Empowering your business
Built on experience. Founded for the future.
ikigai•the consultancy hub was established in 2024, but our story began long before that.
The Manchester-based business was founded after years of working alongside organisations operating in highly regulated, technically demanding, and rapidly evolving industries.
Throughout that time, we saw the same challenges arise time and again: ambitious businesses with exceptional products or services, but without the strategic support, operational structure or market access needed to achieve sustainable growth.
Ikigai was created to bridge that gap.
Today, we work as trusted advisors to organisations looking to grow with confidence, strengthen operations, and unlock new commercial opportunities. We combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, helping clients navigate complexity while maintaining the agility required in today’s business environment.
Empowering your business
We craft tailored solutions for you
Empowering businesses with solutions. Creating strategies that drive. Optimising performance efficiently.
We believe consultancy should deliver measurable outcomes, not lengthy reports.
Our approach combines commercial strategy, operational excellence, governance, compliance, market access and communications into one integrated advisory service. Rather than working in isolation, we become an extension of our clients’ leadership teams – providing practical advice, hands-on support, and long-term partnership.
Whether supporting an early-stage innovator entering a regulated market or helping an established organisation improve performance and prepare for growth, our focus remains the same: delivering solutions that create lasting value.
Meet the people behind ikigai
Built to last under pressure.
Our founders believe in staying in the room until the job is done. Fuelled by Applied Intelligence®. Driven by purpose. No silos. No handoffs. Just a dedicated team with the full spectrum of expertise to guide your business through complex environments and tough challenges.
Helen Hooson
CEO & Founder
Sam Slater
CSO & Co-founder
Ready to find your ikigai?
Whether you're entering new markets, strengthening operations or planning your next stage of growth, we're here to help explore how Ikigai can become your trusted strategic partner.
Let's have a conversation