Improving Communications & Engagement with Business: The national view Dan Jones Strategy & Communications, CCS Cabinet Office Business Advisory Group on Civil Protection 26 June 2006

Aims Agreed long term programme of work …To improve two-way communications Messages & guidance from Govt to business (cascading) Gaining business view on civil protection issues …To maintain frameworks for engagement At all levels – national, regional & local …To improve support for businesses Risk information & planning assumptions Business continuity guidance Communication mechanisms for support …To tackle specific issues Issues where closer engagement between Govt & business would be valuable Specific risks (e.g. flu pandemic)

Key Initiatives Business Advisory Group on Civil Protection Launched by Hazel Blears in March 2006…. –Preparing for Emergencies website What Businesses Can do –MI5 – “Protecting Against Terrorism”

Meeting the need…. What do businesses want? –Chartered Management Institute Business Continuity Survey May 2006 Locating information about BCM –“The internet was the most preferred delivery format, picked by 70% of respondents. Just over half (53%) preferred published material, 23% would look for published materials such as handbooks, 20% would want speaker events or seminars, while just 15% looked for benchmarking schemes.” What type of information? –“Asked what additional information on BCM would be useful, half (50%) of respondents said that guidance on creating a BCP would be helpful. 42% said that case studies would be useful, while 37% would look for information on potential disruptions and 28% would like more information on the business case for BCM.”

What’s on there?

What can you do to help? Promoting PfE and Govt guidance for businesses –Cascading within your organisations –Linking to PfE from your websites –Cascading/linking to key publications which promote business continuity –E.g. Pandemic Influenza Checklist for Businesses Helping with content –Business Continuity Case Studies –Guidance for other businesses

Feedback What do you think of PfE? Is the content right? What further information/guidance would you and your members welcome?

Other sources of information for business PfE brings all relevant Govt materials together onto one website. –You will see links to the following…..

Links to local sources of support & guidance…..

Improving Communications & Engagement with Business: The local perspective Dan Greaves Head of Civil Contingencies Act Implementation Team, CCS Cabinet Office Business Advisory Group on Civil Protection 26 June 2006

Civil Contingencies Act Modern framework for major emergency planning at the local level Focuses on preparedness of front-line responders: –Clear set of roles and responsibilities –Framework for multi-agency working –Sound basis for performance assessment “Community resilience” a key theme: –Raising public awareness –Promoting effective business continuity management

BCM promotion: rationale Building “Community resilience” –Helping organisations to help themselves –Reduce economic impact of emergencies –Reduce reliance on public sector bodies Local engagement because: –Effective delivery of national policy via local partners –We plan for and respond to emergencies locally –Need to reflect local variations (e.g. risk profile, emergency management arrangements) –Building stronger links with the business community

Scope of the duty: awareness raising Must provide generic advice and assistance to the business and voluntary sector communities at large –Light-touch awareness raising duty –Messages: (e.g.) risks, local civil protection arrangements, steps businesses can take –Means of communication: websites, bulletins, public meetings, forums

Scope of duty: specific advice May provide more detailed advice and assistance to individual organisations –Discretionary, not compulsory –Likely to involve: company specific presentations, risk assessment, plan development, exercising, training

What does this mean in practice? Duty came into force on May 15 Examples of work up and running: –General advice and assistance (Leeds City Centre Network, Berkshire Regional Business Continuity Forum) –Specific advice and assistance (Corporation of London, Norfolk Major Incident Team) Local authorities progressively rolling out new programmes: –London Prepared –West Yorkshire & North East Cabinet Office role: –Provided national framework and signposting local advice –Sharing good practice –Ensuring coherence of message and branding

We need your assistance Raising awareness: –Flag the issue up to your members –Draw attention to national and local sources of advice Engaging with those providing advice locally: –Advice on messages and how to deliver them –Access to networks –Ensuring that doors are open, not shut Providing feedback on forthcoming national material Is this something you can help with? Would a briefing sheet be helpful?

Questions?