How businesses can prepare

'Survival is not compulsory' but it makes business sense to have a business continuity plan.

BLLRF and our members strongly advise local businesses to have a business continuity plan to deal with some of the impact of a major emergency, such as (but not limited to):

• staff loss
  (due to strikes, closure of transport network preventing staff getting to work, flu pandemic)
• building damage
  (due to flooding, fire, broken pipeworks)
• utilities failure
  (due to no power, no water, no communications)
• IT failure
  (due to corruption, virus, theft of data, malicious access).

Experience from incidents in the United Kingdom in the last decade has shown that businesses that have business continuity management (BCM) arrangements are more likely to stay in business and recover quickly in an emergency than those that do not. According to the London Chamber of Commerce, 90% of businesses that lack a robust and verifiable business continuity plan go out of business within two years of a crisis.

Local businesses, particularly those identified as very high or high risk, should consider using information from the Community Risk Register in their business continuity plans. The top risks section gives some business continuity examples to help you get started.

Business continuity templates

London Prepared offers advice to organisation to help them prepare for emergencies. This includes FREE DOWNLOADS of more detailed self-assessments, template plans for SMEs and larger organisations and links to the latest advice and guidance. Click here to go to London Prepared business continuity advice.

Where can I get outside help?

There are organisations which may be able to assist you with business continuity planning. When selecting an organisation or consultant you should consider:

• professional qualifications/certification
• membership of a professional organisation
• experience in relevant aspects of BCM
• track record of completing similar tasks
• adequate professional indemnity insurance.

The Continuity Forum provides a service designed to help connect consultants with clients - Continuity Signpost. Continuity Signpost lists individuals and organisations who provide consultancy services covering business continuity and its related disciplines - click here to link to Continuity Signpost.

The Business Continuity Institute provides a certification scheme for business continuity professionals. It publishes a list of consultants it deems to be experienced, qualified and competent. Click here to link to the list of consultants.

Where can I get more information?

Log onto the following websites for a range of useful information relevant to the business community:

• The Business Continuity Institute site promotes business continuity management and provides guides and good practices to businesses. www.thebci.org.They have a good practice guide you can download by clicking here.
• UK Resilience provides emergency planning guidance and information on a wide variety of emergencies and crises that can affect the UK. www.ukresilience.info.
• The Home Office site gives information on threats, what to do in a major emergency, and what the government is doing, plus reports and guidance. www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
• MI5 The security service, or MI5 is responsible for countering threats to the UK’s national security and economical well-being. A key part of its work is to provide practical security advice on how organisations and businesses can protect against terrorism and other threats. www.mi5.gov.uk.
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office offers up-to-date and practical information to British citizens travelling or resident overseas. www.fco.gov.uk
• The Environment Agency have information tailored specifically for businesses concerned about flood risk. Click here for information on the flood risk to your business and how to plan for it.
• The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTS) can provide guidance on business continuity guidance related to protective security. www.nactso.gov.uk

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