PwC comments on business continuity in the wake of the riots

James Crask, senior manager, business continuity services, PwC.

James Crask, business continuity senior manager, PwC, said: "Of immediate concern is the safety of staff and others based at or visiting your premises. Good businesses will be communicating to their staff and customers about the situation about how they have been affected and the approach they are taking to manage disruption.

"Businesses with office staff can consider more flexible ways of working to give greater adaptability. This might include adjusting working hours or allowing certain staff to work from home, which maintains productivity and addressing safety concerns.

"For many, the impacts will be wider than direct damage and losses caused by rioting, and a successful recovery will be driven by the actions taken in the immediate aftermath of these events. It is crucial for businesses to take a proportional approach to the threat, because a knee-jerk response could be more damaging to the recovery than the threat itself.

Issues that might affect small and medium-sized organisations

"Of course, many of those affected are small and medium-sized organisations that might not have the money to invest in their resilience capabilities. Such organisations need to understand the threats to their operations and what can be done in the short term to manage them. Issues may include:

• Deliveries of stock, particularly those made at night time, may be delayed or disrupted.
  
• Certain supplies may be hard to come by - boarding and glazing services may be difficult to obtain as demand outstrips supply.
  
• Staff and customers may be put off from coming into work if safety concerns persist.
  
• There may be an increase in online transactions as customers use internet shopping over visiting their local high street.
  
• Transport may be disrupted, making travel to and from work more difficult for employees, suppliers and customers.

"Many businesses and communities have been badly affected, and it is at times like this that robust crisis management and business continuity arrangements will pay dividends to any organisation."