Manchester City Council

Manchester City Council wants to ensure that there is capacity in the city and its infrastructure to withstand the consequences of serious incidents. 

The ability to do this is a measure of 'resilience' and is an important aspect of building safer and stronger communities.  In other words, we want to make sure that the City can cope with incidents and can return to 'normal' as soon as possible.

A Definition of Business Continuity Management

Business Continuity is about understanding risks to the everyday running of a business or organisation and planning other ways of working if the risk actually happens.  For example, if an organisation's building is closed down with suspected Asbestos deposits, would there be anywhere else for staff to work?

Many businesses and voluntary organisations are currently unprepared to deal with the effect of emergencies or interruptions.  In our most recent Annual Business Survey (June 2007), 40% of respondents had never even heard of Business Continuity, which is a clear area for improvement.  Just 19% of the 683 respondents had put Business Continuity Plans in place and tested them.

Businesses and voluntary organisations who provide services to the City need to consider how they would cope both during and after an emergency or incident that interrupts business.

The Importance of Business Continuity Management 

The bomb that devastated Manchester city centre in 1996 affected over 600 businesses.  It is estimated that only 50% of businesses without a business continuity plan will survive the 12 months after being affected by a disaster or business continuity incident.

Understanding how you can get your organisation up and running quickly after an incident means that you are much more likely to be able to provide employment, meet customer need and ultimately, generate profit.

 The most common type of incidents that affect businesses on a regular basis include:

• fire
• interruption to IT systems
• loss of a key supplier
• interrupted supply of a utility e.g. water

Business Continuity helps you to prepare strategies to cope with such a disruption so that you can continue to deliver your business critical activities.