Business continuity

Business continuity planning advice

Eighty per cent of small businesses affected by major incidents close within 18 months. Ninety per cent of businesses that lose data from disasters shut within two years. Business continuity plans help your business safeguard against the problems caused by major incidents.

What is a business continuity plan?

A business continuity plan will ensure that the impact of an emergency on your business is minimised. It will help your business handle the emergency, continue to function and recover effectively afterwards.

Businesses continuity plans are generic preparations designed to help organisations respond to and recover from disruptions, whatever their source and whatever aspect of the business they affect. They tend not to focus on preparing for specific emergencies such as a flu pandemic or terrorist attack.

Help preparing a businesses continuity plan

The following websites contain further details on effective businesses continuity management:

• Preparing for emergencies: what businesses can do. Advice from the government, including a five-stage  business continuity management life cycle.
• London prepared: business continuity advice. Contains a ten minute self-assessment
• Business Continuity Institute: The BCI promotes business continuity management worldwide.
• www.continuityforum.org: International resource aimed at building levels of business continuity planning of organisations worldwide.

Further information

For more information about business continuity planning at the council or within the community, contact Performance and Projects Team.