Pathways off the Plateau is a new programme from Sheffield Digital that helps South Yorkshire’s digital, tech and media businesses overcome barriers to growth. It’s designed for founders who’ve built successful companies but now feel stuck; unable to scale, find a route to exit, or access the right support. Through practical tools, peer support and expert guidance, participating companies will diagnose what’s keeping them ‘stuck’ and create a bespoke action plan to move forward. The project is open for Expressions of Interest now, read on for everything you need to know.

What the project is

Pathways off the Plateau is designed to help South Yorkshire’s digital, tech and media businesses break through the barriers holding them back from growth.

If you’ve built something solid but can’t quite find the next step, this is for you.

This isn’t a “fix-it” solution, a business accelerator or a one-size-fits-all service. It’s a structured process that helps you see your business with fresh eyes, pinpoint the blockers that are keeping you stuck, and take confident, practical steps forward on the best pathway for you and your business.

This project is part of the Regional Tech Booster programme, funded by the UK Government and supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, in partnership with the UK Tech Cluster Group.

Who it’s for

We’re looking for digital tech and media companies in South Yorkshire that can identify with one or more of the following statements:

• You’ve reached a certain level of success, but can’t find a way to move up or move on from the plateau in order to scale to the company’s full potential.
• You’re a founder with strong technical skills and delivery, but find it hard to articulate value to customers or investors.
• As a founder, you feel you don’t “fit the mold” of typical business support, whether because of background, gender, class, experience, or you have previously had discouraging experiences.
• You have built a good lifestyle for yourself as the business founder, but can’t see a clear route to exit.

To participate in this project, businesses must also meet the following criteria:

• You have been trading for a minimum of three years (or close to)
• You have a minimum of three employees or long term team members
• Annual average growth is less than 5% over three years (we can measure growth in different ways; it could be turnover, profit or another metric such as social impact, user registrations etc).

What you’ll get out of it

By joining Pathways off the Plateau, you’ll:

• Diagnose your business using tailored analytical tools to uncover what’s really holding you back.
• Develop a practical, bespoke action plan to address your company’s specific blockers.
• Get peer support and accountability from other founders who understand your challenges.
• Gain access to a wider regional support network, including partners such as universities, business support services and specialist advisors, and be empowered to make connections with the right people at the right time.
• Leave with a clear plan, a broader network of peers, a better understanding of the ecosystem and increased confidence to tap into it, in pursuit of your next stage of growth.

What’s expected from you

Pathways off the Plateau is a fully funded project and participants will not be charged to take apart. Equally, participants will not be paid to engage and are expected to cover their own expenses such as travel to venues, subsistence and accommodation.

This is an active, collaborative programme, the process won’t be done for you.
You’ll need to:

• Commit to honest reflection and open conversation about where your business is stuck.
• Engage fully in workshops, peer sessions, and diagnostics.
• Take ownership of your action plan and drive it forward.

In short: we’ll help you find the way off the plateau, but you’ll take the steps yourself.

Project structure and timescales

Phase 1

Successful applicants will take part in a diagnostic and analysis process with the project team between November – December 2025. Using the results from this analysis, the project team will generate tailored guidance before grouping businesses into peer circles based on shared challenges.

Phase 2

Through January – March 2026, participants will engage in workshops and engagements with the project team, peer circles and business support experts. These will be a combination of in-person and online events, and support will be delivered in groups with some one-to-one mentoring support where appropriate.

Next steps

Beyond the engagement phase we’ll check in at six months and 12 months to see how you’re doing. Participating businesses will have a comprehensive growth action plan, and will be connected to the right people and organisations within the South Yorkshire tech business ecosystem to help you execute your plan. 

Once the programme is over, the desired outcome for all participating businesses is that you are empowered and equipped to navigate the pathway off your particular plateau, through the implementation of your plan.

Apply now

You can apply to Pathways off the Plateau by submitting an Expression of Interest (EoI) now, on the button below. We are accepting (EoIs) until midnight on Friday 28 November 2025.