News

Reputational risk - BCM & Crisis Management

Your good name takes years to build, but how do you keep it? 

It could be a terrorist attack or natural disaster, a regulatory investigation or the exposure of a fraud, an IT security breach or embarrassing litigation. Companies are all too aware they are operating in risky times but tackling the underlying cause of a sticky situation may be only half the battle. 

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Category Business Continuity Management BCM - Research - BCM Event

London Borough of Camden delivers support to local organisations on BCM

With the support of the Continuity Forum the London Borough of Camden will be hosting a Community Event designed to help local business gain a greater understanding of Business Continuity and its value to organisations of all sizes on Wednesday 26th April 2006. The session will enable organisations to hear from those involved in the development of Camdens' initiatives in this area, as well as Russell Price, Chairman of the Continuity Forum.

Thanks go The Wellcome Trust who are hosting this event at their offices at 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE As always there will be an opportunity to network with other businesses/organisations in the area and to discuss any issues with the speakers.

The agenda:

6.00: Registration & light refreshments

6.20: Welcome and Introduction Sandi Phillips, Local Business Partnership Coordinator - London Borough of Camden

6.30: A Word from our host - John Cooper, Director of Resources - The Wellcome Trust

6.40: Tony Brooks, Head of Community Safety - The London Borough of Camden

6.50: Russell Price, Chairman - Continuity Forum

7.10: Mitch Mitchell, Facilities Director - Prudential

7.30: A Local Business Approach Peter Smith The Security Company 'The Importance of Employee Awareness to Information Security and Business Continuity'

7.35: A Final Word from the Business Initiatives Team 7.40 Networking over wine and canapes 8.30 End (Order maybe subject to change)  

If you would like to attend this event please contact Sandi Phillips Local Business Partnership Co-ordinator & interim contact for the Kings Cross Business Forum London Borough of Camden 7th Floor, Town Hall Extension Argyle Street London WC1H 8EQ [t] 020 7974 5906 [m] 07957 639 251

If you would like to know more about how your organisation can get involved and benefit from working with the Continuity Forum, please email us HERE! or call on + 44 (0) 208 993 1599.

Category Business Continuity Management BCM - Bird Flu - BCM

"Foolish to ignore risks" says WHO

Rick Cudworth has 20 consultants at KPMG in London advising corporate clients on all aspects of business continuity, but in recent months a third of their time has been taken up on a single issue: preparations for pandemic flu. "A lot of companies are asking us to assess how ready they are," he says. "The issue is now being taken quite seriously."

BCM - Public Sector BCM Planning

Pay differentials threaten Public Sector Planning  

Over the last 18 months the Continuity Forum has been extensively researching the market salaries for BCM professional and we fear that our findings points to a skills crunch that has co-incided with the arrival of the Civil Contingencies Act.

Much of the issue revolves around the serious pay differentials now developing between the Public and Private sectors. In the Private sector, salaries have been steadily growing with our latest research showing that the private sector is paying experienced planners significantly more than their Public Sector colleagues.

For example, in our 2005 salary and responsibility survey (which received over 500 responses), the base differential between Public and the Finance Sectors was nearly £15,000. For more senior positions the differential was even greater, with experienced managers in the Finance sector earning more than £20,000 more than a comparable position in the public sector.

It is also relatively common for the most senior professionals in the private sector to be paid over £100,000 compared to a rare £50,000 in the public sector. The highest reported Salary was £150,000 with consultants working in the service provider arena being rewarded with highest average group salary.

Matters are unlikely to get much better in the short term either, as over the past 4 years salary increases have generally been limited by the constraints of the public purse.

The best year for the majority of Public sector planners was in 2002, when 44% of our respondents received increases of around 5%., but in 2003 & 2004 this rate dropped to less than 2.5% (and that was received by only 40% of respondents). Each year for around a fifth of Public Sector planners there is no salary increase at all which seems to be linked to public sector pay rounds and further limits the value of any increase.

Compare this situation to the market average, which over the same period saw salary (or bonus payments) increase by between 5% and 15% for 47% of professionals in 2004 with nearly 10% receiving a 20% or greater increase with broadly similar patterns being seen in the previous 3 years.

All of this is hardly surprising when it is pointed out that for 85% of our respondents there had been no change at all in total allocated budgets for the last 2 years, and most received less than 5% over the past 5 years. Money isn't the only differentiator causing friction though; other common issues are the lack of internal support and access to training.

Our research shows that those working in the private sector receive up to 3 times the training of those working in Government departments and Local Authorities with some 60% of respondents citing this situation as seriously affecting their professional development.

Another issue facing the planners is the general lack of resource and support with 60% saying they are worried about their organisation's level of planning and their real capabilities. In addition, 83% state that more guidance and support is needed from Central Government and 67% state that they lack confidence in their organisation's supply chain partners.

70% of those working in the public feel that more skills are needed within the organisation to develop really effective planning. This issue is further highlighted by the responses to our questions on the embedding of BC in the Local Authorities, which shows a belief that most believe it will take a further 2 or 3 years before the process can be completed (90%).

This is due in part to the requirements, yet to be formalised, within the Civil Contingencies Bill, but closer examination also highlighted that the primary concern is the basic resource issue again as the planning team is often far smaller than its commercial counterpart.

In the Public Sector there is a wealth of loyal experience, as these professionals change roles only a third as often as those in the private sector. However, this loyalty needs to be rewarded far more appropriately as the pressure from the greener fields of the private sector are starting to be seen as a very attractive option indeed.

If you have any comments on this article or would like to find out more about the work of the Continuity Forum please contact the Continuity Forum directly on 020 8993 1599 or info@continuityforum.org 

The spread of bird flu poses serious risks to biodiversity, say scientists who have detailed an outbreak of the virus in Owston's civets.

The mammal is a small, endangered carnivore that lives in the forests of Vietnam, Laos and southern China.

Three animals died at a conservation centre in northern Vietnam last summer. It is not known how they contracted the virus, as they do not eat poultry.

The scientists report the cases in a journal of the UK's Royal Society.

The team - from the UK, Vietnam and China - call for better monitoring of the H5N1 virus in wild animals.

"H5N1 could pose a risk to a variety of wild birds and mammals," lead author Diana Bell, of the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, told the BBC News website.

"We need to be screening wild birds and mammals in those countries where the virus has been present for some time.

"We mustn't be totally anthropocentric in our focus on H5N1. It doesn't only kill humans and poultry; it also kills a wide variety of wild birds and carnivorous mammals."

Biodiversity threat

H5N1 has killed birds in at least 11 of the 27 avian orders, including gulls, storks, pigeons, eagles, cranes, pelicans, parrots and owls.

Tigers contracted bird flu after eating infected poultry
It has also infected tigers, leopards and domestic cats fed contaminated meat, and ferrets and mice in laboratory studies.

Dr Bell's team warns that the disease poses a threat to bird and mammal biodiversity in many Asian countries that are "global hotspots" for conservation.

"This report illustrates the ease with which this influenza A H5N1 virus can cross species barriers and reinforces the pandemic concern engendered by its progressively increasing geographic range," they write in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The civets that died were part of a conservation scheme in Cuc Phuong National Park that coordinates an international breeding programme for the species.

QUICK GUIDE

Bird flu

Owston's civet (Chrotogale owstoni) is listed as globally threatened and is losing numbers to hunting and trapping.

Its meat is prized by bushmeat restaurants, its body parts by traditional medicine makers and its skin by taxidermists in Vietnam and China.

Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but we are really not so sure as a rather odd Australian dilemma has arisen for us over the past year.

 It has come to our attention that a former manager of Survive (Australia), is running a recently formed company established to 'promote' BCM in Australia and New Zealand. Now this would normally be absolutely fine by us as we are probably the strongest advocates for growth in the sector and importantly effective promotion and lobbying for the Continuity Sector, our problem is the choice of name 'Continuity Forum Pty Ltd' and that this is a private Company!

Category Crisis Management and Business Continuity Management Event

Crisis Management WORKSHOP

30th March 2006 - Royal Statistical Society

Continuing the successful Event series bought to you during 2005, the The Continuity Forum are delighted to pre-announce a Crisis Management Workshop to be held on 30th March 2006. This event will be run following our presentation event in the morning, but places are very much more limited.

 This half day workshop will continue the discussion topics of the morning presentation session, and will include quality speakers and facilitators, allowing you to expand upon your knowledge and expertise in the areas of Managing your People and Crisis Communications.

This workshop event is aimed at offering businesses, practitioners and vendors alike unbiased and straightforward advice and the opportunity to work on realistic studies to expand your own planning. It is expected that this event will be booked quickly, and since places will be limited, we urge early registration. First option will be given to Continuity Forum Members, then to delegates attending the morning session and only then on a first come, first served basis. If you have colleagues who may be interested in either event, please do feel free to forward this invitation as soon as possible. The event is offered free of charge to members, and will be charged at £50 plus VAT for non-members.

To book your place, please email sara.mckenna@continuityforum.org and include "CRISIS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP - 30TH MARCH " in your subject header.

Agenda 13.00 Registration & Coffee - Mingle with the delegates from our morning session

14.00 Introduction & Housekeeping

14.15 Opening Address - The Continuity Forum

14.30 Case Study - Communicating in a Crisis - Work through a Realistic Case Study.

15.30 Coffee & Networking 

16.00 Discussion Session on the first Workshop

16.30 Case Study - Managing your People during a Crisis - Work through a realistic Case Study.

17.00 Discussion Session on the Second Workshop

17.30 Close

For further information on this event or to reserve your place at this Special Workshop please contact us on the details below: Sara McKenna on 0208 993 1599 or mail HERE! Please book your space ASAP! This event forms part of our public awareness sessions and is open to both members and non-members. Preference will be given in the first instance to Full Forum Members. This event is strictly hosted under CHATHAM HOUSE RULE. 

If you would like to know more about how your organisation can get involved and benefit from working with the Continuity Forum, please email us HERE! or call on + 44 (0) 208 993 1599. 

Category Business Continuity Event 

A free partner event in association with the Strathclyde Police 

BEARDMORE CONFERENCE HOTEL, CLYDEBANK The Continuity Forum is delighted to invite you to a special event held in conjunction with the Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Business Crime Centre. This special event has been organised to improve the flow of information to and from the business community in Scotland and to provide information on protective security advice, Business Continuity and related matters. Given the nature of recent events within the United Kingdom, most notably the 7th and 21st of July 2005. 

We believe that this seminar provides a timely opportunity, for the police service to engage with members of the business community in Glasgow North and East Dunbartonshire, to debate issues of mutual interest and hopefully to assist companies to introduce measures to protect their staff, assets and reputation.

The learning outcomes are:-   

To provide you with a clear understanding and appreciation of the current terrorist threat to mainland Great Britain   

To make you aware of the current concept of Counter Terrorism Protective Security Advice and the recent developments at government, national and local level.   

To provide you with an understanding of the scale, difficulties and issues that you encounter should your business or organisation be subject of a catastrophic event either directly from terrorism or other malevolent act.   

To provide you with examples of good practice, recommendations and advice in relation to policy and procedures and make you aware of the legal implications of failing to protect your business reputation.   

To provide you with access to individuals and organisations who will make available advice, good practice and realistic solutions. 

BUSINESS CONTINUITY SEMINAR 

Seminar Timetable 

0900-0930 Arrival 

0930  “Opening Address  - Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson, Strathclyde Police 

0940  “Setting the Scene and the Role of the Police Counter Terrorism Security Advisor - Detective Inspector David Murdoch Detective Inspector Stephen McAllister 

1040 Break 

1100  “Why Business Continuity?  - Russell Price, Business Continuity Forum 

1130  “The New Role of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue service and Responding to Disasters and Terrorist/CBRN Incidents  - Billy Hunter, Area Manager, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service for East and West Dunbartonshire 

1200 Lunch 

1250  “The Role of SBCC in Relation to Business Continuity and Counter Terrorism  - Alan Dobie, Scottish Business Crime Centre 

1320  “The Aftermath of 7/7 and the Effect on Business  - Constable Ian Mansfield and Sergeant Peter Beasley, City of London Police 

1350 Break 

1410  “Dealing with Emergencies and Disasters  (Stockline Plastics) - Superintendent John Cattell, Strathclyde Police Division 

1440  “The Role of the Police Community Safety Department in Providing Protective Security for your Business  - Inspector David Kirkland, Strathclyde Police, Community Safety Department, Division 

1500  “Chairing Plenary Session  - Chief Superintendent Mitch Roger, Strathclyde Police, Division 

1510 Close. 

If you would like to attend, please email Inspector David Kirkland of Strathclyde Police directly with your nominated attendees name, address, contact number and email address HERE!. 

Please note that places are limited and we will operate on a first come first served basis. We do hope that you'll be able to join us 

The Continuity Forum is an independent group funded though membership and sponsors providing high level support to the Business Continuity Sector in all its forms

The Continuity Forum is involved in more Business Continuity events than any other other organisation in the world

We provide direct support to both the Public and Private Sectors and offer the best value access to knowledge, training and support available anywhere

We provide Executive Briefings to companies, public sector and media organisations

Over the past year we have had over 360,000 unique visitors to our website ... that's nearly 1000 a day!

The Continuity Forum

HP's business continuity and availability services will be bringing together a set of customisable solutions consisting of people, processes and technologies that are designed to help customers solve business continuity, availability, compliance and operational risk challenges.

Category Business Continuity Management BCM - Avian Flu- BCM Bird Flu Risk - News

Is Bird Flu starting to hit Boardroom thinking? 

When the H5N1 strain of bird flu first raised fears in Europe last autumn as migratory birds began to die across the continent, Bob Piggott presented plans to HSBC's executive team on how the bank was preparing for a possible future human pandemic. As public concern rises further with the lethal form of flu claiming its first European victims in Turkey in recent days, Mr Piggott, head of group crisis management, feels that HSBC is relatively well equipped to cope if the virus spreads. But he is under no illusions about the threat a pandemic poses, and still sees gaps in his bank's ability to respond, not to mention the risk for other organisations in facing up to the issue. "[Flu] is probably the single biggest challenge for the whole group," he says. HSBC now has national contingency plans in place for each of the 77 countries in which it operates.

Companies today face a rapidly shifting landscape when it comes to risk. 

The threat of a terrorist attack on an important location, ever more burdensome regulation and the trend towards moving operations to lower cost areas of the world are all shaping the risks that companies face. But now it is risk management itself - the process of acquiring insurance to protect businesses against potential hazards - that is also subject to unprecedented change because of broadening regulatory investigations into practices in the US insurance industry. 

Category - Business Continuity & Security advice _____________________________________________

Secure in the Knowledge launched by NaCTSO, London First and the Security Service Advice for business and organisations aimed at improving the Security and Business Continuity Planning of organisations was launched today. “Secure in the Knowledge - building a secure business" is the second major initiative from NaCTSO, London First and the Security Service and follows on from the advice detailed in “Expecting the Unexpected".

The 45 page booklet and accompanying CD details the steps organisations of all types should be taking to build better resilience and security. The advice compiled from a range of organisations including the Continuity Forum illustrates the wide range of measures needed to secure the organisation and significantly reduce the risks from a range of threats including Data Theft, Terrorism, Fraud and Business Interruption.