Business continuity

The Brits are often accused of being obsessed with the weather, but I doubt any of us would have predicted the freak conditions that the country has been experiencing in the last few weeks. The national news has been filled with stories from up and down the country of flooding; hail stones the size of golf balls and huge electrical storms equivalent to those seen in the most dramatic Hollywood movies. But where does this freak weather leave those businesses that are affected?

The profile of business continuity planning has certainly been raised in those companies who are going to be impacted by the Olympics, but what plans do you have in place if your salon is affected by an occurrence over which you have no control?

For the majority of businesses, having additional premises empty and ready 'just in case' is not an option, but having researched alternative, temporary solutions that could be utilised in the short term is prudent. A clear plan - that the entire team is aware of - including communication to all team members, clients and suppliers requires consideration; and access to your database and appointment book in real time, a necessity. And where is the documentation that you would need in order to facilitate a speedy resolution, such as insurance policies and most importantly, are they all up to date?