Operating in a male-dominated industry, Rachel Fleri has seen her security business flourish since taking the entrepreneurial plunge nearly 20 years ago.
The former secondary school science teacher set up Specialist Security Co Ltd back in 2001 in Cardiff, initially providing manned door security before branching out to provide security services to the construction industry.
The business has 150 employees working with over 40 clients, including Network Rail, Willmot Dixon, Savills and JR Smart.
She said: “Having started Specialist Security 19 years ago, I’m so proud of how far its come.
“In this industry it is really important to have a strong team and to be able to build trust between us and our customers.
“It’s also important for myself and the management team to trust that our guards are always where they need to be and are equipped to do what they need to.
“Over time, we’ve built a reliable team of guards who really represent the company well.
“As with any business, we’ve had ups and downs, but you have to enjoy the ups and learn from the downs to keep going.
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“Security has for a long time been a very heavily male-dominated industry with our construction clients being the same.
“There are two main barriers to being female in a male-dominated industry: credibility and business development.
“Many people assume that, being female, you don’t have the ability to advise on security or manage staff of the opposite sex and in many meetings it has been assumed that a male colleague of mine is the one in charge.
“Where business development is concerned, the key to this is building professional relationships which can be tricky male to female.”
Alongside running her business she has been a board member of Wales & West Housing since 2012 and is also chair of its subsidiary maintenance company, Cambria. She is a also member of the council of CBI Wales.
Ms Fleri is on the security guarding section committee of the British Security Industry Association.