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FsB Calls For ChaNges to adverse weather PlaNs
Small businesses hit hard by recent heavy snowfalls in UK
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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said that authorities small businesses, which are among the hardest-hit by increasingly
in the UK were not well enough prepared for the extreme snow erratic weather conditions and other emergencies, because they
conditions experienced across the UK in January and said that find it harder to put contingency plans in place and are more
they had failed to learn quickly enough lessons from the heavy vulnerable to road closures and transport disruption in remote
snowfalls experienced in February 2009. It has also called rural areas.
upon the Government to hold a national conference to review The FSB recommended that the Government establishes
its contingency planning after weeks of snow and icy weather an emergency grant scheme for small firms severely affected
brought the UK to a standstill. by extreme weather; produces mandatory guidance for local
Following weeks of bad weather estimated to have cost the authorities, including salt level recommendations; and ensures
UK economy at least £600m a day, the FSB wants discussions to the UK energy sector is better able to store gas for longer than the
take place between local authorities, transport and salt mining current maximum.
companies, schools and the business community, among others, John Wright, national chairman of the FSB, said while small
to find solutions to deal with adverse weather. business were hit hard during the bad weather, they “have
In a new BCM policy paper, entitled Let’s Keep Britain Moving, shown how resilient and resourceful they are by trying to put in
the FSB states that many small businesses were forced to close, place plans for flexible working and by allowing staff to work
lost business, or saw supplies dwindle because of the snow, with from home. It is the small businesses that come to the aid of local
many roads left completely impassable. School closures also communities in difficult times.” However, he added that
meant many parents had to stay at home to look after children, it is now time for a national civil contingencies conference to
thereby missing further days at work. bring together all relevant parties to tackles emergencies such
The FSB is calling for more support for the country’s 4.8m as these.
  Continuity  January/February 2010
Cont Jan/Feb 2010_insides.indd 6 3/2/10 14:49:15
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