Berkshire Growth Hub has announced it will be taking part in a business resilience pilot project aimed at better supporting Berkshire-based organisations to prepare and protect themselves against major challenges that are outside of their control.
The ‘CODE RED – Business Resilience Scheme’ sees the Berkshire Growth Hub join forces with the Buckinghamshire Business First and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, working alongside the Thames Valley Resilience Forum and local resilience teams to deliver the new trial service, which is funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) as part of its Local Resilience Forum Innovation Fund for 2023/24.
Through a pilot scheme – running to April 2025 – the new service aims to support businesses’ ability to remain resilient and continue to operate when negatively impacted by incidents outside of their usual control. These incidents could include issues such as power outages, cyber-attacks or even flooding. As part of the scheme, businesses could receive direct messages through an alert system to notify them of incidents that have taken place.
Support with business resilience and continuity planning is available to all local businesses through Berkshire Growth Hub who bring together information and advice from local and national resilience partners, as well as local business experts, to support businesses through emergency situations with vital practical advice.
The guidance aims to back businesses to plan, prepare, be ready and adapt, so that any risk and impact is minimised. The service will highlight a range of useful resources and practical steps businesses can take in supporting their respective continuity plans – this includes referrals to relevant business support webinars, advice and additional services, and direct messages sent through an alert system that complement existing schemes such as the National Severe Weather Warning Service, the Met Office Hazard Manager, and Environment Agency flood alerts.
All of these resources and more will be available in one central location to make resilience planning easier for Berkshire’s business community.
Steve Bulley, Head of Business Support Services at Berkshire Growth Hub, said:
“In times of crisis, businesses often find themselves in uncertainty, unsure of how events will impact them. The ‘CODE RED – Business Resilience Scheme’ aims to offer practical guidance and reassurance, helping businesses navigate disruptions like power outages or severe weather. By planning effectively and being prepared, we can enhance the resilience of our businesses and communities when adversity strikes.
“Berkshire Growth Hub collaborates closely with the Thames Valley Resilience Forum, ensuring critical information reaches the business community efficiently. Our partners at the Buckingham Business First and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership are also involved in this important project.”
Due to the programme being at a pilot stage, Berkshire Growth Hub and its programme partners are also dedicated to listening to suggestions as to what might also be built into any future service.
It is therefore encouraging interested businesses to provide thoughts and feedback on what could be incorporated into a more permanent potential programme. Any future programme provision will be subject to future funding opportunities.
For further information on the programme, sign up to Berkshire Growth Hub at > berkshiregrowthhub.co.uk/code-red
