British Insurance Brokers’ Association launches business continuity campaign

Research commissioned by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), has found that many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK are failing to develop business continuity plans. As a result, BIBA has launched a campaign to encourage SMEs ‘to get serious about business continuity’.

Populus surveyed the opinions of 250 directors by telephone. The findings of the research show that:

* Nearly three quarters of businesses had no plans for dealing with the resulting impact of acts of terrorism;
* Nearly half of businesses had no plans to deal with the impact of flooding;
* A third of businesses had no plans to deal with the impact of a storm, while nearly a third only had ‘rough plans’;
* Only just over a half had plans to deal with the effects that a fire might have on their business;
* Only half had a formal written business continuity plan in place;
* Half of those questioned believed it would take less than a day for a serious disruption or disaster to have a significant impact on their business.

Eric Galbraith, chief executive of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association said: “Our research reveals an incredibly worrying trend amongst the essential small business sector in the UK. Too many businesses are putting themselves and their employees’ futures at risk by failing to put in place proper business continuity plans. Small businesses are vital to the UK economy and we simply cannot afford for them to be complacent.”

Mike Penning MP, Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead who has been supporting constituents impacted as a result of the Buncefield oil depot fire in December 2005, has been a leading campaigner on the issue. This week he tabled an Early Day Motion supporting the campaign in Parliament. He commented: “I strongly urge every business to double check that they have an adequate business continuity plan in place. There is a real threat that your business, and your employees’ jobs will be lost if you do not prepare for the unexpected. Buncefield was a prime example of something that no one expected causing heartache to thousands. I do not want to see anyone experience the lows that my constituents did in 2005 and urge all businesses to get serious about business continuity.”

Welcoming the campaign Patrick Mercer MP, Shadow Security Minister said: “This research shows us that too many businesses have no contingency plans for disasters. The SME sector is vital to the UK economy, and it is essential that it takes every step possible to ensure that it is protected against the worst case scenario. Events in recent years including the Carlisle floods, the Buncefield explosion and even the recent tornadoes in London have shown just how suddenly businesses can be hit. I urge all SMEs to get real about business continuity planning now, and ensure that they are in a position to survive should the worst happen.”

Details of the Early Day Motion can be accessed here.

MPs who have signed up in agreement with the EDM as of 6th February are:

Penning, Mike
Bottomley, Peter
Dismore, Andrew
Jones, Lynne
Hancock, Mike
Drew, David
Meale, Alan
Conway, Derek
Cummings, John
Simpson, Alan
Campbell, Ronnie
Corbyn, Jeremy
Cable, Vincent
Davies, Dai
Mercer, Patrick
Cryer, Ann
Stunell, Andrew
Vis, Rudi
Williams, Betty

•Date: 6th Feb 2007 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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