Under the Civil Contingencies Act, Local Authorities have a duty to promote business continuity. Leeds City Council has been undertaking this role in a number of ways and this page provides more information and links to them.
Business Continuity is a tool to identify what parts of your company’s activities and resources are essential and planning how your business would continue to operate in the event of an emergency.
If you consider business continuity early, rather than when the emergency occurs, you will be much more likely to recover your essential operations and return to ‘business as usual’.
Companies should consider business continuity contingency plans for the loss / unavailability of worksites, staff, suppliers, specialist resources, technology and communications and key data. Loss of one or all of this could severely damage your company’s long-term prospects unless business continuity plans minimise and mitigate the effects of the emergency.
Government Advice on Business Continuity
In 2005 the Government issued all householders with a public information leaflet on what to do in an emergency. "Preparing for Emergencies" has now been developed into an interactive website. In 2006 a business continuity section was added to this website.
Click on the downloadable link to the Government's Business Continuity website.
Business Continuity Planning Consultants
There are a number of consultancies that could provide your company with assistance in developing your business continuity plan. Leeds City Council does not specifically endorse any Business Continuity consultancy. If you are seeking to acquire a consultant then contact one of the business continuity trade associations, such as the Business Continuity Institute.