ABSTRACT

In a highly globalised trade and investment environment, businesses in regional areas must learn to take advantage of the benefits that stem from their geographical location. This book explains the immense value regional businesses bring to local communities and to Australia as a whole through case studies.

The case studies are diverse in nature and highlight how regional businesses utilise their competitive advantage to introduce innovative practices and use local expertise, knowledge, skills, and networks to benefit from local social capital in a synergetic manner.

The case studies in the book will help readers better understand the processes of industrial localisation. The examples of how innovative regional businesses have used innovative practices, local resource leverage, social and entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of international markets to develop and expand their businesses will provide insights into how regional businesses can achieve growth and secure jobs in an innovative and sustained manner.

chapter 2|14 pages

Agricultural innovation in a remote setting

Natural Evolution company in Far North Queensland

chapter 3|16 pages

Bundaberg Brewed Drinks

Regional to global

chapter 5|10 pages

Social innovation in health response

A rare case of social enterprise meeting rural health needs

chapter 6|10 pages

Return of the bushrangers?

Technological determinism and the collapse and revival of independent Australian rural newspaper publishers

chapter 7|13 pages

Mt Buller's snow business

chapter 8|21 pages

Australia Post

A successful government business enterprise

chapter 9|5 pages

GBR Helicopters

Surviving the downdraft of COVID-19

chapter 10|15 pages

Australian macadamia industry

A community-supported regional industry

chapter 11|15 pages

Harvey Norman

A competitive business model

chapter 14|8 pages

Conclusion