Independent sleep practitioner and TV personality James Wilson, has called on more Northern Ireland businesses to promote a healthy night’s sleep amongst employees to improve wellbeing and boost productivity.

Known as the ‘Sleep Geek’ James featured on the More4 TV Series “The Secrets of Sleep” and has 20 years’ experience in his field. James was in Belfast to launch the new Kerr Henderson company Incorporate Benefits and to present to employees of the Lagan Group on how to improve sleep and boost wellbeing.

James’ presentation covered areas including the fundamentals of sleep, how to create and apply a restful environment, routine and relaxation, and information about common sleep disorders.

Research shows that Northern Ireland is the worst UK region for sleep deprivation. Office workers average only 6.19 hours each night. Only 3.5 per cent of local workers reported sleeping for the recommended minimum of eight hours, and just over half of those surveyed (52.6%) reported that they slept well compared to the UK average of 61 per cent.

Commenting on sleeps impact on health and wellbeing James said: “Due to our busy modern lifestyles getting a good night’s sleep is something a lot of people have trouble with but we should prioritise it to enhance our daytime wellbeing which affects our energy, productivity, concentration and mood.  It can be hard to access support and services when needed and I am committed to and passionate about changing this through consultations, coaching, and behaviour analysis.”

Kevin Lagan, Chief Executive and Chairman of the Lagan Group, which is one of the largest privately–owned companies in Northern Ireland and employs over 1,000 people said: “We want to support our employees’ health and wellbeing both in the workplace and the home environment and we believe that James’ expertise is invaluable. We have had very positive feedback from our employees who are looking forward to benefiting from James’ unique insights.”

ENDS