UK Firms Still Unprepared for Flood Risk
Although last winter’s heavy rainfall caused extensive flooding, the UK’s Federation of Smaller Businesses (FSB) reports that a survey found 59% of smaller firms without contingency plans to respond in the event of a reoccurrence.
This is despite the fact that as many as two in three small businesses have suffered from the effects of flooding, drought or snow in the UK over the past three years.
“Last year was the wettest winter on record and 3,200 commercial properties were flooded in the UK,” said Mike Cherry, the FSB’s national policy chairman. “With such extreme weather events on the increase small business need all the help they can get to make sure they can stay open whatever the weather.
“We remain concerned that small businesses will not be included in the government’s Flood Re agreement, designed to limit insurance costs for those at most risk of flooding.
“Firms need to be reassured that affordable flood insurance will be available in the future. Currently three in 10 do not have the right cover in place.”
With the potential for further bad weather in the coming weeks, the FSB is calling for more businesses to put an extreme weather plan in place.
“Small businesses need to get better prepared for extreme weather,” said Cherry. “However, we know that despite wind, water or fire, many small businesses do manage to stay open and continue to serve their customers.