Business Continuity

Preparing your business for Business Continuity

Business Continuity Management (BCM) has become increasingly important given the challenging environments in which businesses now operate.

Known and emerging risks, both national and local have increased in complexity and number (cybercrime, terrorism, climate change, industrial action), while unforeseen events can also have unanticipated major impacts.

A significant number of businesses suffer disruptive events every year caused by incidents such as staff sickness, loss of technology, denial of access to their critical systems or loss of a key supplier.

These events may lead to the complete failure of a business through disruption to cash flow or lasting damage to their reputation.

Business Continuity Management

BCM is about preparing for the outcomes of potential risks and planning how your organisation or business will ensure it can continue to function.

So, what if:

• you lost access to the building you operate from?
• you lost one, more, or all of your IT systems?
• you experienced temporary or permanent loss of data?
• snow, flu, or a fuel shortage meant you have significantly less staff in?
• there was sudden a loss of utilities?
• there was a planned or unplanned loss of power, locally or nationally?
• a risk specific to your business has unexpectedly been realised?

By adopting BCM, businesses will be better equipped to meet the challenges when faced with disruption, therefore protecting themselves and the wider community they serve.

Competitive advantage

Businesses able to demonstrate proven plans to continue delivery of goods and services in the face of disruption inspire confidence with clients.

Equally, adaptation and implementation of BCM can also influence the approach taken by insurers, affecting the level of cover, amount of excess, or premium charged. Therefore, once solid BCM is in place make sure your insurer is aware.

How we can help

To assist with BCM, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council (BCP) and Dorset Council (DC), have jointly prepared a Business Continuity (BC) guidance document.

BCM should also provide your company with a plan that contributes towards the survival of your business.

All businesses are different therefore they have different BCM needs. This plan template covers the core elements needed to start building a BC plan for your business. The Cabinet Office has also produced a business continuity toolkit for small and medium sized businesses.

Further resources can be found at:

• The Cabinet Office
• The Business Continuity Institute
• National Cyber Security Centre
• Emergency Planning College

Further advice

If you are located within the area covered by Dorset Council, please contact:

If you are located within the area covered by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, please contact:

Emergency Planning and Resilience Team - BCP Council

Email: emergencyplanning@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Tel: 01202 451462