To help tackle the potentially devastating consequences of a lack of business resilience, Business in the Community, founded by HRH The Prince of Wales, is launching a tool for businesses to check their robustness in the face of a crisis.
Small and medium businesses make up 99.9pc of all businesses in the UK, and employ 16.1 million people, or 60pc of the countryโs private employment. Launching to coincide with Responsible Business Week 2018, Business in the Community โ The Princeโs Responsible Business Network โ is challenging small businesses across the UK to test their resilience and preparedness in the face of an emergency. The online test, โWould You Be Ready?โ, questions business leaders on their preparedness, and advises how businesses should be safeguarding their assets. The test focuses on three of the biggest issues that could affect businesses: cyber attacks, fires and floods.
Joey Tabone, Resilience Director, said: โSmall businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, and the impact that an issue or crisis could have on a small business is significant, with potentially life-changing consequences for owners and employees, as well as having a negative effect on the economy. We are urging small business owners across the UK to take the test and use BITCโs free advice to scrutinise their own business practices to ensure theyโre protected against future incidents that could put their business, and their livelihoods, in jeopardy.โ
The โWould You Be Ready?โ campaign is backed by the UK Governmentโs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), as well as Barclays; toe bank has reported that 95pc of UK business leaders consider cyber security to be very or quite important to their business, and yet 45pc do not have a formal cyber security strategy.
Alison Whitney, the National Cyber Security Centreโs Director for Engagement, said: โWe know that cyber security can feel daunting for SMEs, but the good news is that by following some simple, quick and low-cost steps you can shield your business from most online attacks. Having strong passwords, backing up data and taking steps to avoid phishing attacks should be as second nature to a small firm as cashing up or locking the doors at night. Whether you own a bakery, a building firm or you sell products online, by taking the โWould You Be Ready?โ resilience test and following our advice you can avoid the common cyber attacks that can cost your time, money and reputation.โ
Cockermouth Toy Shop owner Jonty Chippendale learned the impact of a lack of preparedness when his business was hit by flooding in 2009 and again in 2015. As a result, he has lobbied for flood defences in the north Cumbrian town, as well as implementing his own resilience plan. He said: โGlobal warming means that another flood is inevitable and it would be poor business not to prepare as best as we can. Flood defence is increasingly about self-reliance, especially given the level of resource increasingly required to address flooding in the UK. I think the toolkit is a great idea. It will help businesses to recognise their weaknesses and become better prepared before the worst happens. Itโs often not on peopleโs radar until theyโre directly affected themselves, but we should all be talking about resilience. Itโs as important to a business as hiring good staff and paying taxes.โ
To take the test and for advice on increasing the resilience of SMEs, visit: https://www.tradingforgood.co.uk/would-you-be-ready/.
Cyber case
Becky Toal, director of Crowberry Consulting, has faced numerous attempted cyber attacks. In 2015, the website of Beckyโs business was hacked and taken offline for several weeks, causing reputational damage and disruption to the running of the business. Becky reported the crime to police. This was in fact the first ever cyber attack reported to the police in Lancashire. Within a week she was contacted by the Action Fraud, which advised her to look at investing in the Cyber Essentials programme to help guard against cyber attacks in the future.
After bringing in Cyber Essentials in her business, Beckyโs awareness of potential crises to her business has become more heightened. She has also received training, which in turn has allowed her to train her employees on the potential risks of cyber attacks, ensuring that her business is more resilient.
She says: โCyber attacks on businesses are increasing, and it is imperative that people educate themselves, so theyโre aware of all the potential risks. When my website was hacked, I felt like I was under attack and was extremely unnerved that someone had accessed potentially precious data. I am unfortunate to have experienced an attack on my business, but I have learnt from my experience. By properly educating myself and my staff, I feel more resilient and able to deal with other potential crises moving forward.
โBeing prepared and understanding what actions need to be taken when your business is under attack can help minimise risk and ultimately save your enterprise. I would urge all businesses to assess their resilience to ensure they are prepared if they ever encounter a crisis.โ
