Release date: 8 May 2024
Business owners in West Sussex are being encouraged to check their business continuity and resilience plans this month, to ensure that they protect their businesses from fires and other emergencies.
Around 20% of businesses in the UK suffer a significant disruption each year from unexpected incidents. Following a disaster, 40% of businesses do not reopen, with an additional 25% closing within a year of the event.
Staff from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and West Sussex County Council’s Resilience and Emergencies teams are holding a series of joint events this month to help business owners build their resilience and manage fire risks.
They will be visiting towns across the county, offering free advice and guidance between 10am and 3pm on the following dates:
- Tuesday 14 May – South Street Square, Worthing
- Wednesday 15 May – Carfax, Horsham
- Thursday 16 May – Sussex Chamber Business Expo, South of England Showground
- Friday 17 May – Queensway, Crawley.
The events are being held during Business Continuity & Resilience Awareness Week. This annual event, organised by the Business Continuity Institute, encourages businesses to focus on the proactive steps they can take to build resilience today to prepare for the uncertainties of tomorrow.
Martin Funnell, Resilience and Emergencies Manager at the county council said: “Every business is at risk of disruption. This can range from natural disasters and severe weather to man-made crises like data breaches, supply chain disruptions and loss of equipment or staff.
“Although you can’t prepare for every possible scenario, it’s important to identify potential issues your business may face and the impact this would have, to help you prepare for disruption and build resilience.”
Abigail Link, Station Manager Fire Safety said: “Some businesses never recover from a fire, yet many could have been prevented. If you are the responsible person of a business, you must make sure you have your Fire Risk Assessment and fire safety arrangements recorded in full. This is a legal requirement regardless of the size and type of your business or the number of employees you have.
“It’s vital that business owners and managers understand their legal responsibilities when it comes to preventing fire in the workplace and know what to do in the event of an incident. This will help keep staff and customers safe and protect businesses from financial loss.”
West Sussex County Councillor Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “Business Continuity Awareness & Resilience Week is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of fire safety, business continuity, and resilience in organisations and workplaces. I would encourage anyone who runs a business in West Sussex to come along to one of these events to find out how our teams can support with a range of expert advice and guidance.”
You can find out more about business fire safety and preparing your business for an emergency on our website.
