About Us

About Soar Development

At Soar Development, we believe everyone has the potential to achieve their ambitions. Since 2015, we’ve been supporting individuals and organisations with programmes, coaching, and training designed to build confidence, unlock strengths, and inspire growth. From women stepping into leadership roles, to teams in education and business, to individuals seeking clarity and balance, our mission is to help people thrive.

Meet Claire Burgess

Soar Development was founded by Claire Burgess, an award-winning coach with a Master’s in Occupational Psychology and qualifications in Coaching and Coaching Supervision. Claire is passionate about people development and is a strong advocate for Positive Psychology; the belief that a positive mindset can transform how we face challenges and opportunities.

Our Journey So Far

What started as a trial programme with a group of teachers has grown into a portfolio of successful leadership and personal development courses. From running the Aspiring Women into Leadership course for school clusters and academy trusts, to delivering the Women in Diplomacy programme for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Soar Development has consistently received outstanding feedback and achieved 100% satisfaction from participants. In recognition of this work, Claire was awarded Best Women in Leadership Coach in 2021 and Leading Provider of Women’s Professional Development Programmes in 2022.

Our Approach

We combine expertise in psychology, coaching, and training with a supportive, inspiring style. Whether it’s 1-to-1 coaching, group programmes, or bespoke training for organisations, every session is designed to create space for reflection, growth, and action. Our focus is always on empowering people to gain clarity, confidence, and lasting skills for the future.

Beyond the Office

Claire’s love of the outdoors brings an extra dimension to development. She is a qualified Equine Facilitated Learning practitioner and Paddleboard Instructor, using nature and activity as powerful tools to raise self-awareness, support wellbeing, and encourage personal growth.

Our Reviews

Dipali P

Great working with other women, loved the focus of the course as women have different barriers to progression, so this environment made it much easier to share and be honest, so outcomes were more realistic and actually helpful.

Kay T

Refreshing in every sense: A chance to reflect on the whats, whys, and hows of your career; done in an environment where you are supported and challenged. This course is like nothing else I have ever done - inspirational.

Andrew Willis

Claire is a knowledgeable and insightful Learning and Development professional who quickly cultivates positive relationships with peers and senior manager colleagues. She has an innate ability to quickly identify the exact learning need and then develop creative solutions to address. I have found that she is trusted by those she works with, works to a very high standard and possesses great integrity. A pleasure to work with.

Activate Learning

CEO

"The whole day was an inspiration, hearing other people's aspirations and goal setting. Positivity was 'soaring'.

CEO

Coaching Client

Thank you for all your support and listening ear which I have felt has contributed to getting me to where I am now. I would have no hesitation in recommending you to colleagues.

Career Development

Project Leader for Women in Diplomacy

I have worked with Claire on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's flagship Women in Diplomacy project: a career development programme for female diplomats from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Poland. I have been impressed by Claire's ability to quickly grasp the learning needs of a diverse international cohort and to understand how her training fits in with the project's wider objectives in a complex political environment. Claire has been responsive, flexible, open to challenge, enthusiastic and dedicated. It's been a pleasure!

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Head of Manufacturing

Claire has enabled me, coached me and given me confidence throughout my journey as a senior leader, resulting in a promotion sooner than expected. Claire's style is supportive, questioning and she has the ability to summarise in such a way that it makes me teel listened too and understood. I have been able to apply this to my own team with some excellent results building a strong team around me. / highly recommend Claire to anyone, especially as a female in a male dominated environment.

Stannah

Joanne Lord

Claire is an excellent trainer and motivator, she enables people to realise their potential through aspirational thinking and workshops designed to harness individual strengths for positives outcomes for onward progression.

Senior Head of Department

Nicola Fraser

I had the pleasure of working alongside Claire on a project for DMU delivering Constructive Conversation Workshops and evaluating a forward thinking strategy for the Organisational Development team. I found Claire to be professional, creative and committed to producing high quality work through active listening and teamwork. I look forward to working with her again in the future.

Dragonfly HR Ltd

Aly King-Smith

Claire is a joy to collaborate with. Straight and true, Claire is full of integrity and authenticity. She's committed, highly qualified, experienced - and importantly, very committed to the benefits of positive psychology. l've enjoyed watching her be brave in her business and you will find a highly competent trainer and coach.

Director at Clearworks

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