You’ve built a business. Now, what do you want from it?

More clients? A bigger team? Better profits? Or simply more time to do the work you love? A new fully funded programme from SETsquared Bath is giving established creative technology founders the space to work out what comes next.

There’s a peculiar moment in the life of a business when the thing you’ve worked so hard to build starts asking rather more of you.

You’ve got clients. You’re winning work. Perhaps you’ve recruited a team, developed a product or found yourself working with bigger organisations than you ever imagined.

By most measures, things are going well.

But the questions have changed.

Do you need more people, or better systems? Is that exciting new client actually profitable? Should you be investing in new technology, exploring different markets or concentrating on the work you’re already brilliant at?

And somewhere amongst all that, there’s a bigger question. What do you actually want from your business?

For some founders, success means a bigger team, new markets and growing revenues. For others, it’s about better margins, more interesting work or building a business that doesn’t need them involved in every decision.

There’s no single right answer. But finding yours can change how you approach everything else.

Growth isn’t always about getting bigger

When you’re busy running a business, it’s surprisingly easy to keep doing what you’ve always done. Taking on the next client, recruiting when things get busy, investing in a new tool because everyone seems to be talking about it.

But are those decisions taking you where you want to go?

Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is step away from the day-to-day, challenge your assumptions and spend time with people who understand the decisions you’re facing.

Not another networking event. Not someone telling you how to run your company. A proper opportunity to work on your business rather than in it.

Introducing Smart Scale: Creative Technology

SETsquared Bath is launching a fully funded, five-week programme for founders and leaders of established creative technology businesses.

Smart Scale brings together business owners and experienced specialists to explore the decisions that matter: commercial strategy, customers, profitability, leadership, growth and what success looks like for you.

It’s practical, collaborative and designed around the real challenges of running an established business. You’ll learn from other founders, test your thinking and develop actions you can take back into your business.

And while the challenges of growth are common to businesses in every sector, we’re particularly interested in bringing together creative technology founders for this cohort.

The South West has a remarkable concentration of businesses working where creativity and technology meet. From immersive experiences and digital production to creative software and emerging technologies, there’s a wealth of experience to share, and plenty of opportunity to learn from one another.

We think this could be particularly relevant to members of the Bristol Creative Industries community.

Five days that could change how you approach the next five years

We know that taking five days away from running a business isn’t a small commitment.

But if you’ve been meaning to think seriously about your next stage of growth, when are you going to give yourself the time?

Smart Scale runs on Wednesdays from 18 November to 16 December 2026 at SETsquared Bath Innovation Centre.

The programme is fully funded and designed for founders and senior leaders of established businesses with customers and commercial traction.

Applications close Friday 30 October 2026.

If you’ve built a business you’re proud of, and you’re curious about what it could become, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more and apply for Smart Scale: Creative Technology.

About SETsquared Bath

Creativity and technology go hand in hand. At SETsquared Bath, we help turn ideas into businesses and support established companies to grow, with practical advice, expert guidance, valuable connections and opportunities for fully funded support.