Business continuity company Automata describes its Business Continuity Management (BCM) Support Team as an alternative to employing full time or contract BCM staff.
The team is led by its Principal Consultant, Garry Poole, a fellow of the Business Continuity Institute (BCI). Jim Burtles, his deputy is also a fellow of the BCI. They are assisted by Support Consultants, with generalist BCM skills and IT systems administration training, who have graduated within the last three years. In addition, managers with specialist BCM skills such as programme management, pandemic planning etc complement the team. The team has developed a "BCM toolkit" of support questionnaires, templates and presentations for use in a client’s organisation, where appropriate.
Automata BCM Support Team Experience
Over the past year, the Automata BCM Support Team has undertaken BCM assignments for public and private sector organisations across the UK. For example, it was selected by one of the largest Fire and Emergency Planning Authorities in the world to undertake its first BCM Programme and has implemented BCM programmes for "household name" private companies. In addition, the BCM Support Team runs Business Continuity Institute listed and approved training courses, including its renowned monthly "BCM Masterclass" and "Exercise Delivery & Development Masterclass".
Automata supplies specialist business continuity software and the BCM Support Team has recently implemented a web based package, with service desk support, for an organisation operating across 16 countries.
Business Continuity
Business continuity management (BCM) is a process that identifies potential impacts that threaten an organisation. It provides a framework for building resilience with the capability of an effective response that safeguards the interests of its key stakeholders, reputation, brand and value creating activities. Business continuity evolved during the 1980s and 1990s as organisations became increasingly dependent on their computers and networks. Regulators, legislators, investors, insurers, auditors and customers are increasingly demanding that organisations demonstrate continuity in their critical processes and supporting technology. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 is a component of the Government’s wider resilience agenda. It places duties "Category 1 Responders" such as the emergency services and "Category 2 Responders" that support them, e.g. utilities.
About the firm
Garry Poole, BA Honours, Automata’s Principal Consultant, will strategically lead the BCM Support Team. He is a founder member of the Business Continuity Institute. In 2000, he became the Global Business Continuity Director of Cable and Wireless, a major British telecommunications company reporting to the risk director serving on the company’s board. He had formerly been the Corporate Security and Fire Adviser for the UK’s first private telecommunications company, namely Mercury Communications. Before that he had been a London police officer in charge of an information and intelligence unit with responsibility for contingency planning. Garry’s deputy, Jim Burtles, Automata’s Head of Training, is also a founder member of the Business Continuity Institute. Jim acts as an Adviser to the Lord Mayor of Westminster on ‘matters relating to operational emergencies that might arise’. This takes the form of occasional planned meetings and callouts as and when required.
