Independent coaching for everyone in the workplace

The Person Behind the Professional.

Support your staff.Strengthen performance.Build trust.

Build a workplace people want to join—and support them enough that they choose to stay.

Independent, confidential coaching for employees and leaders, with an on-site, face-to-face introduction, practical next steps and online follow-up with the same coach.

A familiar face. A confidential space. Someone to come back to.

Enquire about staff support Explore the introductory pilot

Supporting the person behind the professional.Coaching with Sophie Bell, drawing on 13 years in education and 6 in senior leadership.Read my founder’s story →

47%^*

of UK adults surveyed say mental health support would influence their decision to join or stay with an employer.

37%^**

of UK employers surveyed say their approach to wellbeing is much more reactive than proactive.

57%^**

of organisations reporting stress-related absence cite at least one non-work factor among their top three causes.

* Semble, July 2026. ** CIPD / Simplyhealth, 2025. UK-wide research, not school-specific. About the research →

Show people their wellbeing matters

OWN.UR.OWN is more than a phone call.

Want to build a workplace people choose to join—and stay in?

Ethical leadership. Meaningful support. A sustainable working life.

As millennials shape leadership and Gen Z build their careers, how people are supported matters. Deloitte’s 2026 global research highlights their desire for sustainable workloads, clear support and achievable progression. Read the research →

OWN.UR.OWN® helps you support the person behind the professional through independent, confidential coaching. A face-to-face introduction, practical next steps and online follow-up with the same coach—for employees and leaders at every stage.

Support your staff. Strengthen performance. Build trust.

1 in 4 UK workers say their job negatively affects their mental health. CIPD Good Work Index 2025 →

For everyone in the workplace

Every role. Every level. Private, one-to-one support to feel heard, build confidence and work through difficult decisions.

Simple signposting

Line managers can point people towards support without needing to know their personal circumstances. Staff can contact Sophie directly through the agreed access arrangements.

For schools, trusts & companies

Show staff they matter, with anonymised feedback to help plan future support.

Our core organisational offer

A regular presence. Support that continues.

Personal pressures come to work too. Get to know Sophie, talk privately and return to someone familiar as you work through practical next steps.

Meet in person. Continue online.

A familiar face. One private, face-to-face coaching appointment at your workplace to get to know Sophie.
A confidential space. Follow-up coaching through weekly Zoom calls, with time to talk and work through practical next steps.
Someone to come back to. The same coach throughout. Additional on-site introductions, registration and drop-ins are agreed with your organisation.

Session numbers, timings, a private room and any on-site drop-ins are agreed before support begins.

Ways to work together

Workplace pilot

Six staff, three sessions each: 18 private sessions over six weeks. Smaller option: four staff, 12 sessions.

Explore workplace support →

Six-week introductory school pilot · £795

Four staff, three private sessions each—12 sessions in total. One 30-minute school appointment and two 40-minute Zoom follow-ups per person, with an introductory briefing, resources and anonymised evaluation.

Session dates and delivery scope are confirmed in your proposal. The pilot does not include six full on-site days. Additional drop-ins or ongoing support are agreed separately.

Explore school support →

By enquiry only. Pilots are agreed directly and invoiced separately.

Research and source notes

47% — employer preferences. Semble’s July 2026 article reports a survey of 1,000 UK adults. This finding covers all ages, not just under-30s, and concerns mental health provision broadly.

37% — reactive support. CIPD / Simplyhealth, 2025 (PDF, p.11): respondents described taking action after sickness absence rather than proactively promoting wellbeing.

57% — pressures outside work. The same report (PDF, p.13) covers organisations reporting stress-related absence. Non-work factors include personal health, relationships, family and financial concerns.

The CIPD survey included 1,101 HR and management respondents. These UK-wide findings are not school-specific and do not measure OWN.UR.OWN’s impact.

For schools: education staff wellbeing research and Ofsted guidance →

Your questions, answered.

Who is the service for?

Everyone in the workplace, whatever their role or level. This includes employees, support and operational teams, leaders and line managers. You can contact Sophie directly through your organisation’s agreed access arrangements.

Line managers can simply signpost people to support. You do not need to explain your personal circumstances to them; personal session conversations are not routine reports to managers.

Who delivers the support?

Sophie Bell, founder of OWN.UR.OWN, provides independent, non-clinical coaching. Staff can get to know the same coach and return for agreed follow-up.

Sophie brings 13 years in education and 6 in senior leadership, with CMI Level 7 training in Leadership Coaching and Mentoring.

Is it confidential?

Personal conversations are private and are not routine reports to managers. Confidentiality limits, including safeguarding, serious risk of harm and legal duties, are explained before support begins.

Leaders receive anonymised feedback. Information is combined or withheld where someone could be identified.

What happens at a drop-in?

A chance to meet Sophie, ask a question or talk about what support might help. You choose what to share. Private coaching and follow-up can then be arranged within your organisation’s agreed provision.

Drop-in times, appointment capacity and a suitable private room are agreed with leaders.

How does this fit alongside an EAP?

OWN.UR.OWN focuses on a familiar on-site coach, personal introductions and continuity through agreed follow-up. It complements your Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), HR and occupational health provision.

EAP services vary. We agree how coaching fits with the support you already have, without claiming better outcomes or assuming other providers lack face-to-face support.

What if someone needs more support?

Sophie is trained in advanced safeguarding, is a Mental Health First Aider and has completed training through IDAS in recognising indicators of domestic abuse.

Sophie helps staff identify practical next steps and signposts to appropriate specialist services. Coaching is non-clinical and does not provide therapy, diagnosis or medical advice.

How is support set up?

Email Sophie with your organisation’s name, location and preferred start date. Together, agree on-site hours, access arrangements, appointment capacity and follow-up.

Coaching starts with a face-to-face appointment at work, followed by weekly Zoom calls within the agreed number of sessions. On-site drop-ins are arranged with your organisation. Support is agreed directly and invoiced separately.

Enquire about staff support →

A simple first step

Let’s talk about your team.

Email Sophie with your organisation’s name, location and preferred start date. Let her know whether you’re interested in the school or workplace pilot.

Then discuss what fits your setting, agree arrangements and receive a proposal. Pilots are invoiced separately—there’s nothing to buy online.

Please don’t include staff names or sensitive personal details in your initial enquiry.

sophie@ownurown.co.uk

Enquire about staff support

For companies & workplace teams

Support for the person, not just the role.

Work, family pressures, relationships and difficult decisions: confidential coaching with Sophie gives staff, leaders and line managers space to talk. Managers can simply signpost people without needing the personal details.

Meet someone familiar

Start with a private, face-to-face coaching appointment at work. Introductions, registration and on-site drop-ins are arranged with your organisation.

Build continuity

Continue with the same coach through weekly Zoom follow-ups, within your agreed number of sessions.

Start with a pilot

A separate six-week workplace pilot offers three sessions each for six staff, or a smaller four-person option. Scope and pricing are agreed directly.

Agreed directly and invoiced separately. No online purchase required.

Enquire about staff support

For everyone in the workplace

A space to work through what’s happening.

Talk openly, feel heard and explore your next step. You choose what to share.

Feeling overwhelmedPressures at workFamily and relationshipsLife changesDifficult conversationsBoundariesPractical worriesFinding the right support

What might we talk about?

Illustrative examples, not accounts of real sessions. You decide what to share.

OWN.UR.OWN®

Too much to juggle

You“I’m caring for a parent and struggling to switch off at work.”

Your OWN.UR.OWN coach“What feels hardest right now? Let’s identify what could help and one manageable next step.”

Because performance starts with people.

OWN.UR.OWN®

A difficult conversation

You“I need to talk about my workload, but I don’t know how to start.”

Your OWN.UR.OWN coach“What would you like your manager to understand? We can prepare what you want to say and the support you’d like to ask for.”

Because performance starts with people.

OWN.UR.OWN®

Finding your confidence

You“I’m coming back after time off and feel unsure of myself.”

Your OWN.UR.OWN coach“What would help your first week feel more manageable? Let’s explore routines, concerns and questions for your manager.”

Because performance starts with people.

Coaching offers reflection and practical planning, not therapy or medical advice. Formal return-to-work arrangements stay with your employer and the appropriate professionals.

How to access support

Contact Sophie directly through your organisation’s agreed booking arrangements. You don’t need to explain your personal circumstances to your line manager. You can also explore individual support.

PAUSE SORT CHOOSE OWN

Pause to talk. Sort what matters. Choose a next step. Own your decisions.

Sophie BellFounder of OWN.UR.OWN®

Founder’s story

Former Assistant Principal · Educator & Coach · BBC Bitesize Science Advisor

The person behind the professional was me.

At 27, I had just become Head of Science. I was good at my job and progressing in my career. Privately, I was struggling.

I needed somewhere to speak openly and work out next steps. That experience, alongside my education and coaching background, shaped OWN.UR.OWN.

People can be excellent at their jobs and still need support. I know, because I was one of them.

Experience, training and safeguarding

13 years in education; 6 in senior leadership. CMI Level 7 trained in Leadership Coaching and Mentoring. Postgraduate study in Learning and Teaching, University of Oxford.

Enhanced DBS held. Additional training includes safeguarding, domestic abuse awareness and risk recognition, and Mental Health First Aid.

For individuals