WHEN Rachael Flanagan failed her business A-Level exam she knew it was not the end of the world.

The youngster had her sights set on creating her own business.

At the age of 18 she set up her Mrs Bucket cleaning business in Pontarddulais. And she never looked back.

Within three months she was employing two people. Now, nearly three years later she has 22 people working for her and 110 customers. And Rachel is aged 21.

Hers is an inspiring example of how to succeed in business.

She is one of just six young entrepreneurs from all over the country to make the final of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

She decided on the name Mrs Bucket, pronounced "Bouquet" after Hyacinth, the character in hit TV sitcom Keeping up Appearances.

Rachael said: "My mother had a cleaner who kept letting her down.

"I was aged 17 at the time and thought it would be good to have a company and be in control of staff and where you can monitor the standards.

"So I was waiting for the results of my business A-Level, but failed.

"I was too much wrapped up in waiting to set this up.

"I started with £20, which I spent on flyers, and had 1,000 made and I never looked back.

"At first I was sitting around waiting for phone calls, but it soon picked up."

Her business now covers an area from Cardiff to Llanelli.

Rachael now plans to "focus in the next few years on the brand, Mrs Bouquet, and hopefully go into garden services."

She now goes to Claridges, in London, in November, where the winner will be announced.

Rachael said: "It doesn't really bother me or the staff that I'm young. I do try and be professional. I don't talk like a 21-year-old."

Rachael, as you can probably tell, is not a typical 21-year-old. In fact, she is a chip off the old block, as she explains: "I wanted to work for myself and do as well as my father, who had built up a national catering company."

Dai Davies, the FSB Regional Organiser for South Wales, said: "We wish Rachael every success in this most prestigious event and are very proud to have such a strong contender from Wales.

"She is really outstanding and certainly deserves to have reached the national final."