)%20(5).png?width=300&name=PREPARE%20FOR%20THE%20EVOLUTION%20(Presentation%20(169))%20(5).png)
Business and Disaster Recovery
Business Canterbury has played a pivotal role in helping to support members and the wider local business community during challenging times and times of crisis.
Business and Disaster Recovery
Are you ready?
There are plenty of online templates for Business Continuity Plans and Disaster Recovery Plans. The important thing is to test them within your business and adapt them accordingly, so your staff know where to find the plans and what to do in a disaster.
Increasingly we are seeing new risks to business in the form of cyber-attacks. Maintaining awareness of these risks and making plans to minimise the damage to your business can reduce the financial and operational impact of these incidents.
The below information is sourced from the Recover Canterbury story.
Disaster Planning and Preparedness
KNOW YOUR RISKS
- Prepare: Carry out a risk analysis, test it and insure where possible. Understand your terms of lease. Use professionals, such as your accountant, to help with business planning. Be sure your business, and your supply chain businesses, can operate in an emergency. Identify alternative supply partners.
- Survive: Seek advice from trusted advisors or third parties before making big decisions, especially if your home is damaged as well as your business. Is your market still there? Cash is king: if an employment subsidy is available, use it - you can repay it if not required.
- Thrive: There will be support available. Ensure you are aware of what is on offer and get connected to key orgnisations to stay informed as the situation evolves.
KNOW YOUR INSURANCE
- Prepare: Understand what denotes material damage. Be sure you have up-to-date valuations. Ensure your insurance is with a quality provider.
- Survive: Take lots of photos before you start the clean-up. Use professionals to support your claim.
KNOW YOUR STAFF
- Prepare: Make sure your staff know their role in a disaster. Ensure that there are documented processes and don't rely on assumptions or 'common sense': we don’t know how individuals will react.
- Survive: It's likely your staff will need flexibility to deal with what’s happening in their life, maybe for some time. Support them through this.
- Thrive: Businesses should focus on retaining existing staff, perhaps through non-monetary means, profit share incentives or staff sharing with other organisations to manage fluctuations in workflow.
KNOW YOUR NETWORK
- Prepare: Connect with Business Canterbury and other organisations who may be help you deal with uncertainty. Know your neighbours.
- Survive: Communicate with your customers and supply chain partners as soon as possible to let them know you are operating.
- Thrive: When you reopen, communicate this far and wide, including to media outlets which may be looking for positive news stories.
