Many small businesses in the UK are displaying "an alarming level of complacency" with regard to business continuity, according to new research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
The research found that although 73 per cent of businesses believed continuity was important, many admitted that they are failing to prepare for upheaval despite reporting a sharp increase in disruptions to trade, with only 34 per cent of small firms having a business continuity plan (BCP).
Bruce Mann, director of civil contingencies at the cabinet office, said: "There are still too many organisations with insufficient business continuity plans in place."
Most managers anticipated IT failure as the key disruption to future business, but experts warned that they must also prepare for staff upheaval, citing incidents ranging from floods and bombings to skills shortages as reasons for a possible employee deficit.
Jo Causon, director of marketing and corporate affairs at the CMI, also warned: "Unless organisations balance the need to safeguard buildings with the need to secure their workforce, any attempt at business continuity management will remain unfinished and inadequate."
