Debbie Bailey

I support sportswear and fitness businesses to build financially confident, resilient teams through practical workplace financial education and coaching. When employees feel in control of their money, they are less stressed, sleep better and show up to work with the energy and concentration you want. 

About

Problems you may already be seeing include rising absence, reduced focus, disengagement from progression opportunities, underused benefits and increased pressure on managers to solve financial issues they are not trained to handle. 

I work with HR, people, leadership and finance teams within sports, fitness and high-performance brands to design and deliver corporate financial wellbeing programs that genuinely make a difference. The data shows that money worries mean: millions lose sleep, some miss work entirely and others are physically present but mentally elsewhere. 

The ripple effect of this work is huge: fewer days off sick, less time spent worrying about money instead of working, and fewer “I need a pay rise to survive” conversations. When people understand how to manage their money, save for the things they want, and make smart tax decisions, they bring more focus, commitment, and positivity to the workplace. 

Money worries don’t just affect those on lower salaries. Around 1 in 8 UK employees are living in what’s known as ‘in-work poverty’, struggling to make ends meet despite having a job. And at the other end of the scale, even people earning £100k+ can feel financial pressure. These so-called HENRYs (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) often face higher living costs, lifestyle pressures, and the impact of tax changes, leaving them feeling just as stressed as colleagues on lower incomes. 

I help organisations support both ends of that spectrum. 

Research shows 77% of UK employees say finances affect them at work, and 4.2 million lose sleep over it. Poor sleep leads to more mistakes, irritability, and absence, and 1 in 10 employees admits to missing work due to financial stress, losing almost 5 working days a year. That’s not taking into account presenteeism, when someone is physically at work but not fully engaged or productive because of stress and distraction. Often, the real cause isn’t shared. An employee might say they’re off with a migraine, a bad back, or stomach issues, but the underlying stress is about money. Others cope by overspending, using alcohol, or comfort eating. All of this still impacts your business, in morale, team relationships, and overall performance. 

Spotting the signs of financial strain can help leaders support their teams better. These can include more absence, reduced productivity, lower-quality work, changes in mood, reduced attention to detail, or delaying retirement. Creating an open culture where it’s safe to talk about money can also help employees make the most of existing benefits, like pensions, share schemes, or private medical cover, that they might otherwise overlook. 

When you equip your team with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to manage their finances, you unlock measurable business benefits: 

• Increased productivity and focus, driving profits. 

• Reduced stress-related absences, easing team pressures. 

• Employees feeling valued and staying longer, increasing retention and lowering recruitment costs. 

• Greater engagement with pensions and employee benefits  

• Fewer reactive pay-rise conversations driven by financial panic 

Financial wellbeing supports your people strategy, strengthens engagement with existing benefits and improves long-term performance. It is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s an essential part of building a healthy, high-performing team. Ideal for awareness weeks, cost-of-living support, benefits engagement drives and seasonal wellbeing campaigns such as stress awareness month and debt awareness week.   

I deliver practical, engaging workplace financial wellbeing sessions tailored to your workforce. I make finance feel simple, relevant, and doable, no jargon, no judgement, just tools people can start using straight away. I weave in mindset or have specific workshops for mindset, because understanding why people make certain money decisions, like spending more when stressed or staying stuck in debt cycles, is key to lasting change. 

I offer: 

• The design and delivery of engaging workplace financial wellbeing sessions, from one-off keynotes to interactive workshops and small group coaching, aligned to your HR and reward priorities. 

• Financial workshops on budgeting, financial literacy, planning, tax implications, money psychology, money management yes and healthy money habits. 

• Lunch & Learn sessions that turn big financial topics into simple, actionable steps. 

• Seasonal campaigns around high-pressure times like Christmas. 

• Group coaching to encourage shared learning and normalise money conversations. 

• 1:1 confidential support for deeper employee guidance. 

• Leadership sessions to help managers integrate financial wellbeing into their people strategy. 

• Workplace financial wellbeing talks which can be tailored around your wellbeing calendar with dates such as stress awareness month, debt awareness week and money talks week.  

I’m a Chartered Management Accountant and Certified Financial Coach, with experience across high-performance industries including fitness, defence, and sports brands. My love of fitness, sports, and wellbeing shines through in my sessions, making them relatable and engaging for your teams. 

I believe anyone can be good with money, they just need the right knowledge, tools, and mindset. Employees leave my sessions feeling confident, in control, and ready to take action. And that’s where the commercial benefit lies; confident employees bring their best energy, help create a positive team culture, and drive business growth. It also supports employee engagement with other benefits you already offer, including pension engagement.  

One recent employer said: 

“The attendees had never really encountered money mindset before, but Debbie made the idea accessible. The session was brilliantly interactive and powerful.”