timber firm to be sold
Saint-Gobain has signed a binding agreement for the sale of its treated timber products (utility poles, fencing and railway sleepers) manufacturing brands. Iivari Mononen Group is to take on Lincolnshire-based Calders & Grandidge, as well as PDM in Ireland. The divested assets generated revenues of €50 million in 2023 and employ 80 people. The divestment of PDM completed on 1 March, and the sale of Calders & Grandidge is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, subject to competition authority clearance. Established for over 100 years, Calders & Grandidge is headquartered in Boston, Lincolnshire. The company noted that the divestments “are part of Saint-Gobain’s continued business profile optimization strategy, in line with its ‘Grow & Impact’ plan.”

Frasers Group to buy bike retailer’s brand and intellectual property

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Frasers Group to buy bike retailer’s brand and intellectual property
Shirebrook-based Frasers Group has agreed to buy the brand and intellectual property of bike retailer Wiggle from administration. According to reports from The Times, the deal is worth under £10m. It includes the brand and intellectual property of both Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles, adding to Frasers Group’s cycling business. The retail giant acquired Evans Cycles in 2018 and ProBikeKit in 2023. Wiggle fell into administration in October, with FRP Advisory assuming control of the business.

202,000 sq ft of new space completes at St. Modwen Park Derby

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202,000 sq ft of new space completes at St. Modwen Park Derby

St. Modwen Logistics has completed four new logistics units totalling 202,000 sq ft at St. Modwen Park Derby. An additional 147,000 sq ft pre-let unit is also due to be completed this Spring as part of this second phase of development.

This latest c.£60 million phase of the Park’s development adds to the existing first phase of 300,000 sq ft completed at the Park. The four new units, ranging in size from 27,000-82,000 sq ft, have been built to St. Modwen Logistics’ ‘Swan Standard’ of sustainable construction, achieving BREEAM ‘Excellent’ accreditation and an EPC A+ rating.

St. Modwen Logistics has already secured a diverse mix of occupiers at St. Modwen Park Derby.

German heat pump manufacturer Vaillant occupies a 131,000 sq ft unit, whilst Swedish medical technology company Getinge has also established a new Global Centre of Excellence for Chemistry within a 79,000 sq ft building which also acts as its UK headquarters.

In October 2023, St. Modwen Logistics also announced that it has leased a c.40,000 sq ft unit to global automotive company Kia for use as a cutting-edge new training academy for the next generation of Kia employees.

Robert Richardson, Development Director at St. Modwen Logistics, said: “St. Modwen Park Derby has already attracted a variety of blue-chip industrial and logistics occupiers, contributing to its reputation as a national hub for training and research for the manufacturing, healthcare and automotive industries.

“This latest phase of development, which will more than double the Park’s industrial and logistics floorspace, provides occupiers of all sizes the opportunity to benefit from the scheme’s thriving business ecosystem, exceptional sustainability features and commanding location in one of the UK’s most in-demand logistics markets.”

25,000ft² of space adjoining the A38 at Junction 28 of the M1 sold

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25,000ft² of space adjoining the A38 at Junction 28 of the M1 sold
Acting on behalf of private clients, FHP’s Tim Gilbertson has concluded the sale of 25,000ft² of space adjoining the A38 at Junction 28 of the M1 motorway. The sale concluded sees local occupiers CVH-OMFB Limited relocate from their current base on Carter Lane East in South Normanton to enable their continued growth and expansion in a much larger building which benefits from a large, oversized site. Tim Gilbertson said: “It was great to see this deal concluded so swiftly after we agreed terms with our purchaser. Again, this a rarity in the market, a building that can be sold and also one with a large yard, so it’s great to tie up a deal quickly and see exchange of contracts happen within a few weeks of instruction of solicitors. “I wish the new occupiers well in what I think is an excellent building and I am sure one which will serve them well for the future. “There still remains little space to buy on the market of any size in the East Midlands and indeed stock levels are starting to drop in terms of leasehold warehouse or manufacturing space too. “Hopefully though this in general is a good sign of demand, albeit we do need more space now to meet the aspirations of any number of occupiers that we know who are looking to move on.” Carl Hinds, Managing Director of CVH-OMFB Limited, said: “We are delighted at securing this top quality building to aid our expansion within the region. It has the yard space and internal accommodation we need, keeps us very close to the M1 motorway and being set so near to our current base, it ensures that we keep our staff happy which is always important. “Many thanks to Tim Gilbertson and FHP for helping us see this deal over the line, they are now marketing our current building and hopefully they will have similar success there as their positive, helpful attitude has been terrific throughout.”
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