Creating Career Opportunities with IT Dept

I’m sure many organizations have the same challenges of trying to provide career opportunities for staff that may be “pigeon holed” in a certain IT position within the department. Does anyone have any fresh ideas or proven plans that they have implemented in their org to provide career opportunities for lower level IT staff. There are always specific roles people can be promoted to, but there are never enough for everybody, so how do you keep all staff satisfied that there are career opportunities for them (i.e. providing creative opportunities).