Every business has a story, and The Work Bees is no different. From early ideas and experiences through to where we are today, our journey has been shaped by a desire to support businesses in a more practical, collaborative and human way. Read on to discover how The Work Bees began, how it has evolved, and what continues to drive us forward.
How it began
The Work Bees was founded in 2015 by Rachel Way and was born out of both frustration and inspiration. After years of working across a wide range of industries, she found herself held back not by capability but by credentials, titles, and organisational constraints.
Surrounded by entrepreneurs in an incubator space, Rachel began to imagine what might be possible if she channelled her experience and curiosity into her own venture. What started as a small solo business soon became a trusted support partner for organisations who needed clarity, structure, and confidence to move forward.
The early years of growth
From the beginning, Rachel’s work had a strong human focus. She helped clients untangle operational knots, prioritise what mattered, and finally make progress. As the business grew, she noticed that many of her clients needed much more guidance than the hands-on support she was offering and a dependable partner who could help plan work, not just deliver it.
Like many businesses, The Work Bees’ journey included seasons of momentum and seasons of pause. There were periods when Rachel’s natural drive to support others drew her deeply into her clients’ worlds, and other periods when family needed to come first. These experiences shaped The Work Bees into something sustainable, human, and grounded in real lived experience.
The journey so far
The Work Bees is founded
2015
The Work Bees is created by Rachel as a way to bring together her experience across different industries and her desire to support small businesses more directly. What begins as a solo venture quickly becomes a trusted source of clarity and practical help.
Learning alongside entrepreneurs
2016-2018
Working in and around an incubator space, Rachel supports early-stage and growing businesses, helping them untangle day-to-day challenges. These years deepen her understanding of what business owners really need to feel supported.
From hands-on support to advice, guidance and planning
2019-2021
As relationships deepen, clients begin asking for more than hands on support; they want more help running the business. The Work Bees gradually evolves from administration support into a more involved, managed business support partner.
Pausing, regrouping and redefining
2024-2025
Family priorities and changing client needs prompt Rachel to slow the pace and reassess the shape of the business. This becomes a valuable chance to reflect on what feels sustainable, human, and true to the original vision.
A new chapter
2025+
Rachel meets Helen, whose skills and energy complement her own, and they begin exploring a shared future for The Work Bees. Together, they start shaping the business into a managed support partner with a clearer structure, stronger vision, and room to grow.
Helen joins the team
In 2025, Rachel began imagining a bigger future for The Work Bees. It was during this period of renewed clarity that she met Helen Perry, whose energy and skill set complemented her own. Helen joined to explore this shared ambition with a longer-term intention of becoming a partner, marking an exciting new chapter for The Work Bees as it grows with purpose, partnership, and heart.
What makes us buzz
At the heart of The Work Bees is the belief that small businesses thrive when they have the right support at the right time. We champion clarity so leaders can make informed decisions. We create structure so good ideas become real progress. And we value partnership because no business should have to navigate growth alone.
Looking ahead
The next chapter for The Work Bees is focused on building a supportive and high-calibre network of specialists who can help businesses move from overwhelm to confidence.
With a human-led approach and an ambitious vision, The Work Bees is becoming the kind of partner small businesses can rely on for both strategy and delivery, today and as they grow.
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