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Page 20 December 2024 AD SALES 01204 478812 BUSINESS TO ADVERTISE CALL 01204 478812 £ BUSINESSES are being urged to be on guard against scam letters, emails and telephone calls claiming to be fromCom- panies House. The government has issued guidance on what companies should do if they think they’ve spotted a scam or believe an approach to be suspicious. The guidance includes examples of the wide range of scams that are currently tar- geting businesses including a ‘convincing’ scam letter demanding payments to Com- panies House. Other examples given include companies being contacted over the telephone and asked for payment of a late filing penalty. Companies House stresses that it does not ‘cold call’ businesses to take a payment and will never ask what your authentication code is – or other secure information - over the phone. It adds that if you receive a suspicious email, you should report it immediately at phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk And it stresses: “Do not disclose any per- sonal information or open any attachments.” There is also currently a scam email cir- culating which is impersonating Companies House about a ‘company complaint’. Here, the advice is clear: “Do not click on any links, reply to the email or open any attachments. Please delete the email from all mailboxes including your deleted items.” That same advice is also given to anyone who receives a suspicious email requesting a correction. Other scams targeting businesses include an email request to use an a-Sign platform to download documents. To find out more about scams currently in use and how to deal with them visit: www.gov. uk/guidance/reporting-scams-pretending-to- be-from-companies-house CHORLEY headquartered logistics platform Fulfilment- crowd has celebrated record revenues of £17.4million for 2024 thanks to strong growth at its international arms. The figure was up 23 per cent year on year. Also 22 per cent of group turnover was generated by subsidiaries in Germany and the USA. EBITDA also doubled over the previous year to £1.7m, with strong cash conversion generated from its operations. Chief executive Lee Thompson, said: “The financial results are testament to the strength of ful- filmentcrowd’s strategy and the talented team delivering it. “We are demonstrating that the platform and unique oper- ating model drives customers’ cross-border growth and creates shareholder value. “Building on this result, we will continue to invest in our people and platform to deliver best-in- class solutions for high-growth omnichannel brands.” In the current financial year, the business has already secured new customers across all territo- ries, with annual contract value in excess of £3.5m. And the business says 2025 promises to be “another strong year of progress” with improvedmargins on forecast revenues in excess of £20mand newwarehouse locations in Australia and Republic of Ire- land being added to the platform. Thompson added: “We are com- mitted to financially supporting research and development of the platform which runs a global net- work of fulfilment centres and enables customers to manage their products, stock levels, purchasing, sales orders and deliveries. “During the past 12 months, new best-in-class solutions have been successfully launched, includ- ing the service app which ensures consistent standards across the network and Delivery Assured, a consumer experience platform supporting timely responses and consumer resolutions for complex parcel delivery queries”. COSTA Cof fee has opened its renovated and expanded Middlebrook Retail Park store. It has expanded into the unit next door adding 1,000 square ft and 43 new covers and creating “a more spacious and inviting atmosphere”, according to the company. Costa has also revealed it has recruited six new mem- bers to its Middlebrook team to support the expansion. Tina Reffin, area manager, said: “This expansion not only allows us to serve more cus- tomers, but also enhances the overall experience with our upgraded space and grow- ing team of highly trained baristas. “We look forward to wel- coming everyone to enjoy their coffee in a modern and inviting space.” Logistics platform reports profit acceleration Something special is brewing Beware Companies House scammers American plan: James Cole of Panache A UK luxury cruise retail- er’s expansion into the US has seen it generate an additional $3million (£2.3m) of sales in just four months. Chorley-based Panache Cruises only opened an office in Orlando, Florida, in June but is already seeking larger premises. In the last 12 months Panache Cruises reported a turnover of £22.2m in the UK but founder and chief execu- tive James Cole believes US sales will eventually surpass Cruise retailer’s US office hits $3m sales those in the UK. The com- pany launched in 2020 and already employs a team of 58 in the UK and another eight in the US. Panache Cruises did a soft launch in the US in 2023 but continued to handle all the marketing and sales from its Chorley HQ. Cole said: “We’ve spent the last 12 months understand- ing the cultural differences between the US and UK markets because they are different from a marketing point of view. “Our ambition is to be the world’s largest seller of lux- ury and ultra luxury cruises by 2030. “To do that we have to have the right foundations and base in the UK, which we’ve built over the last four years, but we also have to have significant sales coming from the US market. “The US market is up to six times bigger than that in the UK. We opened our office in Orlando in June but it has already generated $3m in sales in just four months. “It’s still early days for us in the US but we’re growing exponentially and we plan to make additional appoint- ments in the US and move into larger offices.” Cole said Orlando was the perfect base for the cruise retailer. He added: “Miami is the biggest port in the world, and where most of the cruise lines are based. “Since opening our US office we’ve been able to forge better relationships with cruise lines because we’re dealing with them in person.” Panache Cruises is tar- geting £100m turnover by 2027/28 and recently appointed Alex Langton as head of sales and operations and Rhianna Latham as the company’s first head of peo- ple and culture.