Business continuity

Can your business cope in a crisis?

Have you considered how your business would cope during an emergency or other period of disruption, however long or short?

Causes could include a utility failure, staff illness, fire, flood or loss of access to your premises.

Business continuity planning

Developing a Business Continuity Plan involves identifying:

• what is critical to your business
• what would impact your delivery of services or products
• the arrangements needed if those circumstances arise. 

Ask yourself "What if"...

• my premises are out of commission?
• I can’t access IT systems (e.g. system failure, cyber attack)?
• a main supplier fails?
• key staff are not available?

Business continuity is embedded in the management systems of many larger companies, particularly those in the financial sector. However any organisation, regardless of size, will benefit from developing business continuity plans.

Other sources of information

You can get advice and help from a range of companies, including on a consultancy/commercial basis.

• Search online for templates developed by different types of organisations.
• Training and accredited courses. Choose the solution that best suits your organisation.
• The Business Continuity Institute
• Scottish Continuity
• Ready Scotland