Northumbria Local Resilience Forum

Help your business

How you can help your business

Statistics show that almost one in five businesses will be affected by a major disruption every year. The consequences can result in loss of customers, loss of revenue and even loss of the business itself.

There are ways that you can reduce the risks to your business by preparing a "Business Continuity Plan" (BCP)

The Business Continuity Plan works in the same way a Home Emergency Plan would. You consider the risks to your business from issues such as Flooding, Severe Weather, Pandemic Influenza or Industrial Accident or Action, for example, and plan how you can overcome any disruption.

Consider what would happen, for example, if you lost any of the following:

A percentage of your staff - due to a Pandemic Influenza or other contagious disease outbreak

Your Premises - due to fire or flooding or structural damage after severe weather

Technology - due to loss of power

Data - due to computer/ IT failure

Supply Chain - due to bad weather or other factors

Customers - due to bad weather such a prolonged heavy snow

You can get advice from your local Council specifically on how to draw up a Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

Another source of information is the Business Continuity Institute

You should also be aware of the National Cyber Security Strategy

Cyber Security - Information for Small Businesses