Winner in Wales IOD Family Director of the year award and now Rayner Davies is heading to the nationals in October 2019-Held in the Brewery London for a black tie prestigious awards ceremony where she will be up against the UK finalists.

Rayner left school with only 1 GCSE and had her first baby at the age of 16 and was claiming benefits. At the age of 19 Rayner had her second child and soon realised that for the life she wanted to live was impossible being a young mum and on benefits.

Rayner got a job as a community care worker however the burning desire she had to make more of her life and to prove that she was more than a teen mum on benefits grew stronger with in.

At the age of 23 Rayner decided to try going self-employed, when looking at the qualifications and skills she had Rayner thought that she would try and offer a local ironing service. This is what she done she got a small piece of cardboard and handwritten an advert offering an ironing service. 4 months later Rayner was able to leave her care job and fully focus on the start of her business journey. Rayner now runs A&R Contract cleaning with her husband Ashley Davies which was set up in 2010

Rayner could see that with her husband Ashley on board the business really had the potential to become a number one choice for cleaning contractors in South Wales. But with any family run business trying to grow, they were presented challenges in the early years – with Rayner diagnosed and suffering depression from the age of 19, raising a family and lack of business knowledge posing huge challenges this did not stop them from growing the business and with sheer drive and determination from both Rayner and Ashley, they were able to employ a team of staff which has been the backbone of the business.

Fast forward to 2019, A&R Contract Cleaning Services has diversified in the services they offer and are proud that they now employs nearly 200 staff while providing professional commercial cleaning to 150 clients including two of their largest clients One Central Square and the new Two Central Square Hugh James. A&R Contract Cleaning Services have their sights set on achieving their £2million turnover for 2019 and doubling its staff in the next two years.

These massive achievements have not gone un-recognised and have seen both A&R Contract Cleaning Services and Rayner be awarded multiple times including being awarded for the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 Fast Growth 50 and be awarded for Economic Growth at the South Wales Chamber of Commerce Awards.

Rayner’s achievements have once again been recognised and has been shortlisted for Director of the Year – Family Business at the Institute of Directors of Wales awards. These prestigious awards will be celebrating the best of welsh business and leadership. The Director of the Year – Family Business award recognises individuals in family businesses who have responded to the specific challenges that face directors in family firms who have contributed to the success of the diverse, dynamic and innovative family business director.

Rayner said:

“To win the Welsh IOD Family Business Director Of The Year award was simply mind blowing. To go on to the national awards in London is something that I am so proud of. From where I have come from and the challenges I have faced in life and in business to where I am today with a successful business and two teenage children is something, I am immensely proud of and will always be something I will treasure.”