A cleaning company which trains unemployed and “hard-to-reach” people, along with international foreign exchange students, has expanded into garden maintenance.
Since it was established in 2009, Bedwas-based grcleaning has grown from a workforce of just two to 13, providing ‘socially responsible’ cleaning services to local business and householders.
Formerly called Graig Rhosyn Cleaning Services, the business was recently awarded £9,000 by the EU-funded South East Wales Community Economic Development (SEWCED) programme towards the cost of re-branding, creating a website and designing brochures and staff training.
Former Secretary of the Aber Valley Communities First Partnership Istvan Racz set up the company alongside two volunteer directors with the aim of generating employment for local people.
Today, the 13-strong workforce is supported by two volunteers providing administrative assistance and a board of five volunteer directors.
Cllr Ken James, Caerphilly County Borough Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development, said: “This is exactly the kind of project that the SEWCED programme supports – one that is genuinely helping to enhance the lives of people and communities across South East Wales.
“I wish the team at grcleaning all the best with this expansion project.”