'More work needed' to stop weather hurting business
Commercial insurance
22nd February 2010
More needs to be done to ensure businesses do not suffer during periods of extreme weather.
This is according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which recently undertook research and found that one in seven employees did not make it into work when snow blanketed much of the country earlier in 2010.
Its FSB-ICM Voice of Small Business survey discovered that four in ten companies saw their services and goods disrupted as a result, while 11 per cent had to shut completely.
Despite up to 42 per cent implementing continuity plans such as remote and flexible working schemes, the average firm of seven staff saw at least one person absent for a minimum of one day.
Insurance for businesses that need to rely on a continuous level of quality might be a sensible consideration for those who want to reduce their risk.
"The FSB believes that local authorities have not learnt from last year's bad weather quickly enough and we are calling for a national civil contingencies conference ... [to] find ways to keep Britain moving," added FSB national chairman John Wright.
The news comes after the organisation warned about the UK tax regimes last week.
Over 50 per cent of small enterprises cite taxes as a reason why they have been unable to take on extra staff, FSB figures show.
For more information on how Giles can help you with your business insurance, Click here.
