Regional business concerns will be addressed at a forum held at Port Lincoln next week to help business owners through another challenging year.
Electricity costs, reliability and supply, skills availability and telecommunications service levels were issues raised across the Eyre Peninsula, according to Business SA's biennial regional voice survey.
Business SA will visit Port Lincoln and discuss these issues and more, including cyber security and growth opportunities.
The new regional voice event will be different to Business SA visits in previous years, with regional partner, the Port Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Industry, involved to create an evening with more helpful information for local businesses.
The event will include two education sessions, Emotional Intelligence in Leadership, presented by Jodie Cole and cyber security and protecting your assets while doing business over the internet, presented by CQR client executive manager Greg Starkey.
The Small Business Commissioner's office will be address regional concerns.
Business SA industry and government engagement executive director Anthony Penney said regional owners and decision-makers wanted to discuss the issues affecting their patch and pick up some tips to improve their practices.
"Port Lincoln and the wider Eyre Peninsula have faced a difficult year with a drought, ongoing high electricity costs and ageing infrastructure, as highlighted in our biennial regional voice report," he said.
"Skills shortages and attracting appropriately-skilled staff were significant and ongoing issues, with 42 per cent of businesses finding it hard to attract the right skilled workers, and training being cost-prohibitive or lacking in the region."
Mr Penney said 73pc of the region's respondents thought SA needed a government policy to specifically promote regional population growth, and more than a third wanted to see investment in economic infrastructure, such as roads and ports.
Businesses have also asked for tips to give them a competitive advantage across the state, with region-specific information shared in event workshops.
The event will be held at the Port Lincoln Hotel at 5.30pm on Wednesday, March 27.