Rachel Clacher receives CBE for her services to business and the community

Rachel Clacher has been appointed a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List.

Rachel co-founded Moneypenny with her brother, Ed Reeves, in 2000. Today, Moneypenny is the world’s leading provider of Telephone Answering, Outsourced Switchboard and Live Chat services, with offices in the UK and US.

At Moneypenny, we pride ourselves on our culture and empowering people to do their best

In 2014, Rachel brought Moneypenny’s unique approach to people development to a new charity which she established called the Moneypenny Foundation. The charity, now called WeMindTheGap, gives new opportunities in life and work to unemployed, under-served young people through holistic paid traineeships.

The first traineeships proved so successful - 70% of all participants move into full-time work or education - that the charity has now expanded and runs traineeships in Wrexham, Flintshire, Liverpool and Manchester. The charity recently received a £1.2 million bid from the Big Lottery meaning that it will be delivering 16 traineeships across Wales and the North West by 2023.

Rachel commented: “I am honoured to be receiving a CBE in the Queen’s Honour’s list. It is wonderful to receive acknowledgement for Moneypenny’s success, and for WeMindTheGap. I strongly believe in doing the right thing, treating people well and providing ongoing support. This is not about ticking boxes; it’s about business and communities, and helping young people who are operating within a system that often doesn’t communicate.

At Moneypenny, we pride ourselves on our culture and empowering people to do their best. It is wonderful to see that this ethos translates into WeMindTheGap. The charity has grown and expanded into the North West and will continue to implement new traineeships each year, so young people can transition from ‘prisoners of circumstance’ to ‘pilots of their own lives’.”