A business woman who  created a successful internet-based company with the local community at its heart today (Feb 26) won a leadership award sponsored by the Church in Wales.

Rachel Bedgood, founder of Complete Background Screening, won the Business in the Community Award, one of the Leading Wales Awards, at a ceremony at the Hilton, Cardiff.  She was presented with the award by the Bishop of Monmouth, the Rt Rev Dominic Walker, OSG.

Complete Background Screening works with the Criminal Records Bureau to provide screening and vetting services for criminal records, credit searches, employers, tenant references and qualification verifications.

Rachel, 27, set up the business in Ynysybwl, investing in a derelict property where employment is very low and businesses struggle. She employed mothers who had been struggling to maintain a professional career in the area, and raise young children at the same time.

Bishop Dominic praised Rachel’s contribution to her community. He said, “Rachel is helping to develop a more vibrant community in a traditionally declining area. At the centre of her business ethos is her desire to put something back into the community and help regenerate it. She has given people hope and a sense of self belief again.

“The Church in Wales is delighted to be part of the Leading Wales Awards with its support for new aspirations and achievements across the country.

“This award fits in well with our commitment to local people and organisations. We believe the way a leader of any organisation relates to the needs of local communities reflects the levels of  trust, motivation and wellbeing in its spiritual architecture.

“The Church has a ministry of encouragement. Practical examples of good leadership really matter in local communities and one task of the Gospel is to value and encourage them wherever they are found. These awards encourage people to help make our communities better places.”

Rachel said she hoped the award would help her find more work in the public sector. She said, “About 85 percent of our work comes from outside Wales. This award recognises what the business has done for the local community and we would value getting more work from the public sector in Wales in order to serve that community further.”

She said she was delighted the award was sponsored by the Church in Wales. She said, “It is quite poignant as church and chapel going has traditionally been a huge part of life in former mining communities, such as Ynysybwl, and churches are often the only public places still open.”

For more information, please contact:
Anna Morrell
Archbishop's Media Officer / Swyddog y Cyfryngau i'r Archesgob
Tel: 02920 348208; mobile: 07 91 91 587 94
39 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff / 39 Heol y Gadeirlan, Caerdydd
CF11 9XF
http://www.churchinwales.org.uk

 
Notes to editors
 

• The Leading Wales Awards seek to identify people whose leadership is making a real difference

• Whether they are a volunteer, core worker, manager or executive, the awards seek to recognise leaders, at any level, whose leadership is making a difference in Wales and resulting in positive outcomes for their project, business or community.

• The Leading Wales Awards is made up of a consortium of private and public sector organisations:
• 
o Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
o Cardiff Business School
o CBI Wales
o Chartered Management Institute
o Common Purpose
o Harding Evans Solicitors
o Hilton Cardiff
o Learning Pathways Cymru
o Wales Council for Voluntary Action
o Wales Management Council

• Real Radio Wales is broadcast partner for 2009

For more information about the Awards, visit www.leadingwalesawards.com