Bid-writing expert to speak at ‘Glastonbury of business’

The founder of bid-writing firm Ask the Chameleon has been invited to speak at a major festival for entrepreneurs dubbed the ‘Glastonbury of business’.

Rachel Hayward will be taking to the stage at Ideas Fest 2026, which takes place at Champneys Tring, in Hertfordshire, on 9 and 10 September.

Attracting more than 6,000 attendees, the event brings together founders, business leaders, investors and innovators.

It aims to offer an energetic alternative to a traditional business conference, combining candid conversations, practical insight and valuable connections. 

Rachel will be among around 290 speakers, who include Joel Dommett, Farmer Will, Jessie Wynter and MasterChef champion Brin Pirathapan.

She will be on the Female Founders Unfiltered stage, where she will share her personal business journey and the lessons gained from helping organisations win bids, tenders, frameworks and funding worth £199.6 million.

The Female Founders Unfiltered tent has been organised by Tara Askham, founder of She Starts Smart and Sandra Garlick MBE.

Rachel was invited to participate by She Starts Smart, a values-led initiative established to increase the visibility, credibility and commercial opportunities available to female founders.

Rachel said: “Business stories are often polished until all the difficult, uncertain and deeply human parts disappear.

“I want to share a much more honest account of my journey – what I have learned, what has challenged me and what it genuinely takes to build a successful business.

“I want business owners – particularly female founders and smaller businesses – to leave my session believing that they belong in these spaces.

“Being part of a stage called Female Founders Unfiltered feels particularly important.

“Women do not need another conversation that presents business success as effortless.

“We need honest conversations about confidence, visibility, setbacks, money and the courage required to pursue bigger opportunities.

“If sharing my experiences encourages even one founder to put herself forward for an opportunity she might previously have dismissed, the session will have achieved something worthwhile.”

For more information about Ideas Fest 2026, click here.