Develop your plan
Your business continuity plan should contain key areas as listed below. This is not an exhaustive list and you may find other key piece of information that may be required as part of your strategy.
Items to include
Roles and Responsibilities
Make it clear who need to do what, and who takes responsibility for each action. Always include deputies to cover key roles. Identify a Recovery Team and a Co-ordinator.
Incident Checklists for key staff
Use checklists that readers can follow easily.
First Stage
Include clear, direct instructions or checklist for the crucial first hour or so after an incident.
Following Stages
Include a checklist of things that can wait until after the first hour
Document Review
Agree how often, when and how you will check your plan to make sure it is still current. Update your plan to reflect changes in your organisation's personnel and in the risks you might face.
Plan for the worst-case scenarios. If your plan covers how to get back in business if a flood destroys your building, it will also work if only one floor is flooded.
Information from outside your business
Consider getting specialist information on the roles of other organisations that may be involved in the emergency such as:
Landlord
If you rent your business space - find out what plans and assistance your landlord or management company may be able to provide.
Neighbouring businesses
Nearby businesses may be affected, but you may still be able to help each other.
Utility companies
Telephone, electricity, water, gas. Find out what they will need to know and their emergency supply procedures and their main targets for connection.
Your insurance company
What information do they need from you? Do you need their permission to replace damaged critical equipment immediately. Will the existence of a Plan reduce your premiums? They may also be able to give you advice.
Suppliers and customers
How will you contact them to tell them you have been affected by an incident, and what their critical timescales are. They will be affected by your decisions, so involve them if you can and they may be reassured by your planning process.
Local Authority Emergency Planning Officer
Find out what your local authority would do in response to a major incident.
Emergency Services
What information will the emergency services require from you. How can you help them by ensuring access routes, and providing information (key holders etc).
Points to remember
Make your plan usable. Don't include information that will be irrelevant or can be accessed in other places. Use existing organisational roles and responsibilities and build on them in the plan.
Specify the escalation of the plan. Who decides when to involve the special arrangements and who manages the process. How will the stand-down process be managed.
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