Introduction
Business Continuity Management is a process that helps manage risks to the smooth running of an organisation or delivery of service. It is an ongoing process that helps organisations anticipate, prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disruptions or a disaster.
Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, local authorities have been given the duty to provide advice, guidance and best practice on business continuity planning to business and voluntary agencies.
General advice
Emergencies can disrupt businesses, affecting profits and operations. This can be bad for employees, shareholders, customers and communities. The Government’s key advice to businesses is to ensure that you have robust, flexible business continuity management that will ensure that the impact of any emergency on your business will be minimised and should help you recover quickly.
Your customers expect continuity of services, even in the most challenging circumstances. They expect you to be fully in control. If you are unprepared and fail to deal effectively with business disruption or disaster, your reputation and business could be at risk.
It is worth checking with your insurers to see if they require you to develop and maintain business continuity plans.
Cost of Living Business Support
Concerned about rising costs for your business? The Growth Hub team have compiled a list of the latest cost of living and energy related schemes and guidance available. They can also offer your business support with business planning and resilience.
Find out more at Growth Hub.
Risks
The Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum has produced and published a community risk register for Somerset. It gives a broad overview of the potential risks and is available on the Avon and Somerset Police website or council websites.