Manchester businesswoman and mum of two Rachel Ray is among a high-flying shortlist of just six female owned businesses for the 2012 EN magazine Female Entrepreneur of the Year for her Bright & Beautiful domestic cleaning business.
The awards ceremony and black tie dinner will take place at Mere Golf Resort & Spa in Cheshire on 18th October, when Rachel will find out if her ethical, professional, family and eco-friendly homecare business will take top prize. The shortlisted businesses are drawn from across the North West and includes Rachel’s Altrincham based Bright & Beautiful business.
Since launching Bright & Beautiful in 2007, Rachel, 43, now manages 23 franchises nationwide and also supports many women and children in underprivileged countries.
Rachel says: “I’m so pleased to be among a such a stellar cast of businesswomen and making the shortlist for this award is recognition for all the hard work that our team has put into Bright & Beautiful over the past five years. At a time when female unemployment is at a 23 year high, we’ve helped more then 20 other women to start their own business and also generated 120 jobs for other women; jobs that are family friendly, well paid and with good working conditions.”
Rachel’s vision for Bright & Beautiful was very clear from the start – to support and empower women; clients who need their homes managed; franchise owners who have a business which can earn a great income but fit within school hours; the team who have fair employment rights with a great working environment and impoverished families that the franchisees sponsor overseas. Charities that Bright & Beautiful support include Change 4 Change and Compassion International.
The award winning Bright & Beautiful business model is based around a franchise system that trains women across the UK to manage a team of specialist housekeepers, delivering a high quality service for clients. Bright & Beautiful now has 23 franchises operating across the country, which are run by businesswomen who wanted to step off that corporate ladder – from sales managers to fashion buyers and policewomen. What Bright & Beautiful offers these women is a real opportunity to enjoy both their work and home lives, stepping away from the torn loyalties and guilt that can often result from trying to juggle the two in the corporate world.