Member Spotlight: Stephen Eccles, Founder Inner Launch

Introduce yourself:

My name is Stephen Eccles, and I’m a Sport and Exercise Psychologist (In Training). After six years in academia, I’ve returned to practice and founded Inner Launch – a performance psychology venture designed to help individuals and organisations maximise their strengths, adapt to new challenges, and ultimately perform under pressure when it matters most.

Career highlight:

Supporting the GB U18 Women’s Ice Hockey team as their Lead Psychologist when they won the European Four Nations Tournament – seeing the team’s belief and connection translate into performance was an unforgettable moment.

Name three words that describe your personality:

Curious, supportive and driven.

What’s the best thing about pro-manchester?

The sense of community and collaboration. I’m so pleased to be surrounded by individuals who want to help each other to succeed and thrive.

What are your priorities for 2026?

To build meaningful connections and grow the visibility of Inner Launch. My focus is on sharing the value of performance psychology across different sectors. Ultimately, I want to help more individuals and teams recognise that performing at their best starts from knowing their own value.

What do you think are the most important things going on in Manchester at the moment?

Manchester’s focus on wellbeing and community-led innovation really stands out – from grassroots sport to business culture, there’s a growing awareness that performance and mental health go hand in hand.

Favourite meeting place in Manchester?

As I’m new to the area, I’m keen to hear recommendations for coffee!

Are there any particular types of businesses that you would like to meet?

I’d love to connect with law firms, sports organisations, and leadership teams who are passionate about developing people, building resilience, and helping their teams thrive under pressure.