About Us

Soar Development was founded by Claire Burgess in 2015 and is based in Oundle, Northamptonshire. Claire has an Masters in Occupational Psychology and qualifications in Coaching and Coaching Supervision, and is passionate about people development. She is an advocate of Positive Psychology and the effect that having a positive approach to situations can have on your life, encouraging others (and herself!) to grab opportunities that come along and look for the best in all situations.

It was in such an ‘opportunity-grabbing’ moment that Claire decided to trial her Aspiring Women into Leadership course, a personal and professional development course aimed at women, with a group of teachers who wanted to grow in confidence and have the time and space to focus on themselves. It was a hit and she has now run the course for a number of school clusters and Academy Trusts with 100% satisfaction. She also runs this for private organisations, both in person and virtually. Following this, in 2019 Soar Development were delighted to be asked to run the ‘Women in Diplomacy’ programme for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, focusing on career development for females within the diplomatic service, with extremely positive feedback.

After becoming a mum herself, realising the struggle that all mums face in getting the holy grail of perfect work-life balance, and finding that coaching helped address this (or at least address the need to get it right), Claire moved her core focus to working with women, and other mums, including support around maternity transition back into the workplace. She offers 1-2-1 coaching to help support women overcome the barriers they have to being where they want to be, professionally or personally.

More recently, Claire has branched out in her skillset to become a qualified Coach Supervisor, with a PG Cert in Coaching Supervision. She loves working with Coaches at all points in their career, but especially with those who are just starting out as a Coach who often benefit from additional support and guidance in the early days of their career. Claire also has a deep love of the outdoors, and has a qualification in Equine Facilitated Learning (coaching and facilitation with horses on the ground with groups and individuals, to raise self awareness and wellbeing), as well as a Paddleboard Instructor qualification to get individuals and groups out in nature and having fun!

Claire currently works with a team of associates to provide a range of development opportunities for a number of organisations, across the Private, Public and Education sectors, as well as working with individuals on their own development.

Claire was delighted to win awards in 2021 for ‘Best Women in Leadership Coach’ and in 2022 for ‘Leading Provider of Women’s Professional Development Programmes’ in the SME Midlands and UK Enterprise Awards.