According to research recently done by Cable & Wireless, a majority of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) do not have a contingency plan in place for staff who might not be able to reach company offices in the event of an emergency.

According to the research, over 65% of SMEs have revealed that their businesses will be significantly affected if their staff were unable to go to the office for at least a day. However, a third of SMEs outside London and about two-thirds of business in London do not have a business continuity plan in place for such emergencies.

The same survey also said that of the 100 businesses interviewed less than a third have actually updated their business continuity plans after the July 7 London bombings.

Company formation and business solutions experts warn that not having a workable business continuity plan can have a detrimental effect on their business in case another emergency happens.

This sentiment was also echoed by Institute of Directors Senior Policy Advisor Jim Norton. He said that business leaders have a responsibility to take care of their businesses and think up of a continuity plan as a contingency measure.

The survey also revealed that although a third of the respondents realise the need to back up sensitive office data, there are no available back-ups outside of their headquarters – a potential problem if ever a situation arises wherein their offices become accessible.

Norton has said that small and medium-sized businesses should seriously pursue business continuity planning and this means backing up data to an offsite location, prepare for alternative facilities and provide employees with the necessary technology that will enable them to work from home if the need arises.

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