SPRINGBOARD

[noun] [C] - a flexible board which helps you to jump higher when jumping or diving into a swimming pool or when doing gymnasticsHe dived off the springboard and swam down to the shallow end.A springboard is also something which provides you either with the opportunity to follow a particular plan of action, or the encouragement that is needed to make it successful.The firm's director is confident that the new project will act as a springboard for/to further contracts.