How The Programme Works

Focus. Connect. Grow.

Your Pathway to Practical Growth

A focused five-part journey designed to help you identify what matters, build a practical plan and connect with the expertise and supports needed to move your business forward.

Discover your starting point

Identify Your Growth Opportunities

Begin by telling us about your business, the opportunities you want to explore and the challenges you would like to address.

Apply to join the programme

Businesses begin by completing a short application form. This helps ensure the programme is suited to organisations ready to invest time in planning their next stage of growth.

The application captures key information including your company details, business size, sector, preferred location and the priority or challenge you would like to address through the programme.

Applications are reviewed and successful applicants are notified within five working days. They are then invited to join the programme and complete the Pathway to Innovate Benchmark before attending the workshop.

The Benchmark

Understand where your business stands today

The Benchmark is a short self-assessment designed to help you understand your current position across growth priorities, innovation capability, digital foundations, AI readiness and responsible AI use.

It also captures your key challenges and support needs, creating a baseline that can be revisited after 90 days.

Your outcome

You receive an Innovation Snapshot highlighting strengths, development opportunities and a recommended 90-day focus—giving your business a clear starting point before the Growth Workshop.

Apply to Join Next: Growth Workshop
Move beyond the day-to-day

Attend Your Growth Workshop

Dedicated time to examine your priorities, connect with peers and experts, and turn growth opportunities into practical actions.

Focused time for business leaders

The workshop is delivered with regional partners and facilitated by IRDG Innovation Skillnet and Skillnet Innovation Exchange.

Designed for MDs, CEOs, founders and leadership teams, it provides dedicated time away from daily operations and focus on the future direction of the business.

Rather than simply generating ideas, participants are guided to identify priorities, evaluate opportunities and translate them into achievable actions.

During the workshop, you will:

  • Connect with peers, experts and relevant support organisations.
  • Identify your most significant growth opportunities and innovation priorities.
  • Be guided through relevant innovation, enterprise and funding supports.
  • Develop a tailored Growth Canvas for your business.
  • Create a practical 90-Day Growth Action Plan.
  • Gain real-world insights from experienced entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
Your outcome

Leave with greater clarity about where your business is today, where you want it to go, what needs to happen next and who can help you get there.

View Growth Workshops Next: Regional Support
Maintain momentum

Put Your Growth Plan into Action

Your regional delivery partner remains engaged after the workshop, helping you progress your plan and connect with the right supports.

Support that continues beyond the workshop

Progress rarely comes from one event alone. Regional engagement provides continuity, accountability and practical guidance while you begin implementing your 90-Day Growth Action Plan.

Your delivery partner helps you navigate recommended supports and introduces you to organisations that can assist with your specific priorities.

Your ongoing support can include:

  • Regular progress check-ins.
  • Guidance on accessing recommended business supports.
  • Introductions to relevant organisations and expertise.
  • Access to funding pathways and additional opportunities.
  • Accountability against the actions in your Growth Plan.
Your outcome

Continued support, relevant connections and clear accountability to help your business maintain momentum during the 90-day implementation period.

Explore Available Supports Next: Lunch & Learn
Learn from experience

Connect with Businesses That Have Done It

Regional Lunch & Learn events bring practical experience, honest insights and valuable connections directly to participating businesses.

Real businesses. Real growth experience.

Following the Growth Workshop, participants are invited to regional Lunch & Learn events featuring founders and leadership teams who have successfully grown their businesses by using innovation supports, funding and expert guidance.

These sessions provide practical insights and real-world experiences, helping participants build confidence and identify the actions that follow.

You can connect with:

  • Relevant enterprise and innovation agencies.
  • Funding pathways and growth opportunities.
  • Specialist expertise and practical guidance.
  • Regional business and innovation networks.
  • Programmes designed to support your next stage of growth.
Your outcome

Practical inspiration, stronger peer connections and a clearer understanding of the expertise and supports available to help you grow.

View Lunch & Learn Events Next: Programme Review
Review and refocus

Confirm Your Next Stage of Growth

Conclude the programme by reviewing your progress, confirming your priorities and identifying the supports that can help you continue moving forward.

Turn progress into a clear pathway

The programme concludes with a formal review, giving you an opportunity to reflect on the actions taken, outcomes achieved and opportunities identified throughout your Pathway to Innovate journey.

The review confirms your next actions and identifies the supports most relevant to your individual business needs.

What you take forward Focus. Connect. Grow.

Leave with greater clarity on your priorities, confirmed connections and a practical pathway for continued growth.

How the Pathway to Innovate programme works
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