25/06/2014
Rachael Flanagan, Founder of South Wales-based commercial and domestic cleaning company Mrs Bucket has been recognised as an inspirational business leader at the Inspire Wales Awards.
Rachael Flanagan, Managing Director of Mrs Bucket Cleaning Services, took the prize for ‘Business Leader’ at the prestigious awards, organised by the Institute of Welsh Affairs.
Rachael was one of twelve inspirational individuals, organisations and businesses honoured at the awards ceremony, which took place at Cardiff’s City Hall.
She beat off strong competition from two other finalists to be crowned the winner in this coveted category.
Rachael, who set up Mrs Bucket when she was 18 with just £20 which she spent on promotional flyers, has over the past seven years grown the company from a domestic cleaning company to a full-service cleaning company with offices in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea, 140 employees and over 250 domestic and commercial clients across south Wales.
This award win quickly follows Rachael’s success at the Leading Wales Awards earlier this month where she scooped a ‘Women in Leadership’ award.
On winning the award, Rachael said: “To be recognised as someone who is inspirational is a real honour. I’m inspired by anyone who runs their own business as I know how hard it can be to start up. I also look up to successful female entrepreneurs like Ultimo boss Michelle Mone, who has worked extremely hard to get where she is.
“When I set up Mrs Bucket, I threw myself into it with a clear goal in mind to set up a national cleaning company and while I still have a long way to go, I’m very proud of what the business has achieved.
“I hope that by winning this award my story will inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs and show that age is not a barrier to business success.”
The IWA Inspire Wales Awards reward those in the fields of Education, Arts, Science, Business, the Environment, Sport, Community, Active Citizenship, School Governor and the promotion of the Welsh Language.
Director of the IWA, Lee Waters said: “The Inspire Wales awards always cheer me up. Nobody who heard the stories of the nominees and winners could fail to be moved by their efforts and achievements.
“The awards remind us that Wales has some imaginative, resourceful and determined people, who every day do amazing things.
“Everyone who was shortlisted had to go through a testing process, so to be nominated was an achievement, and to win was a great tribute to their contribution to making Wales better.”
The Institute of Welsh Affairs is an independent, membership-based think tank, and registered charity dedicated to promoting the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales.