Just a few weeks ago we reported on the success of South Wales company A&R CLEANING SERVICES, based in Bridgend, in being awarded a multi-year contract with Welsh Water, one of Wales’ largest businesses.
In a time when we have all become more aware, and rightly obsessed with cleaning, itâs reassuring to know the places we, and our family visit, are well sanitised and protected too. A&R are now tasked with the job of ensuring Welsh Waters’ offices, treatment facilities and visitor centre sites across Wales and Herefordshire are a safe, COVID 19 protected environment.
With such a large contract under their belt, in very difficult times for any business, we wondered who A&R Cleaning Services are. And it seems, in this case, it’s time to meet the family.
Local businesswoman and entrepreneur tells the story about how has become one of the fastest growing cleaning and security businesses in Wales.
It has been quite the journey for Rayner Davies and A&R Cleaning Services since itâs creation back in April 2010.
But little did she know that ten years later the business would be employing over 300 members of staff with a turnover in excess of 4 million pounds.
“I wanted to prove to people I was more than just a teen mum.ââ
Rayner Davies – A&R Cleaning Services
She decided to set up a small ironing service that could be balanced alongside being a young mother of two and her community care job.
Rayner told us
“I really didnât have any business knowledge back then!ââ
ââAfter putting the children to bed I would spend my evenings reading up on educational websites and business forums, wanting to learn more about the world of business.ââ
Back in the late 2000âs it was a particularly tricky time to start a business during one of the largest recessions the UK had seen since the Second World War.
But within just a few months of launching, Rayner was able to start employing others, and naturally expand her ironing service to start covering domestic cleaning.
“In the first six months I had so much work I was able to give up my care job and work full-time on the business. Something which I never thought Iâd be able to doââ
Following some steady growth including building a small team, in 2010 Rayner joined forces with her husband Ashley, and with his extensive background in financial services led to the creation of A&R Cleaning Services.
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“Growth was slow, but steady at first and then the business really took off from 2018ââ.
As the client base expanded and the company grew, A&R became renowned for their professional, and personable family-run operation, with a real passion for the cleaning industry.
Alongside numerous industry awards, and recognition the business was listed in Walesâ Fast Growth50 list for the last four consecutive years.
2020 brought an extremely challenging year for not just A&R but the entire cleaning industry.
The Bridgend based enterprise quickly adapted by diversifying our services which helped our clients to keep their places of work open and more importantly COVID secure.
In the same year A&R celebrated their ten-year anniversary and signed off another record-breaking year with an annual growth of 133.5%.
Fast-forward to the present day and now employing over three hundred members of staff across Wales and the South West of England, diversifying in the services they offer including; Security, Janitorial Supplies, Bio-misting, Washroom Services and Pest Control.
One of the key contributors to success has been the family-business ethos the company has always believed in.
In keeping with this theme, Raynerâs daughter Demi has been learning the tricks of the trade, and has been working part-time as a cleaner at a local surgery alongside her college studies.
ââWe wanted Demi to really get an understanding for the business. Our reputation is built on the high standards set by our cleaning staff, and it was important that she understood thatââ.
Through a real emphasis on employee wellbeing and development, Demi isnât the only member of staff working their way through the ranks.
Many of the leadership team started their journey with A&R as cleaning operatives and now hold senior positions.
Office Manager, Chloe Stanford is one of those real success stories. After leaving college with just a few qualifications, she has excelled over the last six years, after starting off as an Office Administer.
Chloe completed various NVQ and ILM funded qualifications to now head up the office staff.
The outlook for the rest of 2021 is much of the same for A&R Cleaning and Security Services, with the business showing no signs of easing up after recently securing a deal with one of Walesâ largest employers and being shortlisted for a FBU Family Business of the Year award.
To find out more about one of Walesâ fastest growing businesses: go HERE.
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