Creating a plan
Having explored the importance and advantages that planning your response in advance to an interuptions to your business, consider putting together a business continuity plan, an emergency pack, and train and exercise both your staff and your response. 
Creating a Plan
The following is a summary of the 5 key steps to help your organisation to create a business continuity plan
- know your business
- assess the risk
- develop the strategy
- develop and keep developing the plan
- rehearsal and staff training
See further information for suggested templates.
Emergency pack
As part of your plan activation, consider the importance of having prepared an Emergency Pack/Grab Bag. The following are suggestions to include in the pack:
- contact details, including your Employees, customer and supplier details, emergency glaziers and building contractors, utility companies, local authority
- your business continuity plan
- building site plan, including location ofgas, electricity and water shut off points
- computer back ups, such as USB memory sticks or flash drives
- torch and spare batteries
- message pads and flip chart
- general stationery (pens, paper, etc)
- disposable camera (useful for recording evidence in an insurance claim)
- disposal/black bags
Remember to store this pack safely and easily accessible, and that the items are checked quartely.
Training and exercising
Once the plan has been written, train and exercise key staff and processes, in order to minimise the impact and aid in the swift return to business as usual following a disruption.
