Local businesses urged to be prepared!
Local businesses and voluntary organisations in Warwickshire are being urged to be more prepared for when disaster strikes during Business Continuity Awareness Week 2009.
Disasters can strike at any time and each year one in five organisations suffers a major disruption from incidents such a fires, floods, power failure, product recall or even terrorism. Of those affected 80 percent without effective business continuity plans often never re-open or close down within 18 months. Despite these disturbing statistics however, less than 50 percent of businesses are thought have adequate continuity plans, particularly small and medium sized companies.
To mark Business Continuity Awareness Week 2009, Warwickshire Emergency Planning Unit in partnership with other local authorities in the area North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Warwick District Council, and Stratford District Council are this week launching a series of pages on its website - http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/bcm, which explain what business continuity is all about, why it is important and offer a range of resources to get businesses started.
Free business continuity seminars will also be taking place on the 21st and the 22nd of April. At the seminars businesses will have the opportunity to hear from industry experts and learn how they can prepare to respond and survive the impacts of disasters and business interruptions.
Tim Bowtell, Manager of the Emergency Planning Unit says:
“Advising businesses and the voluntary sector about the importance of developing comprehensive business continuity plans is not only critical to them individually, but also to the community they serve. The information given out to businesses during this week and at the seminars in April will enable businesses to know how to put a plan together to see what they need to do to keep their business running should it be affected by a local disaster.”