Accessibility links

Tel: 44 (0) 1992 715804 - Fax: 44 (0) 1992 650933 - Email: enquiries@connorwarin.co.uk

Contingency and disaster planning

  1. Resources
  2. Your business
  3. Starting a business
  4. Growing the business

At Connor Warin we can provide start-up businesses in the Waltham Abbey area with help and advice. Here are some issues to consider regarding contingency and disaster planning.

As your business gets off the ground, it is important to have a strategy for dealing with disaster.

Disasters take many forms, including 'natural' causes such as floods or storms, and 'man-made' calamities caused by human error or sabotage. Careful preparation will minimise the impact on your business, so you should act sooner rather than later.

Here are some of the areas to consider:

Hazard avoidance
Valuable equipment should be kept away from potential hazards, such as water pipes. Important IT equipment should be kept on upper floors to minimise the impact of a flood and desks left clear overnight to reduce the risk of fire.
Safety
Fire equipment, including alarms and extinguishers, should always be in full working order. Escape routes should be clearly marked and accessible at all times, and floors free from obstructions.
Security
Undertake a review to ensure that security measures are adequate, with locks and alarms in working order.
IT and information protection
Firewall and anti-virus software should be up to date, and a policy enforced to ensure that unsolicited emails are not opened. Important information should be backed up and a copy kept in a separate, secure location. Sensitive data should only be accessible to key members of staff.
Insurance
Insurance policies must be valid and offer sufficient cover, including buildings, contents and key personnel.
Contingency plans
The business should have a disaster plan detailing possible hazards and likely outcomes, and setting out the individual roles of members of staff. The plan should be reviewed regularly.
Emergency routine
Staff should practice the emergency procedures.
Recovery
You should have a recovery plan, complete with a time-scale for action.

Remember that being prepared could make all the difference to the well-being of your staff and the long-term survival of your business. Even if the worst doesn't happen, you will reap the benefits, by reducing your vulnerability to everyday risks and improving staff confidence

If you are starting a business in the Waltham Abbey area and would like help and advice, contact Connor Warin.

Why not register to receive our Monthly Newswire?

Once a month we'll send you an email packed full of essential business news and handy tax tips to help save you money.

Sign up now

13 Dec 2019

Business groups respond to General Election result

Business groups, including the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have responded to the General Election result.

12 Dec 2019

Almost half a million taxpayers sought income tax refunds from HMRC, data reveals

Nearly half a million taxpayers sought income tax refunds from HMRC in the 2018/19 tax year, according to insurer Royal London.

11 Dec 2019

ICAEW sounds public finance warning as election approaches

The UK's political parties are making 'unsustainable' election promises in regard to public spending, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has warned.