Facebook Marketplace furniture fraudster gets jail term

Stuart Pearcey
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Facebook Marketplace furniture fraudster gets jail term

A Facebook Marketplace from Rotherham who defrauded people trying to buy furniture during lockdown has been sent to prison for money laundering and fraud.

Ryan Rhys Burns, 32, of 26 St Mary’s Road, Rotherham, conned customers out of £14,544 for furnishings that didn’t exist or completely unfit for purpose. More than 100 complaints were made by consumers between August 2020 and July 2022 about two online businesses – Bespoke Furnishings and Rustic Furnishings – which Burns ran to carry out a widespread fraud. Both companies operated via Facebook Marketplace and displayed photographs of the furniture that they claimed to make. The pages often appeared as advertisements on victims’ Facebook feed after they had been searching for furniture online. Burns used a network of ten bank accounts under his and his partner’s names to launder money. He spent the stolen money on holidays, restaurants, take-aways and other luxury items. He also used fake addresses in the latter part of the fraud. Victims were met with lies and hostility from either Burns or his partner, who frequently acted on his behalf, when they enquired about a refund. One victim described how he “tried to be patient and polite to start with, but then realised I was just the victim of a scammer who was repeatedly lying to me”. Another said: “I feel as if I have been scammed and wonder how somebody could do this to someone else.” On limited occasions, refunds were given but this appeared to be done reluctantly and only after victims exerted a significant amount of effort to get their money back. Burns was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment under the Fraud Act 2006 and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and will serve half. The investigation was conducted by the National Trading Standards Regional Investigations Team (Yorkshire and Humber), hosted at City of York Council, and was supported by Rotherham Trading Standards. Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: “Stealing from people looking to improve their homes while pandemic restrictions forced them to stay indoors shows that Burns had a callous disregard for his victims, inflicting additional distress during an already turbulent time. “This sentence sends a strong message that fraud does not go unpunished and I congratulate all those involved in bringing Burns to justice and preventing him from targeting anyone else.” Ruth Andrews, Regional Investigations Manager for the Yorkshire and Humber at City of York Council added: “Many consumers lost significant sums of money to this fraud, which was committed when many people were feeling particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. “The actions of Burns, including failing to refund disappointed customers and his behaviour in response to their complaints, was completely unacceptable and deliberate, and has been reflected in his sentencing today. I’m grateful to our persistent and hardworking team of investigators here in York and in Rotherham.”

Business Club prepares to celebrate twentieth anniversary

Stuart Pearcey
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Business Club prepares to celebrate twentieth anniversary
Lincoln Business Club is is planning a 20th Anniversary Party taking place on May 17th at the Charlotte House Hotel at the Lawns in Lincoln. The not-for-profit Lincoln-based networking group, they are inviting members, partners, and friends to join in a night of festivities. Nicola Ellwood, Chair of Lincoln Business Club, said:“As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we are reminded of the incredible journey we’ve shared as a community of business leaders and entrepreneurs. This event is a testament to our collective achievements and the enduring spirit of collaboration within Lincolnshire that defines us.” The event is made possible through collaborations with partners including Stokes Coffee, Lincoln Gin Distillery, and Fizzco as well as sponsors Make an Entrance, Wright Vigar, eComOne, Austen Hempstead, Sheila Stamp – Travel Counsellors, Petaurum HR, Uptech, and Business Bolox.

Nottingham group acquires Sheffield online retailer

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham group acquires Sheffield online retailer
Huddled Group plc, the Nottingham-based business focused on building a portfolio of e-commerce brands, has acquired online retailer Food Circle Supermarket for up to £300,000. The acquisition comprises the entire stock, intellectual property and website and other social channels of Food Circle.

Founded in 2018, by owner/operators Paul Simpson and James Barthorpe, Sheffield-based Food Circle is an online, direct-to-consumer retailer specialising in discounted foods for healthy and specialised diets such as high-protein and energy products.

Food Circle serves customers across the UK and has become a trusted partner for well-known brands within this market, including Huel, Nakd, Grenade and Optimum Nutrition, amongst others.

Food Circle delivers an average of 3,000 orders per month, with an average order value of £40. The business has seen strong growth since inception and delivered unaudited revenue of £1.4m and a small net loss of £46k for the year ended 31 December 2023.

With access to additional funds to grow its range and other expected synergies as a result of becoming part of Huddled Group, the Board believes that Food Circle can be grown significantly. Paul Simpson and James Barthorpe will continue in their current roles and will be supported to grow the business.

Martin Higginson, Chief Executive Officer of Huddled Group PLC, said: “We’re delighted to announce this exciting opportunity to further strengthen our position in the online surplus food and drink market, alongside our existing brand, Discount Dragon.

“Food Circle is positioned at the intersection of a number of market trends; the continued search for value among consumers, the demand for e-commerce and direct delivery services, and the growth in health and nutrition products to support active lifestyles.

“It has developed important relationships with brands for whom responsible disposal of surplus stocks remains a priority and this will remain a core mission for Food Circle.

“Paul and James have done an amazing job growing the business to a turnover of £1.4m with very limited capital and therefore range. We are convinced given access to additional funds the pair will quickly grow this business to new heights.”

Paul Simpson and James Barthorpe, Founders of Food Circle, said: “We are delighted that Food Circle is joining the Huddled Group plc family. We have worked hard to build our business from the ground up since our formation in 2018, and feel that now is the ideal time to join a growing group with exciting ambitions for the future.

“We believe that Huddled Group plc is the perfect partner to help us unlock the huge potential of Food Circle.

“The business is positioned in a rapidly growing market, and we are confident that this acquisition will enable us to build on the work we have done so far in helping brands to reduce waste, while maintaining their brand equity, and offering consumers access to high quality products at competitive prices.”

Canadian company acquires Huddersfield manufacturer

Tess Egginton
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Canadian company acquires Huddersfield manufacturer
Decisive Dividend Corporation, an acquisition-oriented company focused on opportunities in manufacturing, has acquired Elland-based Techbelt. Founded in 2002, Techbelt is a manufacturer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) conveyor belts, PTFE tapes, and PTFE materials which are used in a wide range of end markets including food and beverage, packaging, textiles, agriculture, and fast-moving consumer goods.
Techbelt marks Decisive’s second acquisition in the UK. Managing Director of Techbelt, Simon Sparkes, who has been with Techbelt since 2006, has committed to lead the business for at least the next three years. Jeff Schellenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Decisive, said: “We are thrilled to add Techbelt, its leadership team, employees, and high-margin wear-part products to our growing portfolio of businesses. “Having the opportunity to add another business that sells wear-parts is a great fit for our dividend paying model and aligns with our strategy of investing in industry verticals we have previously invested in. “The customers these wear-parts are sold to operate in the food and beverage, packaging, textiles, agriculture, and fast-moving consumer goods industries, with locations in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Oceania, North and South America and Africa, further diversifying our cash flow profile and expanding our non-North American revenue base. “Finding another set of legacy minded business owners who care deeply about seeing the business they have built carry forward is extremely rewarding for us and we are pleased to welcome one of the vendors, Simon Sparkes, to our leadership group. “Simon has committed to run the business for a minimum of three years, and the continuity that Simon’s leadership provides will help maintain the trajectory of growth the business has been on under Simon’s leadership, which is a critical piece of this deal to Decisive. “We look forward to working with and supporting Simon and the whole Techbelt team to further build the business and take advantage of the market opportunities they have positioned the business for.” Simon Sparkes, Managing Director of Techbelt, said: “Myself and the whole Techbelt team are thrilled to be part of the Decisive family. Having spent the last 17 years building a business it was important that we find the right partner to continue our growth and take us to the next step. I’m passionate about our employees, customers and suppliers. “We wanted to find a new owner with aligning values, who will allow us to continue with our own identity whilst providing us with the support and access to markets we have identified as growth opportunities. “I look forward to the opportunities that Decisive will provide us in North America. A deeper and more localised access to this market has been a personal aspiration of mine for a number of years and I’m excited about what the future looks like for Techbelt.”

UK economy sees slight growth

Tess Egginton
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UK economy sees slight growth
UK GDP (gross domestic product), a key measure of economy growth, rose minimally, by 0.1%, in February, following a revised 0.3% rise in January (up from 0.2% previously). It comes as the UK tries to clamber out of recession. The increase was driven by strong growth in production sector output, up 1.1% month-on-month (following a fall of 0.3% in January), with a smaller contribution from the services sector, growing 0.1% month-on-month (following growth of 0.3% in January 2024). Construction output, however, fell 1.9% month-on-month, following a growth of 1.1% in January 2024. Ben Jones, CBI Lead Economist, said: “With the damp and dismal weather hitting retail and other sectors, it’s not surprising to see activity was broadly flat in February. But lower inflation is easing pressure on household incomes and spending, and the economy still seems to be on course to exit its mild recession in the first quarter. “While growth was probably fairly modest over the first quarter, the outlook is improving with our business surveys showing growth expectations for the second quarter at their strongest for almost two years. “But we need to get some momentum going in economy without undoing hard work to bring down inflation. In this General Election year, it’s crucial parties of all stripes focus on structural challenges facing economy – like poor productivity and labour market pressure. “What firms across all regions, nations and sectors tell us they need to drive sustainable growth, is stability and a long-term economic vision – which in turn will deliver prosperity to businesses and households alike.”

‘It’s a washout’: that’s the NFU verdict on Government’s flooded farm recovery fund

Stuart Pearcey
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‘It’s a washout’: that’s the NFU verdict on Government’s flooded farm recovery fund
The NFU says there are major issues with the Government’s Farming Recovery Fund which opened earlier this week to support farmers affected by flooding from Storm Henk.
The Farming Recovery Fund was announced in the aftermath of Storm Henk to help those affected, with eligible farmers set to access grant support of up to £25,000.
However, in a new statement released today, NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos has said it had very quickly become clear that there are major issues with the fund. She said: “We are hearing from numerous members who have suffered catastrophic impacts who have been told they are not eligible for the Fund because some of their affected areas are more than 150 metres from ‘main’ rivers. These include members with 90% of their land saturated or under water, and huge damage to buildings and equipment. “We are taking this up with Defra urgently. I cannot believe this is what Ministers intended when they launched the Fund, which was a welcome and well-intentioned development which seems to have been fundamentally let down in the detail. While the impact of the weather goes far beyond Storm Henk, this could have been a good start but, as it stands, it simply doesn’t work.” The grant is to support the cost of recultivating and reinstating agricultural land that was flooded due to notably high river levels between 2-12 January 2024, caused by Storm Henk. The Rural Payments Agency is administering the fund on behalf of Defra, with landowners or tenant farmers who occupied eligible land parcels at the time of Storm Henk able to claim £130 per hectare for recultivation work. Eligible farmers can access grants of between £500 and £25,000 to return their land to the condition it was in before exceptional flooding due to Storm Henk. The eligible counties and rivers at the moment include Lincolnshire’s Witham, Brant, Welland, and Ancholme. In Nottinghamshire the Trent, Devon, and Soar are eligible.

South Yorkshire’s ready to embrace Artificial Intelligence, according to new survey

Stuart Pearcey
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South Yorkshire’s ready to embrace Artificial Intelligence, according to new survey
Most South Yorkshire businesses are ready to embrace the use of AI in some way, shape or form, with 70% of them believing that this technology represents a valuable opportunity that must be seized. That’s the finding of a recently-published results of The Artificial Intelligence Survey, sponsored by ProAktive and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Conducted by the Chambers of Commerce covering Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster, this questionnaire was open through February and March. It gauged how local business-owners feel about AI and how strong their appetite may (or may not) be for adopting it within their own organisations. Among other things, the poll asked respondents: whether they perceive Artificial Intelligence to be a looming threat or an emerging opportunity; how confident they are in their understanding of this technology and its associated implications; the extent to which it features in their current plans; and if they think it is likely to affect their workforce levels in the future. As well as focussing on AI, the survey also included more general questions about the overall state of the economy. For instance, there was an opportunity for business-owners to describe their latest experiences with staff retention and recruitment, their intentions for investing in training or new equipment, and if they expect their prices to increase at all over the coming months, with the insights from all of these standard questions then feeding into the nationwide Quarterly Economic Survey. The Chief Execs for all three South Yorkshire Chambers issued the following joint statement: “We are very much on the brink of another industrial revolution when it comes to AI and no sector can expect to be untouched by the rapid developments that we are observing here. The potential applications for this technology are extraordinarily vast, spanning all industries, and things are inevitably going to change. “It is therefore heartening to see that our business community is, by and large, receptive to the opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence and is optimistic about what it could mean for them. Some are understandably concerned about how it may pose a threat, and there are naturally risks that do need to be considered, but broadly the feeling is positive. As such, we need to capitalise on that enthusiasm and make sure South Yorkshire remains ahead of the curve. “On that note, we were pleased to see that AI currently features in two-thirds of the business plans for our survey respondents, while 74% of them believe that they have, at least to some extent, the in-house skills that will enable them to realise their ambitions. “However, for those who do not feel suitably prepared, there is a degree of uncertainty. In fact, almost half of our survey respondents said that they wouldn’t know where to turn for help when it comes to adopting Artificial Intelligence, whilst a quarter told us that they do not believe that they have the requisite skills in-house. “This is an early-warning sign that South Yorkshire needs to have a pipeline of talent ready in this emerging sector, otherwise, we are putting ourselves at risk of falling behind the rest of the country and, indeed, the wider world. In short, it’s imperative that we nurture the specific people and skills that businesses need in our region, and the sooner we do that the better. “Elsewhere, looking at the broader indicators of business confidence, there are encouraging — albeit tentative — signs that the South Yorkshire economy is steadily regaining momentum. Domestic sales and order books are at the strongest levels that they have been since mid-2022, while export performance continues to markedly improve, and expectations of both improved turnover and improved profitability are on the up. “Not to mention that pressures in the job market are abating as well. When compared to this time last year, recruitment difficulties have significantly eased and workforce growth is similarly much healthier than it was when we polled firms in Q1 of 2023. With all that said — although there is still some lingering anxiety when it comes to rising prices, specifically in terms of labour and utility costs — optimism does seem to be returning to the economy.”

Lincoln digital marketing agency sold

Tess Egginton
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Lincoln digital marketing agency sold

Peter Watson and Bradley McKenny, former Directors of Distract, have sold the digital marketing agency to Steve Bryant, founder and Managing Director of Umbrella Brands Group, behind affiliate marketing agency Thoughtmix.

As an old friend of Watson and McKenny, Bryant’s interest in Distract’s journey has always been more than just professional curiosity. Over time, he witnessed the agency’s growth, direction and potential. When the pair decided to sell the business to focus on new areas, Bryant was a natural fit to lead the next phase of its development with a clear vision for Distract’s future.

Having established Thoughtmix in 2015, Bryant has many years of experience scaling an agency and delivering partnerships that grow businesses worldwide.

Bryant’s portfolio includes working with brands such as cardfactory, National Express, and The Couture Club, and he is now ready to pass on his knowledge and expertise to help Distract grow and excel further.

Assuming the role of Managing Director, Bryant has exciting plans for Distract, redefining and consolidating its offering. Recognising the team’s strengths in paid advertising, Distract will become a specialist paid media agency.

He will work closely with Stephanie Henderson, the commercial and strategy lead, and Hannah Langton, the delivery lead, to implement the new business strategy and tactics.

Bryant is looking to focus Distract’s services on the B2C E-commerce, B2B and Education sectors.

Bryant said: “I’m excited to lead Distract into its next phase of growth and development. The team deliver some exceptional results for its Clients, and I’m delighted to have been welcomed in to harness their skills and expertise.”

Stephanie added: “It’s a really exciting time for Distract. Steve brings a host of knowledge from his experience growing Thoughtmix to one of the largest agencies within the affiliate space. The offerings from both separate agencies complement each other really well and offer the potential for some really unique collaborations.”

Hannah said: “Steve’s approach to Distract and the direction he has presented have been very refreshing and give us a clear plan for the future. His experience in affiliate marketing has given the team a new perspective, and we’re all looking forward to the changes being made and the relationship with Steve and Thoughtmix.”

Delivery partner appointed for UK’s largest open-die forging construction

Tess Egginton
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Delivery partner appointed for UK’s largest open-die forging construction

VINCI Building has been appointed as delivery partner for the UK’s largest open-die forging construction.

The contract, valued at £138 million, will support construction of a 13,800 sqm building to house the UK’s largest open-die forging facility at Sheffield Forgemasters’ Brightside Lane site, as the MoD-owned company drives its substantial recapitalisation programme forward.

VINCI Building will deliver the project to provide foundations, a 40-metre-high superstructure and building service solutions for the facility, alongside teams of subcontractors and supply chain partners.

Gareth Barker, Chief Operating Officer at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “VINCI Building undertook a competitive bids process to secure the Forge delivery contract and as the winning bidder, will now look to move the programme forward at pace.

“Each of these milestones serves to remind the wider UK that we are progressing with a transformation of this business, to create one of the world’s most advanced large-scale engineering facilities, providing decades of jobs security and training for high-technology careers.”

John Roberts, Managing Director of VINCI Building, said: “Signing of this contract brings together three years of tireless work by the team to develop the design and price for Sheffield Forgemasters.

“It gives us the opportunity to step up our social value activities to deliver a positive legacy for the people of Sheffield. I look forward to seeing progress in the coming months.”

Chris Winspear, VINCI Building’s North East Regional Director, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by Sheffield Forgemasters to deliver this transformational project, strengthening our partnership together.

“Our team is making great progress on the new facilities which will deliver on UK defence commitments and support our social value commitments in Sheffield and South Yorkshire. The project further enhances our portfolio in this sector and once complete, will deliver a fantastic manufacturing facility.”

The forging line will service defence and commercial work in sectors such as civil nuclear power, creating a new generation of engineers and designers, trained to work with Industry 4.0 technologies.

It will be complemented by a proposed new machining facility, housing some of the world’s largest and most advanced five-axis Vertical Turning Lathes.

First Rescue to “help save even more lives” after sale

Tess Egginton
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0
First Rescue to “help save even more lives” after sale
First Rescue Training & Supplies, an online retailer of defibrillators, has been sold to Safe Life. Founded in 2003, First Rescue offers a sizeable selection of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) from all major manufacturers, along with a variety of associated products, CPR training equipment and training courses. Based in Selby, North Yorkshire, First Rescue owns the e-commerce site defibwarehouse.co.uk, one of the largest sites in the UK selling AEDs. Safe Life is a Stockholm-based provider of life-saving solutions with portfolio companies across Europe and North America. It has made 24 acquisitions since 2019. The new add-on in the UK with First Rescue strengthens Safe Life’s e-commerce presence in the market and the combination will create what is believed to be the largest AED provider in the UK. “We are excited to be part of the global leader in AEDs. First Rescue has a bright future with Safe Life and we look forward to helping save even more lives in the UK,” said Craig Ward, Founder and CEO at First Rescue. Jimmy Eriksson, CEO of Safe Life, added: “We are thrilled to welcome First Rescue to Safe Life. The acquisition not only enhances our footprint in the UK market but also broadens our range of offerings, enabling us to provide comprehensive solutions to our valued customers.” Jay Singh, KBS Corporate Finance Director who oversaw the deal, believes Safe Life is a “natural home” for First Rescue and that the business will go from strength to strength under its new ownership. “The shareholders have built an excellent business and reputation in the marketplace,” said Jay. “Becoming part of the Safe Life Group allows the business to consolidate its position in the UK market with a global leader in the AED industry. “We received significant interest in the company, but Safe Life was a natural home for the business. It was a pleasure to work with the shareholders and we are confident the business will continue to be a great success.” TLT provided legal services to First Rescue, its core team comprising Ian Roberts (Partner), Seraphina Wilkins-Tolliday (Senior Associate), James Pike (Associate), Mudassar Iqbal (Paralegal) (all Corporate), and William Ngan (Legal Director) (Tax).
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