Rachel among UK top 100 inspirational female entrepreneurs

Rachel Hayward, founder of Ask the Chameleon and co-founder of Derby Swap Shop, has been named as one of the UK’s 100 most inspirational female entrepreneurs.

She has been recognised for making a powerful contribution to society, the economy and communities, with a placing in Small Business Britain’s f:Entrepreneur #ialso100 campaign.

Rachel founded Ask the Chameleon, a business consultancy specialising in writing funding, tenders and business award applications, in 2015.

She has helped clients in securing £12 million in funding to date and win prestigious awards, including Queen’s Awards.

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And last year, she helped start The Swap Shop in Derby, along with Dean Jackson, from HUUB and think3.

The Swap Shop, which has recently gone national, offers an online marketplace where businesses and other organisations can swap goods and services.

Now in its fourth year, f:Entrepreneur was launched in 2017 to highlight amazing female role models to help and inspire all small businesses, through content, stories and events.

It particularly aims to showcase trail-blazing female entrepreneurs who lead small businesses, alongside a roster of other responsibilities, such as volunteering, mentoring and community support activities.

Rachel said: “I am so proud and honoured to be part of an amazing group of female national entrepreneurs, who always go above and beyond for their teams, clients and business communities.

“I’d like to share this award with all the women who have supported me in my own business, without them in this year in particular, life would have been very challenging.

“I also want to use this award to shine a strong spotlight on the support we can offer through The Swap Shop – the free skills and services swapping platform I created with Huub and think3 to help more businesses and charities get through Covid-19.

“This latest lockdown is another mountain to climb and the help we can give through The Swap Shop perfectly embodies the #ialso campaign.”