BUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: SUPPORTING ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT IN REGIONAL AUSTRALIA POST-COVID-19

ABSTRACT

To examine the realities of COVID-19 on enterprise development in regional Australia, this paper discusses the findings of a study which examined the capacity of a remote community to exploit changes occurring in the marketplace. The study identified that barriers to entrepreneurship which existed pre-COVID-19 remain, with COVID-19 acting as a driver and barrier. To exploit changes in the marketplace, experienced entrepreneurs have higher levels of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) connected to innovating and adapting. However, nascent and experienced entrepreneurs require support to develop other areas of ESE. A conceptual framework is developed to support enterprise development.