Business Continuity Management

How to prepare your business for Business Continuity

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

Known and emerging risks have increased in complexity and number (cybercrime, terrorism), while unforeseen events can also have unanticipated major impacts.

One in five UK businesses suffers a disruptive event every year caused by incidents such as staff sickness, loss of technology, denial of access to its site 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?
  • snow, flu, or a fuel shortage meant you have significantly less staff in?
  • there was a loss of utilities, particularly long term?
  • 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, whatever the cause therefore protecting themselves and the wider community they serve.

How prepared are you?

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 Business Continuity (BC) guidance.

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

All businesses have differing needs. This plan template covers all the elements needed to build a dependable business continuity response for any business.

Further resources can be found at:

Business Continuity Management

For further advice please contact your relevant local authority:

Emergency Planning and Resilience Team - BCP Council

Email: emergency.planning@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Tel: 01202 451462

Emergency Planning Service – Dorset Council

Email: emergencyplanningteama@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Tel: 01305 224659

Provide feedback on this page