Sleep expert and changemaker Nicole Ratcliffe, founder of The Workplace Sleep Coach and Baby2Sleep, has been named One to Watch at the prestigious Woman Who Solopreneur Awards 2025, recognising her pioneering work to transform how the UK approaches sleep, wellbeing and gender equity in the workplace.
Selected from more than 300 business entries, Nicole was one of just 20 solopreneurs across the UK to be recognised for making a tangible difference to wellbeing, equality, and leadership culture.
Judges’ comments:
“Nicole was the judges’ clear winner for a One to Watch award, and they are excited to see how she builds on the amazing foundations she has built. She’s definitely changing the world, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.”
Sandra Garlick MBE, Founder of the Woman Who Solopreneur Awards, added:
“The One to Watch recognition celebrates solopreneurs who are already making an impression early in their business journey. In the seventh year of the Awards, it’s inspiring to see such a high standard of emerging talent. These women are the future, confident, ambitious, and ready to make their mark.”
Making Sleep Education a Core Part of Workplace Wellbeing
Nicole’s mission is clear, to make sleep education as essential as manual handling training in workplaces across the UK.
“Sleep deprivation is one of the most underestimated wellbeing challenges in the workplace,” Nicole explains. “It impacts performance, retention, safety, and mental health, but with the right education and culture, it’s entirely preventable. I want sleep education to be taken as seriously as manual handling training, because the impact of fatigue can be just as dangerous.”
Through The Workplace Sleep Coach, Nicole delivers research-led workshops, talks and consultancy for leading organisations including Oscar Kilo – The National Police Wellbeing Service, Police Scotland, Centrica, John Lewis Partnership, Bouygues UK, and several national law firms.
Her work supports HR and leadership teams to:
💜 Improve employee wellbeing and resilience
💜 Reduce burnout, absenteeism, and fatigue-related incidents
💜 Strengthen psychological safety and gender equity
💜 Build a culture where staff can perform at their best. without sacrificing their health or home life
Recognised Across Multiple Awards
Nicole’s One to Watch success follows a series of prestigious recognitions in 2025, including:
Shortlisted – This Is Manchester Awards (Organisation or Individual Promoting Wellbeing)
Finalist – Female Business Awards (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category)
Finalist – BizWomen Awards (Resilience category)
These nominations highlight Nicole’s growing national influence as a thought leader and advocate for preventative wellbeing, championing workplace cultures that value rest as a foundation for performance and equality.
Research-Driven and Rooted in Real Experience
Nicole’s mission is personal. After experiencing severe sleep deprivation following the birth of her first child, losing her job and her sense of self in the process, she discovered how poorly sleep is understood and supported in both family and workplace settings.
She has since published two major research papers:
Breaking the Silence: Revealing the Truth about Parenting and the Workplace (link added)
Supporting Sleep Health: The Key to Occupational Wellbeing and Productivity (link added)
Nicole is now leading her third national research project exploring the connection between sleep deprivation, parental mental health, and systemic inequality, with the aim of influencing national workplace and maternity/paternity policy. There are also opportunities to sponsor this research as a corporate partner, so please contact Nicole for more information.
Partner With The Workplace Sleep Coach
Nicole works with organisations of all sizes to improve wellbeing, performance, and retention through evidence-based sleep education and cultural change.
If your business is ready to take sleep seriously, and to build a healthier, more resilient and inclusive workplace, get in touch today.
