Business Continuity Planning - FAQs
Do all organisations need to have a Business Continuity Plan?
The introduction of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 means organisations such as Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Health Agencies, the Environment Agency and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (ie, the organisations who would be at the centre of any emergency response) have a statutory duty to have Business Continuity Plans in place.
For other companies it is good practice. If a disruptive incident occurs, services will continue to be provided as well as possible. The customer can still get services and the business will keep running.
Does the Council have a Business Continuity Plan?
Yes. Its plan has been developed and it is maintained by all the Council's services. This ensures that, should disruption occur, critical services can continue to be delivered to a pre-determined level.
Who is responsible for Business Continuity Management within an organisation?
This is the shared responsibility of the whole of an organisation's management structure, from the chief executive right through to team leaders. The process of Business Continuity Management cannot be fully implemented without the full involvement of the entire organisation.
What about Insurance?
Adequate insurance cover is essential to businesses and other organisations. It protects your assets and the increased cost of working, but it doesn't protect you against:
- Loss of customers. If your organisation suffers from a significant disruption that stops you supplying your product, your customers may get the product from your competitors!
- Loss of share value. If you are out of business for a while your shares may fall significantly. This will make it difficult to regain your previous position
- Loss of reputation. If you are affected by disruption to your normal working arrangements you may get a reputation for unreliability and you may loose out to your competitors
- The inability to grow your business. For example, you may not be able to develop new products
How much will it cost?
The cost of developing a robust Business Continuity Plan will depend on the size and scale of your organisation and the amount you are willing to invest.
But one thing is certain . The benefits of having an effective plan that is maintained or regularly exercised will outweigh and original expenditure if your organisation is affected by a disruption.
What risks might I be faced with?
A multi-agency group consisting of membership from all key responding agencies across South Yorkshire has been formed. The group has produced a South Yorkshire Community Risk Register. The register provides details of the main external risks to your organisation and assesses the likelihood of these occurring. This helps contingency planning arrangements within South Yorkshire. In addition, you should consider risks that are internal to your organisation and the impact they may have.
South Yorkshire Community Risk Register
Where do I begin?
A quick 10-minute assessment has been developed to help you determine how far you have got with Business Continuity Management. This can be found at:
http://www.londonprepared.gov.uk/businesscontinuity/assessingyourrisk/10minassessment.jsp
There are several sources of information about developing and maintaining a Business Continuity Plan. Some of these can be found at the useful information section. Alternatively you can contact the Business Continuity Officer at the Council for general advice and assistance.