On this page: Advice and guidance on the issues you may wish to consider to ensure the continuity of your business operations to minimise loss.
About Business Continuity Management
Business continuity management is about planning for an unexpected business interruption or emergency, and reducing the risk of loss to the organisation.
It's about knowing and understanding business functions and putting into place arrangements that allow the organisation to continue to deliver its services or products seamlessly during an interruption.
In summary, it is about:
Reducing risk
Responding effectively
Restoring normality
Please also see Civil Protection/Planning for Emergencies.
Why You Need a Business Continuity Plan
Arriving at the office, we generally expect that today will be the same as yesterday; and so it might be, but just think for a minute about what you would do if the regular routine was interrupted:
What if the office was off limits?
Who would you contact?
How would they be contacted?
Where would you go?
Who would tell you where to go?
What would you need to take with you?
How would you communicate?
Could you work away from site?
Who makes what decisions?
At any time an emergency, interruption or disaster can strike any organisation; it can present itself in many ways:
Flood
Storm
Excessive heat or fire
Action by others
Contamination
Viral infections ...
... Or simply something just happened and we don’t know what it is because we haven't been told. In effect, any of these and many others could result in the loss of:
Utilities (gas, electricity and water)
Staff
Information Technology - computer virus, unlawful access to data bases
Key documents
Contact details
Computer hardware and software
Damage to buildings infrastructure
If the interruption is large enough it will put you out of action; for how long will depend on how much effort has gone into planning for the day that does not follow the expected pathway.
How Business Continuity Management Will Help
Business continuity management is a management process that will help to continue to provide services or products to your customers if there is a disruption to the normal working routine.
Further Information/Contact
Business Continuity
Swindon Borough Council
Civic Offices
Euclid Street
Swindon
SN1 2JH
Tel: 07824 868420
E-mail: alireland@swindon.gov.uk