|PIC1|A leadership award sponsored by the Church in Wales has been handed to a business woman whose successful internet-based company places serving the community at its heart.

The Business in the Community Award, one of several Leading Wales Awards, was presented to Rachel Bedgood, founder of Complete Background Screening, by the Bishop of Monmouth the Rt Rev Dominic Walker in a ceremony in Cardiff on Thursday.

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.

Ms Bedgwood, 27, established her business in a derelict building in Ynysybwl, an area with high unemployment and where business struggle. She employed mothers who had been struggling to build a career in the area at the same time as raising young children.

She said she was delighted the award was sponsored by the Church in Wales.

“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.”

Ms Bedgwood said she hoped the award would help her find more work in the public sector.

“About 85 per cent 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.”

Praising her contribution to her community, Bishop Walker 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 Leading Wales Awards support new aspirations and achievements across the country. Bishop Walker stresed the role of the Church in encouraging good leadership.

He said: “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."