Crisis planning 'vital' for small businesses

Date: 10th February 2009

Crisis planning in the event of extreme weather conditions is becoming increasingly vital to small businesses, it has been claimed.

A recent investigation by the disaster consultant Crisis Survivor found that four-fifths of small companies - such as partnerships and sole traders - had been forced to close at some point due to major incidents within the last 18 months.

According to the organisation, many small businesses do not include damage from snow or extreme weather in their insurance policies.

Tony Gimple, managing director of Crisis Survivor, commented: "In today's uncertain economic conditions customers - particularly those in a supply chain - will look elsewhere very quickly, especially if your business is critical to their service.

"Our advice to any business is to be prepared."

He added that the floods which battered the UK in 2007 had spurred many small businesses to better protect themselves from environmental damage.

Last week, Direct Line for Business warned that small companies should ensure they protect their customers and clients against injury during times of snowfall.