Rachael Flanagan’s story
Rachael founded Mrs Buckét in 2005, at just 18 years old, with £20 and a mop. She was told she would never make it as a business owner. Today she leads a commercial cleaning company serving organisations across Wales and the South West.
How Rachael founded Mrs Buckét
When Rachael Flanagan was 17, she earned pocket money helping her mother clean the house while she studied for her A-level in Business Studies. When results day came, she discovered she had failed, and her teacher remarked that she would never make it as a business owner.
Undeterred, she worked even harder. She spent £20 on printed flyers for her new business, Mrs Buckét, and distributed them around her local area, scouring for any business she could find.
For a long time she did it all herself, working 60 to 70 hour weeks cleaning people’s houses. When she realised she needed help to offer a more efficient service, she hired her first members of staff, and the Mrs Buckét team was born.
In 2019 Rachael sold the domestic arm of the business to focus solely on commercial cleaning. Today Mrs Buckét supports workplaces across a wide range of sectors, from manufacturing and education to healthcare and professional services.
Director of the Year, IoD Awards Wales 2026
In May 2026 Rachael was named Director of the Year for Medium to Large Business at the Institute of Directors Awards Wales. Judges praised her strategic focus, strong governance and people-first culture, and recognised the company’s sustained client wins and robust performance frameworks.
Speaking up for Welsh business
Rachael’s success has led to some unbelievable opportunities. She was personally chosen by the Prince of Wales to attend the 2014 NATO summit in Newport, and travelled to Downing Street twice for St David’s Day receptions as a proud representative of Welsh businesses.
She has shared her business expertise on panels, high-profile roundtables, TEDx talks and keynote speeches, and continues to champion women in leadership and mentor aspiring entrepreneurs.
Leading Mrs Buckét today
Rachael is now Chief Executive, focusing on the strategic direction of the business, while Kate Ablett leads day-to-day operations as Managing Director. The company grew by 30% in 2025 and secured 30 new clients across multiple sectors, including major education contracts.
Her approach still shapes how we work: reliable people, clear standards and a service that takes responsibility for the result.
