Five entrepreneurs from Swansea Bay have been named in a top 30 list of business stars aged 30 and under.
The list has been compiled by the Western Mail and aims to promote young ambition and success in the region.
The top five from Swansea have been named as Rachel Flanagan, 24, of Mrs Bucket Cleaning Services, Max Boradfield, 20, of Crazyplay, David Hawkins, 30, of Magstim, Harri Lloyd Davies, 30, of Bevan and Buckland and Andrew Downie, 28, of NetBop.
Rachael Flanagan set up Mrs Bucket Cleaning Services when she was just 18 years old and now the business employs 55 people. The company does commercial cleaning, window cleaning, gardening, painting and decorating. Rachel has previously been named the 2009 FSB Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Max Boradfield started his company Crazyplay when he was 19. He wanted to create a play area for children that was also educational. Crazyplay now designs and develops play areas that can include anything from sports courts to ball blaster arenas and cinema rooms, and has installed products as far away as Beijing.
Harri Lloyd Davies is a fully qualified ACA accountant and was appointed as a partner at Swansea-based accountants Bevan & Buckland in May 2010, making him the youngest person to be made a partner within the firm. He also sits on the West Wales committee for the South Wales Chamber of Commerce.
A spokesman for The Western Mail said: “If Wales is to improve the competitiveness of its economy then it needs to encourage more entrepreneurship and risk taking amongst young people.
”It is hoped that some of our 30 rising stars will go on to achieve even greater things with their current businesses.”