Case Studies / Government Funded Project
Leading a new approach to regional business networking
KEY information
GOVERNMENT FUNDED PROJECT
completed 2023
stakeholders
BUSINESS BLUE MOUNTAINS
LOCAL BLUE MOUNTAINS BUSINESS GROUPS
We coached and guided a team of local business people in the establishment of a regional business network
Opportunity
A collective of Blue Mountains small business people were seeking to establish a regional business network that could connect and upskill local businesses following the devastating impact of bushfires and Covid-19 on the region.
There was also an opportunity to establish an authoritative voice for Blue Mountains businesses to advocate for the region’s interests.
Central to the project was the need to strengthen the resilience of local business owners and operators by creating opportunities to bring them together and develop their foundational business capabilities.
Our approach
Resilient Ready worked with the founders of Business Blue Mountains to establish and grow a regional business network as part of a two-year Blue Mountains Business Community Resilience Project.
Resilient Ready founder Renae Hanvin and locally employed stakeholder engagement leads guided the Business Blue Mountains team in the development of a strategy that would establish it as a thought leader and regional advocate for local businesses.
Guiding a locally relevant strategic plan was the first step. Creating a website, brand look and feel, communications approach and priority focus areas set the collective towards a future path of positive change.
This two-year project has built sustainable foundations to empower the regional business community to thrive
Rebecca Lang
Stakeholder Engagement Lead Blue Mountains
A regional business network for the Blue Mountains
Outcomes
Business Blue Mountains is now an established not-for-profit regional business network running frequent events to connect business owners and operators.
As part of its commitment to becoming a thought leader, a small business survey and two White Papers have been produced under the auspices of Business Blue Mountains.
During the project delivery we:
- Launched a local business community website
- Launched a local community business directory
- Held several networking events including a successful Small Business Month evening
- Hosted meetings with local stakeholders
- Held our first ‘Do Tank’ – March 2022
- Launched the White Paper, ‘Getting Connected: Using Networks to Build Business Community Resilience in the Blue Mountains’ – June 2022
- Held our second and final ‘Do Tank’ – May 2023
- Launched a second White Paper, ‘From the Ground Up: Doing resilience differently in the Blue Mountains’ – June 2023
- And as part of a second related project, co-designed and launched the Blue Mountains Business Resilience Roadmap, which Business Blue Mountains will take forward as a micro-learning tool for local businesses.
- Guided the new era of local Directors
- Filmed 10+ coffee catch ups with local businesses
- Recorded 2 webinars with key sector leaders
- Engaged Peter Strong to host a small business month event
Local businesses listed in the business community directory
White Papers published on key findings relevant to Blue Mountains businesses
Months where Resilient Ready supported a new era of business community networks
Local businesses listed in the business community directory
White Papers published on key findings relevant to Blue Mountains businesses
Months where Resilient Ready supported a new era of business community networks
