RESEARCH AVIAN INFLUENZA

“This is in its beginning stages but we are working to help some key partners to develop BCM”

“Although we have a procedure in place to ensure our third parties and suppliers have BCP. It is often the case that we have to advise them put it in place. BCP is still an unknown to many companies, even some of the financial ones.”

“The Senior Management within the company have fully bought into the BCP process, however, it is lower down on the priorities of functional managers. With the consequence that Plans are not updated”

“Cost versus risk is again a key question. When the lead from the Executive on a 'possible pandemic' is not clearly defined, it makes it difficult to progress measures past the review stage. It may be that policies defined at Executive level do not filter down to lower tiers of management or general staff, with enough emphasis to alert staff to the level of risk!”

“More interaction between regions and local authorities on business continuity would be welcomed by all parties. “

"As a very small company any indisposition arising from this forecasted pandemic will have severe implications should one of the Principals be indisposed. Much of the business is directly related to personal contact and delivery of projects!"

“We need a lot more support and advice from Government”

"Total lack of buy in by senior management who believe its all 'propoganda'

"The threat of a pandemic is being taken seriously however scare mongering from the media is not helping"

"As the pandemic may affect all areas , mutual aid from other areas will not be available, as would be the case with other catastrophies. The answers must come from within the organisation in refining tasks to minimum critical services"

"Business Continuity within the Emergency Planning Unit is taken very seriously and every effort is being made to assist the Authority with its BCP. Lack of commitment from top management is hampering this process, but progress is being made by targeting middle managers with advice and guidance for producing their individual service plans. Joined up planning across the Authority is still a major concern."

"Pandemic will impact all areas of UK plc, affecting business life and outside - e.g. transport, supermarkets etc. There is insufficient thinking going on to take account of the wider impact. "

"Even a pandemic on the scale of 1918-1919 will, in the end, leave over 90% of us healthy or fully recovered — even those of us tending the ill. The real impact will be the economic and social consequences of locking down communities and countries. Employees need to be engaged in an active program of preparedness and prevention. The error is in failing to realize and communicate how much can be done to prepare. Communication & awareness are key to effective pandemic preparedness and the bridling of fear. "