The South Yorkshire Action plan
Actions
Here are our actions, listed by heading.
The six goals of the TECH SY Action Plan are built around a shared set of principles that together define how South Yorkshire grows a strong, inclusive and sustainable technology economy. At the core is a whole system approach that focuses on leadership, coordination, evidence, partnership and long term impact rather than isolated interventions. The plan prioritises clarity over complexity, integration over duplication, and outcomes over activity. Across all goals, the emphasis is on removing friction for businesses, aligning partners behind shared priorities, and using data and insight to guide decision making.
Taken together, the goals reinforce each other. Strong regional leadership provides direction and accountability. Accessible finance ensures businesses can progress at each stage of growth. An integrated support offer creates clear pathways with many helpful doors into the ecosystem. A unified message builds visibility and credibility. New markets activity converts innovation into revenue and productivity. A focus on talent ensures that growth is sustainable and inclusive. Each goal is designed to contribute directly to productivity, job creation, business formation, inward investment and long term economic resilience across South Yorkshire.
Regional Leadership
This goal focuses on providing clear leadership, governance and long term direction for the South Yorkshire technology ecosystem. It aligns most strongly with the Growth Plan ambition for a strong and diverse business base and a more resilient region, particularly the objectives around stronger business ecosystems and future proofed networks. By improving coordination, accountability and strategic alignment, this goal creates economic benefit through higher productivity, better targeted investment, growth in knowledge intensive jobs and a more coherent environment for innovation led growth.
Project | Activities | Outcomes (5 years) |
1.1.Create TECH SY Strategy Board.
| Re-defining to become a TECH SY Board to support TECH SY Ecosystem work Developing Clear Terms of Reference to define scope, including decision making, 5-10 year KPI’s
(Holding delivery of action plan to account) (building coherent ecosystem)
(task + finish groups?)
Quarterly meetings
| Ecosystem growth & alignment
Improved knowledge economy job density
Action Plan is delivered |
1.2 Create an AI and future technologies insights board. | Quarterly meetings
Mechanisms for implementing board actions |
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1.3 Gather & Deploy Data & insights | Annual report - state of SY Tech or similar Data roadmap - monthly themed insights (links to content plan & PR) Pre-Scale & Scale-Up Dashboard Updated Evaluating product delivery (e.g. idea validation grant) Annual Diversity in Tech Report Ad hoc sectoral reports Develop and SY Cluster report
Measure and communicate investment activity
Investigate export and new market opportunities (Prioritise key cluster areas) | Increased visibility of businesses to investors
Evidence to influence policy and practice
Greater understanding of sentiment |
1.4. Influence National & regional policy | Annual South Yorkshire Tech Summit
Pilot pan-regional Tech Summit
Regular meetings and contact with relevant national stakeholders by TECH SY and other senior SY leaders (Innovate UK, DSIT, BBB, DBT, UKTCG, TechNation, Tech UK)
Attendance at national and international industry events
Linking in with UK Tech Clusters Group - Tech Boosters
| Tech is a high priority at regional and national level (e.g. the Growth Plan)
SY is visible in relevant national policy & practice
Other ecosystems visit SY to learn from us
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1.5 Support place based and space opportunities to support businesses with starting and scaling | Cluster blueprints Incubation report Space provider insights Sheffield Spine insights Data and insights |
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1.6 Strengthen and develop Private sector collaborations. Such as: Sheffield Digital, Digital Forge, Venture Community, Tech UK, Innovate UK, UKTCG, SYIAN | Quarterly partnership meetings
Collaboration on relevant activity | Stronger sector voice in UK tech ecosystem discussions
Strong position in UKTCG |
1.7 Build & maintain strong British Business Bank partnership (Sheffield HQ) | Collaborative events (such as Business Finance Week)
Collaborative reports
Intelligence sharing
Collaboration on investment diversification | Bigger profile for British Business Bank in South Yorkshire
More British Business Bank investment into South Yorkshire companies |
1.8 Develop Clustering opportunities | Cluster reporting work to support key areas of growth in region. Reporting into strategy board Link regional ambassadors to the work, to get insight and support positioning.
| Stronger sector voice in UK tech ecosystem discussions
Increased visibility of businesses to investors
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Accessible Finance
This goal aims to ensure that technology businesses can access the right finance at the right time as they start, scale and attract external investment. It aligns with Growth Plan priorities around a more dynamic business base, better connected places and increased private sector investment. By strengthening early stage finance, diversifying investors and improving investment pathways, this goal drives economic benefit through higher rates of business survival, increased scaleups, greater inward investment and stronger returns on public and private capital.
Project | Activities | Impact |
2.1. Make the case for public sector investment model such as Co-investment fund at seed stage | Deploy co-investments with private sector VCs etc.
Procure and deliver fund management at appropriate risk level | Return on investment (realistic profile)
Increased level of follow-on investment
Later exits |
2.2 Diversifying the investment landscape | Measure and learn from the planned pilot programme to support Women in Tech and Investment
Scale programme and review applicability into other underrepresented groups
| Increased percentage of investors from underrepresented groups
Greater diversity in founding teams raising investment |
2.3.Deliver Tech welcome grants | Deploy Tech Welcome grants to new companies to region and first office takers
Align grants with inward investment activity and incubation provision | Increased workspace occupancy across region
New private sector investment into workspace
Increased job density
Increased viability of startups and scaleups |
2.4. Implement clear pathways of finance options | Learning support for business support providers to help understand the investment journey and ecosystem for tech
Pitching events
Scaleup and pre-scale dashboard publication
Investor visits into region
Relationship management with investors
Build and maintain strong partnership with BBB and IUK | More accessible funds at the right time for businesses
Better terms for founders reducing volume of equity given up
Reduction in early exits/increased scale up landscape |
2.5 Connect and engage investment networks and ecosystems
| Work with Angels, VCs and LPs to ensure understanding of their investment approach and risk profile and raise awareness of SY
Work with BBB on developing more connection to their funds
Ongoing provision of pre-scale and scale-up dashboards | More varied and resilient investment landscape including non-UK investors
Accessible investment at every level |
2.6 Develop a tech focused inward investment offer.
| Shared Tech inward investment plan developed with SYMCA Investment team
Relationship building and business engagement through ecosystem development with businesses in and out of region
Reports to support South Yorkshire as an attractive place to start and grow business
Refer businesses to Tech Welcome grants, any other soft landing packages, co-working spaces and support programmes
Creation and execution of marketing plan to reach out-of-region businesses and investors | Perception of South Yorkshire as an attractive place to start and grow businesses greatly increased
Opportunities and investment from central government
Clustering of high quality businesses and sector knowledge exchange
Increase to economic growth
Opportunities for partnerships between companies, clusters and networks
Sustained and consistent private investment into the region
Increased dealflow to local investors
Increased pipeline for incubation facilities including centralised hub
Businesses collaborating to compete through mentorship and knowledge exchange
Boost to education offer and higher quality talent and skills into the region
Talent more often staying within region for career development
Attraction of major events into the region
Participation in global supply chains
Strengthened ecosystem data and quality of reports |
Integrated support offer
This goal delivers a joined up system of support with no wrong door for tech businesses across South Yorkshire. It aligns with Growth Plan objectives focused on productivity growth, connected urban areas and stronger regional networks. By simplifying access to support, strengthening early stage pipelines and reducing fragmentation, this goal supports economic benefit through faster business growth, improved investment readiness, higher rates of scaling and a more efficient use of public and private support resources.
Project | Activities | Outcomes |
3.1. Activate a Customer Journey map
Define and manage a clear founder-focused customer journey | Ongoing stakeholder consultation to identify and map support offers to tech businesses at every stage
Analysis of accessibility of support and barriers
Create and maintain a live and interactive map of all support offers to tech businesses in South Yorkshire
Embed customer journey into sy.dealroom.co | Accessible, high-quality support is available to tech businesses at every stage of evolution from all areas of SY
South Yorkshire is a more attractive place to start and grow a business in tech
More front doors into support provision
A complete and healthy support ecosystem for tech in South Yorkshire
Increased visibility of SY and increased inward investment
Regional scaleups giving back to the region through investment and support |
3.2. Deploy Super connectors
| One to one work with tech businesses
Integration with wider support provision and referrals to relevant programmes and support regionally, nationally and globally
Design and delivery of one to few and one to many events as required
Work with key stakeholder groups: SYIAN Angel groups VCs Startup meetups Universities Startups Scaleups Space providers | Better connected, less fragmented ecosystem
More ‘right doors’.
More SY businesses on programmes
More SY businesses accessing funding (or knowing more about funding options)
More dynamic, accessible and connected tech sector
Jobs Created |
3.3. Implement early stage support system
| Programme design of Idea Validation Programme based on learnings from pilot
Programme design of Job Release Scheme based on UoS Commercialisation expertise
Procurement Exercise of Idea Validation Support Provider
Manage application processes and programme oversight
Marketing and Promotion Plans and Execution including case studies
Regular programme and project management meetings with support provider
Benefits realisation and outcomes tracking
Evaluation of programmes - Feedback and lessons learned | Further develop the entrepreneurial culture
Evidence base for further incubation resources and a centralised hub
Economic value of businesses and inward investment increased
More tech companies in regional supply chains
Strengthened pipeline for Acceleration
Mentorship and return of investment opportunities from support alumni |
3.4. Deploy SY incubation plan
| Coordination with LAs and incubators to standardise baseline level of incubation programmes and facilities
Stakeholder consultation for plans of a centralised hub for incubation and best practice exchange
Benefits realisation of Incubation Report and further developments
Annual reports showing understanding of early-stage pipeline
Annual best practice knowledge exchange meetings between incubator providers
Marketing plans and execution on ecosystem plans for incubation
Consultation and engagement of businesses and investors to gain buy-in, feedback and assurance of plans as well as identification of pipeline and market | A more consistent and connected tech ecosystem
Programme and project plans for incubation hub and spoke
South Yorkshire as a more attractive place to start a business
Inward investment opportunities
Increased pipeline of ideas and early-stage businesses towards pre-acceleration
Buy-in from business and investors for regional plans |
3.5 Implement pre scale support system
| Programme design and plans for pre-acceleration and acceleration programmes
Procurement of pre-acceleration and acceleration programme providers
Programme management to ensure strategic goals of all programmes are aligned to maximise value for the regional tech ecosystem
Project management and regular meeting with providers to ensure time, cost and scope parameters are met
Sponsor acquisition and account management
Superconnecting activity to maximise regional uptake and benefits | Tech-specific pre-acceleration and acceleration programmes
Links to regional clusters to enhance community and sector collaboration
Scaleups giving back to the region by sponsoring or hosting programmes and/or events
Contribution through sponsorship and mentorship from global tech companies
Significant inward investment
Significant economic growth in the region
Enhancement of competitiveness across tech businesses in the region, increasing their chances of scalability, investment readiness and potential to enter new regional and international markets
South Yorkshire tech ecosystem becomes self-sustaining
Attraction of external investment into the region incl. VC funding
Stronger links to academia and entrepreneurial culture |
3.6 Implement scale up support system
| Scaleup Reports
Marketing and promotion of programmes and networks
Support and marketing of regional sector clusters
Programme design of scale-up programmes including mentorship and masterclasses
Ecosystem development and account management to connect scaleups with funders
Best practice and knowledge exchange between scaleups increasing competitiveness
Development of scaleup roadmaps
| Strengthened economy and job opportunities
Increased ambassadors and mentors for tech in the ecosystem, increasing knowledge exchange
More businesses entering international markets
Increased success rate of scaleups to growth companies with national and/or global impact
Increased economic value and competitiveness of tech ecosystem
Increased investment readiness amongst scaleups |
3.7 Activate cluster opportunities identified in the Local Growth Plan (Deep, health, clean energy, gaming) | Co-creation of integrated action plans and align regional strategies
Align Incubation and Support Offer work
Attend community and cluster events
Reports on other sectors and how tech is being used as an enabler
Relationship building with governing bodies
Data evidence building of sectors in South Yorkshire
Scaleup Dashboard of clustering sectors | Co-creation into future action plans with increased regional strategic alignment
Attraction of businesses within clusters from out of the region
Increased success rate of businesses within the supported clusters
Increased number of tech ambassadors
Increased investment into incubation programmes and number of participants
Increased inward investment into priority clusters |
Unified Narrative
This goal establishes a clear and consistent narrative that positions South Yorkshire as a credible destination for technology businesses, investors and talent. It aligns with Growth Plan priorities around building a stronger business ecosystem and improving regional resilience through better networks and visibility. By raising national and international awareness, improving perception and promoting cluster strengths, this goal supports economic benefit through increased inward investment, higher talent attraction and improved deal flow for local businesses.
Project | Activities | Outcomes |
4.1. Produce tech-related marketing and content plan | Review of current comms plan - measurements and feedback review Develop a core communications & Marketing plan Develop key narrative themes (Startup / scale-up / founder journeys - case studies) Procure long-term PR support provision with clear goals Data campaigns (Roadmap) (Sharing external reports)Owned reports / annual report / insightsMarketing / positioning tools (Scaleup dashboard / ecosystem map) Events / Summits - our own and attending / speaking at external events Personal storytelling from the team. (e.g. - LinkedIn articles) Provide ambassadors with comms assets Key comms areas: Newsletter / social / websites / podcast Key resource needs: Videography/ PR/ podcast production | A strong, unified message for tech in South YorkshireA clear message of what TECH SY is, what it will deliver, and how. And also what it won’t do Evidence-based approach to messaging through data Agreed tools to support ecosystem positioning and improved customer journey |
4.2. Ongoing proactive PR campaign | PR strategy and narrative workshop Benchmarking of what good looks like Key sector goals defined Speaking slots at external events | Improve South Yorkshire’s perception outside the region Establish as a visible tech hub Inward investment/talent flow |
4.3 Ensure all communication is representative to all SY communities | Feature interviews and case studies from underrepresented groups | Greater awareness and promotion of success stories from underrepresented groups |
4.4. TECH SY ambassador network | Provide SY tech toolkit and assets Narrative workshop with ambassadors Brief them on important topics and opportunities Secure them speaking spots at events | Advocacy by peers Increase reach into networks Improve South Yorkshire’s perception outside the region Establish the region as a visible tech hub Inward investment/talent flow |
4.5. Annual business events programme (in & outside SY) | Attend and exhibit at relevant national/international tech events Host roundtables and showcases | Improve South Yorkshire’s perception outside the region Establish as a visible tech hub Inward investment/talent flow |
4.6. Convene comms network | Launch SY Tech Comms Forum (Teams chat?) Share campaign & event calendars Sharing messaging and brand assets | Unified regional voice for tech Increases comms reach Less complex and fragmented landscape for founders Greater awareness and recognition of TECH SY’s positioning and purpose across partners |
4.7. Website development (out-of-region facing)? | Launch new TECH SY website Integrate Dealroom data and ecosystem map / other tools Maintain a blog, events calendar, and all pages. | Increased visibility at national and global level Greater discoverability of founders and businesses in SY Improved access to support and information |
New Markets
This goal enables tech startups and scaleups to access new customers locally, nationally and internationally. It aligns with Growth Plan ambitions on productivity growth, resilient networks and the commercialisation of innovation. By supporting challenge led innovation, testbeds, export activity and early customer access, this goal creates economic benefit through increased revenues, improved productivity in other sectors, stronger supply chains and faster adoption of advanced technologies.
Project | Activities | Outcomes |
5.1. Pilot Challenge-led innovation | Identify 1-2 priority South Yorkshire challenges per year aligned to Growth Plan missions (more if AI fund available) Design challenge briefs with clear problem statements, datasets, success criteria and routes to procurement
Run open, competitive calls targeted at AI-enabled and deep tech SMEs
Provide programmes of structured support activity
Coordinate InnovateUK, local authority and anchor institution involvement to ensure pathways beyond the pilots
Review meetings and impact assessments | South Yorkshire recognised as a credible national testbed for applied AI and DeepTech
Measurable productivity gains in SY and across industry nationally
Advancement in regional adoption of AI
Supply chain engagement for tech businesses
Other outcomes aligned with UK priorities (health, skills etc) |
5.2. Explore tech-specific export / internationalisation programme (with DSIT) | Commission scoping study on relevant export markets for SY tech companies
Develop key relationships and make introductions for SY tech companies
Develop longer-term delivery in key markets | Higher exporting levels across SY businesses
Value of business retained in SY whilst accessing global markets
Visibility increase for SY and tech sector |
5.3. Explore and pilot a regional testbed initiative | Commission study looking at best practice and potential opportunities in region | SY recognised base for early-stage ideas
More early-stage businesses in the region
Pipeline into scaleup increased |
5.4. Create an early customer network via public sector / anchor institutions | Engagement with tech companies in ongoing procurement rounds for tech solutions for public sector and govt
Opening up key data sets for innovation and problem solving (linked to challenge-led innovation and testbed)
Development work with IT and procurement teams. | Improved productivity in public/other sectors More tech companies in SY accessing regional markets
Innovative service delivery through better leverage of data and tech solutions |
Tech Talent
This goal ensures that the skills and talent needs of the technology sector are clearly understood and addressed through the regional skills system. It aligns with Growth Plan priorities around pathways to opportunity, better skills alignment and long term regional resilience. By improving workforce alignment, supporting entrepreneurship and widening participation, this goal drives economic benefit through higher employment, better quality jobs, improved business competitiveness and a more inclusive and sustainable tech economy.
Project | Activities | Outcomes |
6.1. Produce annual report of employer needs | Annual dashboard of skills needs Section in annual TECH SY report on skills needs
Meetings and data sharing with SYMCA/LA Skills teams, Chamber, Colleges and Universities plus private sector skills providers. | Increased employment levels (SY talent into SY jobs)
Improved relevance between skills provision and employer needs |
6.2 Advocate for pathway to entrepreneurship initiatives | Closer alignment of existing entrepreneurship pathway work with tech
Tech founders in schools etc
TECH SY presence at relevant events | Higher numbers of early stage founders
Improved routes into tech careers |
6.3. Advocate for train the trainer initiatives (schools) | Annual Summer School (pre-holidays) for school/college educators
Support for tech companies to engage with schools (eg Fresh Meet) | More local talent into tech jobs
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6.4. Coordinate the communication of business tech talent needs | Signposting and communications | Increased capacity to scale
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6.5. Signpost to support with international visas (TechNation) | Establish TECH SY as a valid referrer/supporter
| Greater capacity to scale
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6.6 Advocate for and coordinate hackathons | Annual hackathon programme in partnership with private sector providers | Greater visibility and awareness of tech talent in SY
New business ideas emerging
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6.7. Explore and pilot an entrepreneurship education programme for underserved communities | Match fund programmes where appropriate with external providers (eg Lifted Project)
Barrier-busting budget to ensure underrepresented talent can access opportunities
| Improved diversity in SY tech business base
Improved investment landscape for underrepresented founders |