"I am often asked what single piece of advice I can recommend that would be most helpful to the business community. My answer is a simple, but effective, business continuity plan that is regularly reviewed and tested." Eliza Manningham-Buller Director-General of MI5 2004 UK CBI Conference
Risk Mitigation: Business Continuity
Evaluation of Business Continuity Management Plans forms a key part of Business 'Resilience'. All organisations should possess their own bespoke plans and test them regularly.
These plans should be under constant review to ensure that they remain relevant to evolving markets, business strategy, risk, political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental conditions. The Red Cell approach to Business Continuity Management Planning follows good practice guidelines relating to the British Standard for Business Continuity Management; BS 25999 and contributes towards the 'Response' element of our Risk Reduction Strategy (see Risk Mitigation). Additionally the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 sets out the requirement for Public organisations to put in place effective Business Continuity Management Plans.
Service Delivery
Red Cell consultants assist clients with the development/improvement and implementation of robust and effective plans, to enable them to respond appropriately to adverse events. Client organisations are then able to minimise any disruptive activity and quickly return to normal business operations.
Additionally our Training Cell will ensure that key members of staff are trained in their specific roles and responsibilities as well as their organisations procedures in dealing with a range of crisis scenarios.
Benefits of the Red Cell Business Continuity Service
Our consultants follow the Business Continuity Institute Good Practice Guidelines to deliver properly tailored Business Continuity Plans, Incident Management Plans and Operational Response Plans. These are then embedded within the organisation through regular training and awareness exercises.
Plans include robust policy and procedures, assigned roles and responsibilities as well as easy to use bespoke immediate action checklists, flow charts, 'Response' templates and site recovery options. This enables management and response teams to follow agreed protocols to minimise the impact of an adverse event and recover business operations in a timely manner. Effective decision making and good communications is enhanced by the recording and monitoring of events.
The benefits of our consultancy service are as follows:
- Ensures appropriate organisational structure and responses are in place to effectively manage a rapidly developing incident.
- Minimise likelihood and impact of adverse events, such as fire, flood, workplace violence, bomb threats or a threat to brand reputation.
- Incident Management Team staff roles and responsibilities are clearly articulated and embedded through staff implementation training.
- Quick response flow charts guiding what action to take during emergency situations.
- Incident Management Team response checklists and Incident Response monitoring and recording templates.
- Accurate Business Impact Analysis quantifying operational impact of a loss, interruption or disruption over time.
- Selection of cost effective protection and recovery strategies post incident.
For more information on the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, please click here
