Business continuity

Could your business make it through a crisis?

Incidents such as severe weather, staff absence, failure of a key supplier, fires, floods, malicious damage and many other potential incidents can cause a business significant problems and prevent it from carrying out its usual operations.

A business continuity plan can help prevent operational interruptions to your organisation and enable it to quickly return to a state of 'business as usual'. It also helps ensure that products and services are delivered, brands and reputations are protected, and the interests of stakeholders are protected.

How to write a plan

It is not hard to develop a continuity plan for your business. You can write one yourself just by applying the following advice:

• risk assessment - start by looking at the Thames Valley Community Risk register and consider any local risks associated with your geographic location.
• impact analysis - conduct an impact analysis to highlight the key areas that you need to focus on.
• minimise any impacts - consider risk mitigation using the four Ts.
  • Terminate - can you stop the business activity?
  • Treat - can you reduce the risk?
  • Transfer - can you insure against the risk, or outsource the aspect of the business?
  • Tolerate - continue with the business activity and prepare a plan to minimise any impact to it
• train your staff - your plan is only as good as those staff that have been trained to use it.
• test your plan - testing your plan is good practice.
  • check phone numbers within the plan regularly as these change often.
  • conduct at least one annual test on the highest risk areas of your business.

Each member of the local resilience forum has a business continuity plan, and makes preparations based on Business Continuity Institute guidance.

Business continuity training

Many private companies offer business continuity training packages. Nationally, the Emergency Planning College offers a range of courses including business continuity modules.
A useful textbook - Business Continuity For Dummies - may help you create a business continuity plan.

Berkshire Business Continuity Forum (BBCF)

The Berkshire Business Continuity Forum (BBCF) was founded in 2004 with the aim of raising awareness of business continuity and wider resilience issues to local organisations in Berkshire. The group is run by volunteers who are involved in and have experience of business continuity in some way, shape or form. They all give their time and contributions for free. 

Membership of the BBCF is free.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list and attend events then please contact the Joint Emergency Planning Unit (JEPU) on the contact details below. You can also join in the discussion through the LinkedIn community.

Additional Resources

You can find out more about how to develop and exercise a business continuity plan on the GOV.UK website, or download their Business Continuity Management Toolkit. 

The Business Continuity Institute also offers further training and qualifications in business continuity management.

You can contact the JEPU who can provide help and advice if you're thinking of formulating a Business Continuity plan.