♀️Swindon & Wiltshire’s Most Inspiring Women 2026 | Rachel Spratling

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, we’re celebrating Swindon & Wiltshire’s most inspiring women.

Through our website and social media channels, we asked our readers which women in our community inspire them and created a list of 20. The list will be featured in our Spring magazine and every weekday throughout March we are profiling and championing each of these fantastic women online and via our social feeds.

Today we put the spotlight on Rachel Spratling, Founding Director at Chalkhill Blue.

Tell us more about you and your work…
I am a Founding Director of  Chalkhill Blue, where we provide board-level advisory and business coaching for ambitious SME leaders seeking clarity, confidence and measurable results. I’m privileged to be able to work each and every day with some incredibly ambitious business owners and to be able to help them grow, evolve and achieve the futures they aspire to. Consequently, my coaching is rooted in connection. I do not just work with businesses, I work with people. Over the years I have become not only a coach/advisor but a trusted confidante, supporter, and in many cases an honorary member of the family.

Alongside Chalkhill Blue, I am also co-owner of The Pure Feed Company and Purple Lime Accountancy. Having rescued the first from administration three years ago and bought the latter from its original owners, we’ve worked hard to successfully scale both businesses. Better still, they both now have incredible teams of people leading them and driving them on to even greater heights.

All three businesses reflect my passion for helping people and organisations thrive. Whether I am supporting entrepreneurs through major milestones, helping to create financial clarity, or building brands of our own, everything I do is about empowering people to be the best version of themselves.

What are you most proud of?
I am incredibly proud of the deep and meaningful relationships I have built with clients. Many of them see me as part of their extended family. I have been invited to countless weddings and major life events, and my longest-standing client has been with me for more than a decade. Between the three of us, mum, daughter and me, we genuinely feel like a team.

I am also proud of the community and network we have built. Clients collaborate, support one another, and grow together. Seeing business owners achieve their dreams, whether that is buying their forever home, taking a dream holiday, or building a business that gives them real freedom, is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.

How does it feel to be recognised as one of Swindon & Wiltshire’s Most Inspiring Women?
I feel proud, humbled and genuinely touched. I had no idea I had been nominated. To be recognised by colleagues, clients and strategic partners feels very special. Knowing that the people I care about felt compelled to do that means everything to me.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and brilliance of women everywhere. It is a chance to celebrate progress, honour the women who paved the way, and recognise the work that still lies ahead. For me, it represents empowerment and the belief that when women rise, entire communities rise with them.

This year’s IWD theme asks us to think about how giving benefits everyone. What’s an example from your work or community life where supporting another woman led to something meaningful in return?
Supporting women in business is one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do. I have worked with women who are taking their first steps into leadership, battling self-doubt, or scaling businesses far beyond what they imagined possible. Offering guidance, belief and encouragement has helped many of them grow in confidence and ability.  I am told I am often sat on their shoulder while they are running their businesses, telling them to ‘put their big girl pants on’ and be awesome.

What I have received in return has been just as meaningful – deep trust, lasting friendships, and the joy of seeing women step into their power. When you support one woman, you create a ripple effect that lifts families, teams, clients and communities. Giving truly benefits everyone involved.

What piece of advice would you share with your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to look after yourself first, not last. In 2023 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, which at just 53 years old was both an unexpected and significant turning point. It forced me to stop, reassess, and finally prioritise my own wellbeing. It led me to start doing things I should have done years earlier, such as going to the gym regularly, eating well, looking after my gut health, and taking my physical and mental health seriously.

Because of this shift, I am now fitter, stronger, and healthier than I have been in more than 30 years. I wish my younger self had known that looking after yourself is not something to fit in around everything else. It is the foundation that allows everything else to flourish.

I would also tell her that she is the only limit on her ambition and success. If you believe in yourself and trust your instincts, anything is possible.

This feature is sponsored by Goughs Solicitors. The team at Goughs believe in championing ambition, celebrating achievement and creating opportunities for women to connect, lead and thrive.