Let’s go back to where it all began. Helios started life not in a boardroom, but around a kitchen table in a terraced house in Macclesfield. What do you remember most about those early moments?
Emma shares: “On Day 1, our very first discussion centred around the kind of organisation we wanted to be. Culture has always been so important to the three of us as the founders of Helios. We had a strong belief that a healthy, sustainable business can only be built by creating an environment where fantastic people have the opportunity to develop the highest quality work. From the outset, we wanted to work with clients on therapies that address areas of high unmet need, in the disease areas where we were experts. We feel privileged that over the years we’ve had the opportunity to partner with the most amazing clients working on some truly groundbreaking therapies.”
She continues: Looking back, I’d love to revisit our first ever day of Helios, sat around my kitchen table with coffee and biscuits. I think we all felt that mix of excitement, adrenaline and nerves. I would love to be a fly on the wall watching us all on that day, to take every moment and conversation in again, especially knowing what we know today.”
From day one, Helios set out to challenge conventions — and that original commitment remains central today. But what does “doing things differently” really mean?
Simon reflects: “For us, doing medical communications differently was, and remains, closely linked to our ethos — ‘aim for excellence’ and ‘be a great place to work’. We continuously reflect on this as we make critical decisions and challenge ourselves to maintain our standards and develop the environment we create for our team to thrive. So, I’d say we are still doing things differently after 10 years!”
Like many new ventures, early success came through a mix of hard work, strong science, perseverance and a few pivotal opportunities. When did you know Helios was really gaining momentum?
Andrew explains: “In the early days, there was a lot of effort in trying to gain new clients in therapy areas where we had a lot of scientific expertise. One of these opportunities was with a top 10 pharma customer, and in January 2016 we found out we were successful in a pitch to support four advisory boards. Once we won this, we knew we would do a brilliant job and more work would follow. The rest, as they say, is history, and we are still working on that account 10 years later.”
He adds: “A particular highlight from our early days was securing one of our very first clients (unknown to us at the time), who lived in California, by tracking her down on LinkedIn and sending a capabilities deck. It was 9 months into the partnership before we actually met in person! I believe the ability to persevere and keep the faith is vital in the early stages of any business. It’s easy to get disheartened when opportunities don’t convert, but sticking to our vision and keeping up our consistent efforts has certainly paid off.”
Helios has grown with purpose — expanding within the UK and internationally, launching new ventures and welcoming new businesses into the fold. What are you most proud of?
How do your clients describe the Helios difference?
And what does that culture look like from within? What makes Helios a great place to work?
Simon shares his perspective: “I think I can talk for all of the Directors, and say we believe a great place to work is about giving everybody the environment, opportunity and support to do their best possible work. It means being realistic about the scale and type of work you can take on and whether you have the appropriate capacity and expertise to deliver on opportunities. It involves developing individuals continuously, so that they can grow in their careers and take on new challenges. Lastly, it’s about fostering that ‘energy’ to work collaboratively, to get things done and make a difference for clients and, ultimately, patients.”
Emma agrees and adds: “I think we can all safely say that without having the right people you cannot thrive as a business. We can’t take the credit for the success of Helios – our team have really shaped and driven the business to where it is now.”
How have you built an environment where people can grow with the business?
Looking ahead, what are the biggest areas of change — and opportunity — for Helios?
Emma elaborates: “Two main areas immediately come to mind from the many opportunities we currently see. Firstly, seeing how we’ll evolve our business model and adapt to the changing landscape. I have no doubt that we won’t be doing things the same way we do them now in another 10 years’ time. A bit like the advent of digital ~15 years ago, advances in technology and AI will no doubt shape and redefine the value we add and who we are as an agency. We don’t know what this looks like yet, but we’ve already started our journey and it’s a really interesting (if challenging!) time to be leading a company. Personally, I think there will be more change in the next 5–10 years than there has been throughout my entire 25 years in the industry.
Secondly, I’m excited about developing the next generation of leaders at Helios and providing lots of opportunities for them to drive the business and take on new responsibilities. We want Helios to be a real legacy for our team and to continue strengthening the business by bringing in the best minds from elsewhere. Having a real melting pot of expertise, views and ways of doing things, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you in the right way makes us and the business stronger.”
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in business today?
A decade on, the Helios founders are clear: success doesn’t come from avoiding mistakes — it comes from how you respond to them.
Simon offers this advice: “Keep striving. You will make mistakes, but you will be more willingly forgiven if others can see you are always trying to do your best and that you will always step up and tackle the issues if things get difficult.”
Andrew reflects: “Just remember no 2 days are the same, as every day there is something new to learn and think about. Celebrate the success and learn from the failures. And enjoy the rollercoaster ride. As the great philosopher Liam Gallagher once said: ‘You’ve gotta make it happen!”
If you could give your 2015 selves one piece of advice, what would it be?
Emma: “Always trust your gut instinct when making decisions. Your first thought was probably the right thought.”
Andrew: “Go to the US earlier!”
Simon: “Time flies. Relish every moment of the journey and try not to get too lost in the busy-ness.”
Andrew Minnock
Emma Bryant
