Business Continuity
Promotion
is your business prepared?
Objectives…
Gain an overview of BC
Appreciate the benefits of BC
Understand the key components
Use information to formulate own BC plan.
Business Continuity Promotion
The Civil Contingencies Act - local authorities
have a duty to promote business continuity to
businesses & voluntary organisations.
A number of consultancies/websites exist that
could provide you with assistance. Bridgend CBC
does not specifically endorse any.
Business Continuity Management...
Definition:
A management process that helps
manage the risks to ensure the smooth
running of an organisation so that the
business can continue in the event of a
disruption…
Business Continuity Management …
A tool to identify what parts of your
company’s activities & resources are
essential……
Helps you plan to continue operating if
faced with a business disruption.
Key components of BCM…
Business Impact Analysis
Recovery strategy or action plan
Plan development
Testing & maintenance
What is Business Continuity…
Simple process that helps a business, large or
small, to manage the risks that threaten its
survival.
Helps to identify those parts of your business
that you can’t afford to lose.
Establishes ways these can be protected and
maintained.
Disasters that could affect your
business…..
Natural disasters – flooding or storm
damage
Theft or vandalism
Fire
It system failure, power cut
Key staff illness – pandemic flu outbreak
Disasters affecting your own supply chain
Impacts of a disasters…
Could you access customer & supplier
data if computer equipment was damaged
or stolen?
Where would your business operate from
if premises were destroyed or access was
prohibited?
What might the effects of another fuel
crisis have on you and your suppliers?
Consider the risks…
Loss of staff
Loss of systems (IT & telecomms)
Loss of utilities (water, gas, electricity)
Loss of, or access to, premises
Loss of key suppliers
Disruption to transport (eg fuel shortages)
Crime
Risk…
You can deal with risk in a number of ways –
Accept the risk and ‘live with it’
Accept the risk but ‘manage it’
Accept the risk but develop plans to deal
with it
Take measures to reduce the risk
Why have a BC plan?
to continue trading - despite the setback
coping in a crisis is made easier
minimises disruption to your operation
business protection = success & growth
prevent loss of business to competitors
enhances your reputation and builds
customer confidence.
Why plan (cont)…
Companies with BC plans are becoming
more attractive to do business with
Consider…
Failure to plan could be disastrous
High % of businesses affected by
disasters suffer – ie. never recover
5 stages to consider…
Understanding your business
Decide on your strategy – corporate
approach & cultural change required
Develop & implement your plan
Training & Exercising staff
Review plan arrangements
Where do I start…
Business Impact Analysis (Questionnaire)
A set of generic questions designed to
establish what exactly is essential to the
core business of the organisation
Business impact analysis cont…
Insight to help understand the core
business
Identifies weaknesses & strengths
understand your critical functions, the
effect of those being disrupted and the
priority for their recovery
Establishes your recovery time frame
Business impact analysis cont…
Once your essential functions identified,
Minimum number of staff required
Equipment needs (eg IT network)
Minimum needs (desk & phone)
Prioritise on a 1 – 4 basis (1 being highest)
What else should I put in the plan?
Staff contact & cascade details
Key roles & responsibilities
Action Plan or Recovery procedures – 1st hour,
24hrs, 1 week etc
Key equipment & backup information
requirements
Business / customer contact list
Alternative suppliers
Insurance details
Plan cont…
Ensure your plan is simple
Easy to understand
Clearly defines roles & responsibilities
Staff need to be aware of the procedures
Rehearse your plan
Maintain & update it regularly
Flu pandemic…
One of the biggest risks facing any
organisation in the near future
Govt is advising we plan for up to 50% of
staff being affected by flu.
Useful advice available from uk resilience
website.
Useful websites…
www.bridgend.gov.uk - use quick links to
emergency planning pages.
www.direct.gov.uk – search for preparing for
emergencies
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk – search for uk
resilience
www.thebci.org
www.businesslink.gov.uk
www.BERR.go.uk
www.environment-agency.gov.uk – flood info
Any Questions
Julie Cooper,
Head of Emergency Planning
Email: julie.cooper@bridgend.gov.uk
Phone: 01656 643300