No escaping risk - being prepared for what comes next

As we move into new phases of lockdown, into the latest tier approach and head towards Brexit, we need to ensure the focus remains on protecting key assets; our people, our property, and our business resilience. Coupled with the move firmly into the festive period and battling the weather, currently being forecast as the coldest for many years, we all need to be cognisant of the impacts this can and will have to many and ensure we work to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place and mitigate and respond effectively if they do.

The pandemic has seen many changes in the way businesses operate, driven by the need to protect their future. These changes bring in new risks that need to be understood and managed, increasingly more difficult when the changes are introduced at pace – a pace driven by the constantly changing world around us. At the same time understanding how your business will operate safely in the run up to Brexit, post-Brexit and Christmas, and the demands that this time of year brings, has never been more important.

To help you in navigating that path, we want to ensure you have the right information to hand. The right guidance at the right point can make every difference, so I’m pleased to share with you the news that we’ve just relaunched our Aviva Risk Management Solutions website – it hosts all our latest best practice resources and is designed to be simple to navigate and find what you need. It centres around a range of Loss Prevention Standards and Solutions designed to support businesses throughout the Pandemic and across the wider risk sphere – the newest of our guidance includes; Brexit – Be Prepared and Supply Chain Management. You’ll also find seasonal guides such as our new Winter Risk Management Bulletin highlighting some of the traditional risks that we mustn’t reduce our focus on - these continue to be very real risks for the safety of all that is important to us. Whether you’re a regular user of our resources or a first time visitor, I’d encourage you to take a look (it’s completely free to use) and let me know what you think.

This current situation, this culmination of events presents us with the most serious of challenges, the likes of such that many, if not all of us, will have never experienced before nor wish to experience again. If this year has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected, learn from what has been endured and hope for the best - but be prepared for the worst. With the latest news on vaccines, there is light at the end of this very long tunnel. While we all hope for a much brighter 2021, we must also continue to be prepared for whatever comes next...