Building Resilience: Why every business needs a continuity plan

In an ever-changing world, businesses face a variety of risks, from natural disasters to cyberattacks, that can disrupt operations and threaten their survival.

The good news? With the right preparation, businesses can mitigate these risks and bounce back stronger than ever.

North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum (NYLRF) is committed to helping businesses prepare for emergencies through practical resources and expert guidance. One of the most effective tools they offer is a business continuity plan template, designed to help businesses identify critical operations, assess risks, and outline strategies to maintain operations during disruptions.

Why create a business continuity plan?

A business continuity plan is more than just a document—it’s a lifeline for your organisation. It ensures that your business can:

  • Respond effectively to emergencies, minimising downtime.
  • Protect critical operations and maintain essential services.
  • Communicate clearly with staff, customers, and suppliers during a crisis.
  • Recover quickly, reducing financial and reputational damage.

How to Get Started

NYLRF provides a user-friendly template to guide businesses through the process of creating a tailored continuity plan. The template includes:

  • A checklist of essential supplies, equipment, and data backups.
  • Guidance on identifying critical business functions and assessing risks.
  • Tips for training staff and testing your plan to ensure its effectiveness.

You can access the template and additional resources here: Protect your business in an emergency | North Yorkshire Council

CardioLogic Diagnostics Wins Innovation Supper

The fifth instalment of Innovation Supper saw Faye Singleton, Director of CardioLogic Diagnostics, take home the funding after delivering a compelling pitch for her life-saving business. Winning Innovation Supper has provided CardioLogic Diagnostics with seed funding that will help tackle one of the business's biggest early challenges: marketing. The prize money will support activities such as attending industry conferences and investing in paid advertising to reach more customers and raise awareness of the importance of accessible cardiac screening.

North Yorkshire manufacturers among firms investing £900,000 in digital tech with Made Smarter 

From pizza dough and rally cars to signage, packaging and heavy machinery, makers are investing in growth and jobs. North Yorkshire manufacturers are among 19 Yorkshire businesses investing almost £900,000 in digital technologies to improve efficiency, create jobs and support future growth, with support from Made Smarter Yorkshire. 

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: The First Deadline is Fast Approaching

With the introduction of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA), the biggest change to the Self Assessment system in a generation is now underway. Although the mandatory start date of April 2026 has arrived for the first group of taxpayers, many self-employed individuals and landlords are still unprepared for the new requirements. Now is the time to check whether the rules apply to you and, if they do, ensure you have the right systems in place.

Funding reaches £900K in bid to boost exports

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has unlocked a new wave of export funding for businesses, taking the total support up to £900,000. The third round of the Get Exporting programme is available for applications today (Monday, May 11) with £265,000 in grants for businesses to tap into.

🚗 The Growth Hub is hitting the road!

After the success of last year's roadshows, the Growth Hub is hitting the road again, traveling the region to bring the best of local business support to a town near you. Partnering with NatWest Accelerator, and joined by Business Support Advisors from North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, the Growth Hub Roadshow is set to showcase what business support really looks like.