18th May 2012
Businesses Learn How To Rise From Ashes Of Major Disaster
14th Sep 2007
How to ensure your business survives a major incident was the theme of a seminar staged by BedfordBID on September 11th 2007.
The date was a coincidence but served as a timely reminder of how the terrible Twin Towers disaster impacted on businesses well beyond the d-day.
Closer to home the Buncefield oil disaster in Hertfordshire caused millions of pounds of business losses - not because offices or depots were damaged in the fire but because the area was closed off to all but emergency services for days, weeks and months.
How would your business cope in such circumstances?
At Bedford an officer from the National Counter Terrorism Security Office and representatives of Bedfordshire police, fire and ambulances services and Bedford Borough Council shared useful information with business delegates about how they operate in such circumstances and the importance of business continuity planning.
As part of a well organised chain Boots has procedures in place for just such emergencies, including a “grab bag” of essentials needed to help in the vital minutes after a disaster. But their H & S expert who joined the seminar learned a few important lessons: “This has certainly focused my mind on the issue and made me think about the bigger picture. People would certainly be looking to Boots for first aid materials and we would have to think about how we prioritised those demands.”
The Swan Hotel hosted the event and two key staff members recognised that given the worse case scenario their premises could be seen as a route to landline phones and shelter. Again the bigger picture becomes important in terms of the role the hotel plays in the community.
A small independent operator recognised that a flood, for instance, which knocked out his town centre shop could leave him unable to function or contact customers. A “business buddy” system whereby he could call on the help of similar store elsewhere in Bedfordshire could keep his business above water.
In the aftermath of the UK bombings of “7/7” footfall in some London shopping centres dropped by 78% - how would Bedford cope with such a down turn in trade.
“This is where organisations like the BedfordBID are valuable in pulling businesses together to work as one to regain public confidence in the town,” added the key spokesman of the day Richard Flynn of NaCTSO.
A whole range of advice is available from websites such as:
