Bucks, Berks and Oxon growth hubs team up for business resilience scheme

A new business resilience and continuity trial scheme will back businesses to remain up and running when major threats and emergencies occur.

The CODE RED – Business Resilience Scheme sees Buckinghamshire Business First growth hub join forces with Berkshire Growth Hub and OxLEP Business, as they work alongside the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum.

This pilot programme, funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and running to April 2025, will help shore up businesses in the case of events like power outages, cyber-attacks and flooding.

Local growth hubs will bring together information and advice from their new resilience partners as they back businesses to plan, prepare, be ready for and adapt to such events.

Business owners can also receive direct messages through an alert system that complements existing schemes such as the National Severe Weather Warning Service, Met Office Hazard Manager, and Environment Agency flood alerts – all in one place.

Heather Dean, head of business support at Buckinghamshire Business First, said: “When an emergency strikes, businesses can often be left in the dark and unsure as to how events will affect them.

“Through effective continuity planning and preparedness, we can increase the resilience of our businesses and communities when faced with adversity.”

Helen Brind, growth hub manager at OxLEP, added: “We are delighted to be a partner of this pilot scheme and hope many businesses in Oxfordshire – and indeed, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and the wider Thames Valley – will sign up and benefit hugely from it.”

With the scheme currently in its pilot stage, project partners are keen to hear suggestions from businesses as to what could be built into any future service.