Business Continuity Management (BCM)

BCM is a flexible framework designed to help organisations to continue operating in the face of a wide range of different types of disruptions (Civil Contingencies Act Section 2(c) guidance 'Emergency Preparedness'), in this respect Leicestershire County Council maintains plans to ensure that they can continue to exercise their functions in the event of an emergency so far as is reasonably practicable.  In addition to this duty Leicestershire County Council provides advice and assistance to those undertaking commercial activities and to voluntary organisations in relation to business continuity management (BCM) in the event of emergencies (as defined by the Act, Section 4(1) guidance 'Emergency Preparedness').

It is a management process that helps manage the risks to the smooth running of an organisation or delivery of a service, ensuring it can continue to operate to the extent required in the event of a disruption.  These risks could be from the external environment (e.g. power outages, severe weather) or from within an organisation (e.g. systems failure, loss of key staff).

BCM provides the strategic framework for improving an organisation’s resilience to interruption.  Its purpose is to facilitate the recovery of key business systems and processes within agreed time frames.

It is an ongoing process that helps organisations anticipate, assess, prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptions, whatever their source and whatever aspect of the business they affect.

It is a generic management framework that is valid across the public, private and voluntary sectors. It is about maintaining the essential business deliverables of an organisation in an emergency.  The primary ‘business’ of private sector organisations is the generation of profit, a process that BCM seeks to protect.  Responders provide services to the public, and it is equally important that these are protected and resilient.

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 – Emergency Preparedness Chapters 6 & 8 provides Guidance on Business Continuity.
Emergency Preparedness document (pdf doc, 1.3MB)

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 places a duty upon local authorities to promote Business Continuity to businesses, predominantly small/medium enterprises (SME). Collectively local authorities within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland have produced a leaflet that gives an overview of Business Continuity Planning and Business Continuity Management for businesses and voluntary organisations. This document has been sent out with the business rates to in excess of 3500 businesses.

Business Continuity Training: this course is aimed to provide staff with the opportunity to be made aware of the need for Business Continuity Management and the key issues involved. Business Continuity Training Information

On the 18th July 2008, RMIS Events organised an event that was designed to advise businesses to help improve their resilience and ability to ‘Survive a Crisis’. The event brought together some of the region’s and UK’s leading experts in this field and was split into four distinct parts:

To see the presentations click on the following link:  www.rmisltd.co.uk/eve

The survey was designed to provide the respondents with an understanding of what needs are to be considered when looking to undertake the Business Continuity Management process and to identiy for themselves how far they are in BCM and what other areas need to be addressed, it any.

UK Resilience
Introductory material on pandemic influenza for Businesses and other Organisations to help you communicate with your staff.
http://www.ukresilience.gov.uk/pandemicflu/guidance/business.aspx
Guidance - Business Continuity for Fuel Shortages

London Prepared
Business Contintuity Advice
Includes a 10 minute self assessment questionaire and BC planning guides depending upon number of staff employed from 10 or fewer upto 250+