London First

London First works to increase resilience within London’s business continuity.  We support businesses in developing continuity plans and encourage their regular testing.

CBR good practice
Chemical, biological and radiological threats to business were the focus of a recent workshop run by London First, in partnership with risk management experts Targa consultants.  Heads of Security from the businesses attending shared first-hand experience of handling threats. The notes - addressing preparation, response and recovery - give a snapshot of risk mitigation methods that businesses have considered as part of their continuity plans, as well as practical templates.

Expecting the unexpected
Our guidance booklet and DVD, produced in partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the Business Continuity Institute, is now the definitive guide to business continuity.  Since launching in London, it is now distributed to businesses by local authorities across the UK.

London First Business Security and Resilience Network
Our resilience network is targeted towards senior security and business continuity personnel from businesses across the capital.  Network members receive security alerts and regular updates from London First and its public sectors partners, as well as benefiting from exclusive invitations and discounts on business continuity events. Network membership is free to London First members and available to non-members on subscription.
Business Security and Resilience Network newsletter

Seminars and practical workshops
London First runs a range of events for security and continuity professionals. Examples in 2009 include:

• Crisis Response: experts speakers from industry, police and civil society (including Deputy Mayor and 7/7 Committee Chair, Richard Barnes, 9/11 Commission staffer Emily Walker and Andy Williams of Marriott Hotels) share their experiences of responding, managing and recovering from a range of emergency scenarios (19 March 2009)
• Information Security: How businesses can build resilience against cyber criminals and cyber terrorism with expert speakers from industry and government (May 2009)
  
• Building Resilience Against Domestic Extremism: the National Extremism and Tactical Co-ordination Unit and National Public Order Intelligence Unit lead discussions on threats, methods and mitigation measures in areas of domestic extremism (June 2009)
  
• Testing Your Business Continuity Plans: Practicing What We Preach: Testing your continuity plans seminars with expert speakers and break-out test sessions (July 2009)

Secure in the knowledge
Our guidance booklet on protective security and information sharing was produced with NaCTSO and is supported by MI5

Useful links
Project Griffin – programme enlisting security personnel from business across the capital in the fight against terrorism

For more information contact Richard Bingley