How to create your COVID-19 Business Continuity Statement

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 24 March 2020

UPDATED: 24 March 2020

You need to communicate what your business changes are as a result of the COVID-19 Crisis. This guide has been developed to provide you with the key elements you need to consider. Feel free to copy and paste, but you need to make this yours. Which means tailoring the bullets to your working processes and adapted operations.

1) Where and how to publish your 'COVID-19 business continuity statement'

Most people have emailed their key clients but in addition I'd strongly recommend it being a prominent link on your home page and contact us page. The article itself can be a PDF, but probably more practical will be to keep the page as a web page. The situation is dynamic, and people will typically visit your website to get answers.

2) What needs to be contained within your 'COVID-19 business continuity statement'

Anything to reassure your clients and stakeholders, which I feel falls into three distinct areas:

a) A General overview of your current status and operational capability

<Your Business Name> COVID-19 business continuity statement

In these uncertain times, everything can feel overwhelming. News is evolving fast about coronavirus (COVID‑19) and many of us are in need of certainty and stability. It can be hard not knowing what the next hour will bring, for us or our loved ones.

Like most companies, everyone’s current priorities are to protect our employees, customers and their businesses, hopefully, enabling them to ride out this storm. This page is to keep you updated with how we are adapting so we can support your business.

• <Your Business Name> continues to operate but with reduced response levels

• Most of our people are able to work from home via 'cyber safe' connections to access operational information

• Operations and customer support are continuing to be co-ordinated through the normal channels

• Our internal phone system works externally and keeps us all connected

• Email correspondence and our ticket system is our preferred communication channel unless your need is an emergency

• Microsoft Teams is our preferred video conference platform form

It's likely not all of these points are suitable for your business, if they are great - copy and paste them into your statement. But, use this to think about what you need to say and do to adapt your business for the curent situation - which is likely to keep changing.

b) What measures are you taking to stay operational?

Our teams are working hard to deliver on the projects promised and support needed

• Technical support is to be delivered by video conferencing and screen share

• All meetings are facilitated by Microsoft Teams (we're here to help and can talk you through how to set this up)

• Although our premises remain open we are not taking ANY visitors

• Social distancing is mandatory within our facilities

• All staff are instructed there is to be zero physical contact in the workplace

• The use of other peoples work phones, keyboards and equipment is forbidden

Enhanced Hygiene measures include:

• Hand sanitiser to be applied after signing in/out using the touchscreen, using washrooms, and other common areas

• Instruction/announcements to wash hands on a regular basis (using a personal hand sanitiser) are being given

• All door handles, light switches and common areas are washed down with sanitiser/disinfectant 3 times a day as a minimum

• Personal workspace areas are to be respected, each person is responsible for twice daily sanitiser wash down of equipment

External Deliveries or maintenance operatives

• Deliveries will be made but signatures of goods received will not be needed, instead a photo or other form of confirmation will be made.

• When conducting any maintenance our engineers will wear protective gloves and mask if available (The NHS needs come first)

Keep it short, relevant and make it your working practice - it's no good saying this and your people don't follow the process. You need to change and adapt what you do, make sure your people understand WHY - and are prepared.

c) How do people contact you?

The world isn't going to stop - we're still here to help!

Telephone:

Email or emails:

People are looking for leadership and reassurance, stay positive and make sure you keep your COVID-19 business continuity statement updated as and when things change.

The world of work is changing, so we need to change with it.  How you work with your team, and how your team work with each other is going to be crucial over the coming months. 

COVID-19 Business Support Hub

< Back