30 April 2009
Small Businesses urged to "Mind Your Own Business"
London’s 500,000 small businesses are being helped to deal with
major threats to their successful running, such as flooding,
terrorist attacks or disease pandemics, with the launch of
assistance (Wednesday 29th April) in the development of business
continuity plans.
The help is being provided by the Business Continuity Promotion
Steering Group, which was set up by London’s Councils to help
London companies plan effectively for their continuity. The
initiatives being launched are:
- Z-cards, which will be delivered this week to help small
businesses develop simple business continuity plans by gathering
the critical information and data to help them keep operating
during an emergency;
- guidance for local authorities to assist them in developing a
strategy for business continuity promotion;
- training aids for boroughs providing basic advice and guidance
to businesses about business continuity.
Chris Duffield, Town Clerk and Chief Executive of the City of
London Corporation who heads the Business Continuity Promotion
Steering Group said:
"We have identified small businesses as difficult to reach in
the area of Business Continuity as often they do not have the
resources available to larger companies."
"In light of the important role small businesses play in
the London economy, London’s boroughs and the City of London have
developed a simple message for small businesses to take on board
where Business Continuity is concerned – that it does not need to
be a complicated procedure, but is still of vital importance."
"We are launching a number of products which we hope will enable
small businesses to integrate Business Continuity into their
everyday planning."
Tony McNulty, Minister for London and Co-Chair of the London
Regional Resilience Forum, said:
"Business continuity planning is vital, especially during this
time of economic difficulty. As well as experiencing the effects of
the downturn, small businesses in particular can be hit hard by
disruptions, whether from fire, pandemic illnesses or terrorist
attacks. Putting in place some simple measures can make the
difference between business survival and failure in an emergency
and its aftermath."
"I am glad to see Local Authorities promoting business
continuity planning at this time and I urge small businesses to
take advantage of the advice, products and information
available."
"Businesses should also make the most of help available through
the Government's Real Help Now initiative, which includes help to
secure credit and finance, assistance with business management in
difficult times, and help with investing for the future."
Councillor Paul Kyriacou of Southwark said:
"I would like to express my strong support on behalf of London
Councils for the continuing joint work by London Boroughs on the
resilience agenda. Today’s event is to launch some excellent
products, but it is more than that; it is an opportunity to engage
with the business community and particularly small businesses and
demonstrate that local authorities in London are here to help and
support them."
The products launched are therefore directly aimed at small
businesses and are the products small businesses said they would
find helpful. They are launched with the aim in mind of keeping
small businesses running if offices are burned down or flooded or
have power supplies interrupted for a couple of weeks. They are
considered to be simple, easy to complete and keep up to date.
Ends-
Notes to Editors:
Since 2001, under the overview of the London Resilience Forum,
London Councils have been working together to enhance the
resilience of the capital. Local authorities were given new duties
under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, one of which was the
promotion of business continuity messages to small and medium-sized
enterprises and the voluntary sector. The Business Continuity
Promotion Steering Group was set up in order to fulfil this duty
collectively; it is overseen by the Local Authorities Panel,
chaired by Chris Duffield. By working collectively on this duty,
London boroughs have come up with a consistent approach which will
be used to promote the messages in all 32 London Boroughs and the
City of London.
- Details of initiatives launched: Small businesses told the
BCPSG that plans need to be quick, simple to complete and keep up
to date as well as different to the numerous leaflets they receive
through the post. In addition, a large proportion of small
businesses do not use computers in their day to day work.
- The BCPSG developed the idea of Z-cards which would be simple
to fill in and keep up to date as well as personally delivered by
someone who could encourage and support them in its completion such
as Neighbourhood Policing Teams, the London Fire Brigade, Crime
& Drugs Reduction Partnerships, small business associations and
public-facing local authority staff. They are simple, and can be
carried easily by staff at all times so they have all necessary
information in case of an emergency that disrupts the normal
operation of their business.
- During this week, Z-Cards will be delivered to the emergency
planner in each Local Authority area in London.
- The steering group has also produced guidance for local
authorities to assist them in developing a strategy for business
continuity promotion which will be sent out this week. This
document provides a suggested template for developing that
strategy. If used by local authorities, it will ensure a
consistency of approach across London, and the standardisation will
also assist peer review or audit processes in the future.
- The group has also produced a training aid for boroughs to take
to small business groups. This gives basic advice and guidance to
businesses and it can be altered to fit needs of local groups and
to reflect the individual local authority using it.
Press enquiries: Susanna Howard in the City of
London press office:
T: 020 7332 3450
Email :
susanna.howard@cityoflondon.gov.uk