An initiative so that Manchester’s business and volunteer community continues to deliver essential services whatever the disruption has been recognised with a national award.
The Manchester Business Continuity Forum, which brings together a wide range of public and private sector partners with Manchester City Council as a driving partner, helps members be ready to cope with any type of business interruption – from a power cut or the loss of a key supplier to a major emergency.
The Forum beat off competition from the likes of Channel Four Television and Sony UK to take the coveted Business Continuity Initiative Of The Year title in the CIR (Continuity Insurance and Risk) magazine awards at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Since the group was formed in February 2007, it has made huge progress in spreading the business continuity message and now has 248 members. Its steering group includes the City Council, Greater Manchester Police, CityCo, London Scottish Bank, Manchester Metropolitan University, the Co-operative Group organisations, Jerymn Consulting, Marriott Hotels, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Manchester Primary Care Trust and the Bank of New York Mellon.
One innovative aspect of the Forum is a buddying scheme for Forum members so that larger and better-resourced members with more experience of business continuity can support smaller organisations.
The Forum stages events and conducts exercises testing how organisations would cope with various scenarios, for example a Pandemic Flu outbreak. It produces regular newsletters and web pages containing a wealth of information, guidance, templates and useful links.
Councillor Paul Andrews, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services for Manchester City Council, said: "This inspiring partnership has made considerable progress in ensuring that Manchester organisations can deliver business continuity, whatever the disruption. It is a valuable resource and I’d encourage all Manchester organisations to draw on its expertise."
E-mail [email protected]
