To think this is fraud and do I say something or stay out of it?

I'm not sure how you've decided this is fraud...? I think you've mis-understood the term. Fraud means taking/making money and not declaring it properly. If she's not paying them anything anyway, then there's certainly no fraud. The only way I could see it possibly happening would be if she WAS paying, but the money was getting pocketed, rather than going into the proper business accounts.

Assuming the people doing the work are getting paid their normal wage, and there's nothing to say they aren't - then what does it matter?

Can they come and do the same for me?! She's a lucky lady with friends in the right places!

That's how I read it too.

Friend?

Well, it’s two completely different scenarios, so yes, I’m sure they would 🤷‍♀️

Have you seen their books? How exactly are they being cooked?

I don't think they are self employed, they have an important position as an employee. Is that correct OP?

she has a family member who is high up in a business and so all of the work is put through the business.

What kind of company - is it owned by the 'family member' or are they just an employee

Who owns the business? I’m trying to think of an example of what you mean. Are you saying that friend’s relative is a senior manager at say … British Gas and every time she has something required like plumbing or boiler work the friend gets one of the British Gas workman to go out and do the work and she doesn’t pay?

If that’s the case then yes it’s fraud and British Gas would be very interested to know about that. If instead you are saying - and this is definitely the case with my neighbours. That the husband owns a construction type company that has employees and when he needs his own house done he uses his own sub contractors to do it and is this lawful? Well I’m sure you’re correct that there’s some tax fudge going on there but I wouldn’t and don’t care about it at all.

Putting in a false invoice to cover the work. They are not the business owner but probably work in the office.

Not your business

Sounds like the family member is not an owner of the business. They could be assigning the work to the business accounts without the owner being aware and then putting in a false invoice. Not an uncommon type of fraud.

I get what you mean OP. We have had some fraud cases like this here in New Zealand. Quite often with public servants who have access to public finances including school principles. Not sure if this is happening with your friend though. Sounds dodgy though if she is getting it for free at employers expense. Unless they have some financial stake in business.

Would be people think feel differently if turns out the relative is high up in the council rather than private sector?

I'm sure they exist, what I mean is it's not something that people shout or boast about in most other places. It would be frowned upon culturally.

I think there might be some misunderstanding on the thread.
OP is this right: Your relative is in a senior position in (let's say) a large company that manages properties and land and so buys in a lot of services like building and plumbing and landscaping. What's happening is that work is being done on a private house and the relative is managing to authorise the same contractors being used and the bills for the work paid by the relative's employing company?
Yeah it's pretty dodgy; I think the only people who would be interested are the more senior management/owners of the employer, but not sure I'd do anything about it.

Alternative if the trades are doing the personal jobs for free as a kickback for getting awarded work on other contracts the company have this would be bribery which is illegal under the bribery act.

Unless you own the business, it's nothing to do with you.

Yep, but guaranteed these types of people exist in every country - you just see it on here as a lot of Brits use it.

"My friend is getting nice things and I'm jealous, how can I ruin it for her?"

If the relative is using the companies money to pay for services for her family member that is embezzlement of it is fraud. Unless the relative owns the company in which case it is their choose, but would be a taxable benefit unless said service is offered to all employees.

Businesses can charge whatever they like - which also means they can charge nothing. It’s not remotely fraudulent 🤣

I get it, you're jealous but it makes zero difference to your life so just do nothing.

I'm sure I've read this scenario before.

Millions of people do this, in fact everyone I know who runs their own business puts things “through the business” for tax/vat reasons. If I got worked up about it I’d never sleep.

On the surface there is nothing to suggest fraud (or theft, which is what I think you are getting at). However, there is plenty to suggest that this isn’t actually your friend.

Just stay well away.