Our Approach.

The difference between our service and that of traditional business continuity consultancies lies in the approach that we take with our clients. We are essentially the initiator of the project and a mentor to the business owner.

We see our role as:

1. Providing a framework for the project.
2. An external challenge/ " new pair of eyes"
3. Neutral arbitrator
4. Focal point for training/testing.

Providing a framework for the project
Business Continuity Management has become a highly developed process. The concepts are relatively straightforward, but it is essential that no steps be missed out to ensure that the ensuing plan arrangements are appropriate to the client’s business. We guide them through the process, in the correct order and in the technically correct way.

An external challenge/ " new pair of eyes"
We rely upon the collective knowledge of the company. However, it often happens that those in the business are too close to the situation to notice potential weaknesses/ risk exposures, which can impinge on the resilience of their company. We bring both a practical and academic challenge to the project to complement the client’s own team.

Neutral arbitrator
The key is to establish the company's key personnel, functions and support networks in order to develop an effective disaster recovery programme. This requires some vital decisions to be made as to who needs to be involved following a disaster and those who are asked to stay at home.

We have experienced situations where this can be an awkward process for a business to undertake. Everyone is important in day to day business, but when crisis hits, there are people who are “superfluous" in the immediate aftermath.

They may find it useful to point to us when people ask why they haven't been included! Not only that, we can provide a clear insight into who is and isn't important in disaster recovery, using our extensive experience of real life losses.

Focal point for training/testing.
Plans work through people. Everyone in the company needs to know about the BCM initiative. Raising awareness of risk and business continuity is essential to creating and embedding a risk aware culture. We can work with them to produce material for dissemination throughout the company as appropriate.

Those who are specifically part of the project and recovery teams will need more detailed information and training. We can facilitate this, and share with the planning team our experience of real life incidents and how recovery is best effected.

Plans need to be kept up to date and tested. There are various ways this can occur, and we can advise on the best way of doing this, without creating too much disruption or additional administration.