MAKE YOUR FREE Business Continuity Plan

Making a Business Continuity Plan online is simple. Just answer a few questions and Rocket Lawyer will build your document for you. When you have all of the details prepared in advance, making your document is a quick and easy process.

To make your Business Continuity Plan you will need the following information:

Business details and Business Continuity Plan details

• The business’ details (eg its legal structure, name and address).

• Who is preparing this Business Continuity Plan?

• On which date is this Business Continuity Plan created?

• How often will the Business Continuity Plan be reviewed and tested?

• Which events will trigger the use of the Business Continuity Plan:

  • Epidemic, pandemic, disease, etc?

  • Brexit-related disruption?

  • Natural disaster?

  • Technology issues (eg data breach or cybersecurity attack)?

  • Fire?

• Which business functions should be prioritised in case of an emergency?

  • Service delivery?

  • Supply chains?

  • Staff?

  • Transport and logistics?

  • Contracts?

Epidemic, pandemic, disease, etc

• How would the business be affected by an epidemic/pandemic/disease?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to service delivery from a pandemic/epidemic/disease?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to supply chains from a pandemic/epidemic/disease?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to staff from a pandemic/epidemic/disease?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to transport and logistics from a pandemic/epidemic/disease?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to contracts from a pandemic/epidemic/disease?

Natural disasters

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to service delivery from a natural disaster?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to the supply chains from a natural disaster?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to staff from a natural disaster?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to transport and logistics from a natural disaster?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to contracts from a natural disaster?

Technology issues

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to service delivery from technological issues?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to the supply chains from technological issues?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to staff from technological issues?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to transport and logistics from technological issues?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to contracts from technological issues?

Fire

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to service delivery from a fire?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to the supply chains from a fire?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to staff from a fire?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to transport and logistics from a fire?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to contracts from a fire?

Brexit-related disruption

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to service delivery caused by Brexit?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract disruptions to the supply chains caused by Brexit?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to contracts caused by Brexit?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to staff caused by Brexit?

• If relevant, what are the procedures and resources required to counteract the disruption to transport and logistics caused by Brexit?

Recovery

• Who is in the recovery team?

• Is it possible to relocate the business? If so:

  • What is the address of the alternate worksite?

  • Which teams will be relocated and where will they work?

  • Which resources will have to be relocated?

• Which staff member will be responsible for internal communications?

• Which staff member will be responsible for external communications to customers?

Supplier

• Do you work with suppliers? If so:

  • Which staff member will be responsible for external communications to suppliers?

  • What are the names of the suppliers and the names of the supplier contacts?

A Business Continuity Plan helps prepare a business in cases of emergency. In order to do this, this Business Continuity Plan template includes the following sections:

General information

This section sets out basic details about the business and the Business Continuity Plan  (eg when it was prepared and by whom).

Scope and objectives

This section sets out the purpose of the Business Continuity Plan and the events that will trigger it.

Business function priorities in event of an epidemic, pandemic or disease 

This section will appear if the Business Continuity Plan is triggered by an epidemic, pandemic or disease. It sets out how the epidemic, pandemic or disease would impact business functions, the relevant recovery procedure and the resources needed.

Business function priorities in event of a natural disaster

This section will appear if the Business Continuity Plan is triggered by a natural disaster. It sets out how the natural disaster would impact business functions, the relevant recovery procedure and the resources needed.

Business function priorities in event of a fire 

This section will appear if the Business Continuity Plan is triggered by a fire. It sets out how the fire would impact business functions, the relevant recovery procedure and the resources needed.

Business function priorities in event of a technology issue 

This section will appear if the Business Continuity Plan is triggered by a technological issue. It sets out how the technological issue would impact business functions, the relevant recovery procedure and the resources needed.

Business function priorities in event of Brexit-related disruption 

This section will appear if the Business Continuity Plan is triggered by a Brexit-related disruption. It sets out how the Brexit-related disruption would impact business functions, the relevant recovery procedure and the resources needed.

Recovery plan

This section sets out details relating to the business’ recovery plan, including:

• details of the recovery team (ie the team responsible for maintaining business continuity and acting upon the Business Continuity Plan)

• the relocation strategy for the business (eg operating from alternate premises or staff working remotely)

• communications (both internally and externally)

Review and testing 

This section sets out how often the Business Continuity Plan will be reviewed and tested.

If you want your Business Continuity Plan to include further or more detailed provisions, you can edit your document. However, if you do this, you may want a lawyer to review or change the Business Continuity Plan for you, to make sure it complies with all relevant laws and meets your specific needs. Ask a lawyer for assistance.

Carefully consider the needs of your business

As a Business Continuity Plan is designed to help your business continue operating and recover in case of an unforeseen event, you need to carefully consider the specific needs of your business and workforce. The Business Continuity Plan should not be treated like an abstract plan or process, but like a realistic plan in case of a business emergency. As a result, the recovery processes set out within it should be reasonable and achievable while also meeting your business’ needs.

Regularly review your Business Continuity Plan

In order to be effective, your Business Continuity Plan needs to be applicable to your business as it currently stands. As a result, care must be taken to regularly review, test and update your Business Continuity Plan. The review and testing dates set out in the document should be adhered to in order to ensure that the Business Continuity Plan remains relevant and adequate.

Understand when to seek advice from a lawyer

Ask a lawyer if:

• you are unsure how to complete the Business Continuity Plan 

• this document doesn’t meet your specific needs

• you have business premises outside of England, Wales and Scotland

This Business Continuity Plan is governed by the law of England, Wales and Scotland.