With floods, fires, and droughts being regular events across Australia in recent years, often forcing businesses to at least temporarily close, it would be unexpected for a small business within the country to not have a business continuity plan in place. And yet, a recent report from Bruce Billson, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman states that only one in four small businesses currently have such a plan in place, according to an article in The Mirage News.
This report, titled the Small Business Natural Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Inquiry report, was commissioned by the Australian Government in response to the natural disasters in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and involved visits to 36 distinct communities, and an online survey. Among the main findings was the importance of preparation and risk mitigation on the recovery of small businesses. Says Mr. Billson, “It is clear from our work that preparation is key to small and family businesses building resilience and coming through natural disasters in the best possible shape. It is equally clear that small and family business owners cannot do this on their own and require clarity and certainty of the support available.”
The report itself offers a set of 16 major recommendations and findings, intended to help business owners with the challenges of preparing business continuity plans, and accessing the tools and support they may require in the aftermath of a disaster.
Source:
https://www.miragenews.com/only-one-in-four-small-businesses-have-disaster-892956/
