Business Continuity

These pages provide information about how the University prepares for disruptive incidents in order to to minimise interruptions to teaching, research and other services.

Arrangements can be split into three main parts:

1. Preparation: This is the planning which we do in advance of an incident. It involves the identification of key business functions and of the ways in which they might be disrupted by foreseeable major incidents. The time periods for recovery of business functions are agreed and strategies for recovery determined. Recovery plans are then prepared.
2. Response: This is what we do in the minutes and hours immediately following an incident. It involves liaison with the emergency services and the steps we take to gain control of what could be a fast moving situation in order to minimise the risks of further damage. We have developed plans for the range of responses which might be required.
3. Recovery: Having gained control of the situation, we would then implement our plans to restore those business functions which have been disrupted by the incident so we can resume teaching, research and the provision of our other services. Plans have been developed by individual Colleges and Support Sections detailing their recovery arrangements.

The University has an overarching Emergency Management Plan for response and recovery. We have an Emergency Management Team which would oversee both the response and recovery phases. The Plan would be invoked following a major incident which cannot be handled using the normal day to day management structures and decision making processes of the University.