Recent nationwide blackouts in Spain and Portugal have sent a stark reminder across Europe: power grid failures can hit at any time. Businesses were left scrambling, with operations halted, data at risk, and revenue streams interrupted.
For UK businesses, this should serve as a wake-up call. Whether driven by extreme weather, cyberattacks, energy shortages, or infrastructure failures, blackouts are a growing threat in an increasingly interconnected and electrified world. Here’s how UK businesses can ensure operational continuity during a potential blackout.
Develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
A robust BCP outlines how your business will respond during a crisis, including power outages. It should cover:
- Backup power sources and emergency contacts – Have a set of instructions manual on what employees are to do if there is a blackout and where to find emergency sources.
- Communication protocols for staff, clients, and suppliers – Make sure there is a way employees can contact each other and management in the event of a blackout.
- Critical systems prioritisation and recovery procedures – depending on the nature of your business, you might still need to operate during a blackout. In this case, make sure the work focus is shifted to prioritise working in the most efficient way.
- Remote work contingencies if your premises become inoperable – If employees are unable to travel to work during a blackout, make sure you are clear with them on flexible working options and how they will be paid.
Regularly test and update the plan to reflect changes in operations and technology.
Invest in Backup Power Systems
Generators, Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), and battery storage systems can be the difference between downtime and business as usual. Evaluate:
- UPS for short-term power to critical systems (servers, telecoms, security)
- Diesel or gas generators for longer outages
- Solar + battery solutions for a greener, longer-term investment
Don’t forget fuel storage and maintenance schedules—an idle generator won’t help in a crisis.
Secure and back up your data
Digital operations are often the first to suffer during power disruptions. Protect your data by:
- Automating frequent cloud backups – This will remove the risk of any data being lost during a blackout.
- Using cloud-based SaaS platforms that offer offline capabilities – If you run a critical business, you might still need to access important data during a blackout.
- Testing your disaster recovery (DR) processes at least annually – Make sure your business is prepared for any type of disaster that could cause a power outage or other types of difficulties.
Train your team
Employees need to know what to do during a blackout. Conduct regular drills and training that cover:
- Safe shutdown procedures – Make sure staff are trained on emergency protocols and that everyone can follow health and safety procedures.
- Emergency contacts and responsibilities - Make sure that in the case of an emergency, there is one appointed person in charge of the protocols that should be followed.
- Communication expectations during downtime – Make sure to effectively communicate with your team on what will happen during a blackout. If you can’t work make sure there is clear updates on when people should return to work.
Audit energy dependency and critical operations
Identify which parts of your business are most vulnerable to power loss. For example:
- Can your POS systems operate offline? – If your point-of-sale system is not operational, ensure you make customers aware of how this will affect them. For example, your store might have to go cash-only during the blackout.
- What happens to cold storage or perishable stock? - If you run a hospitality business, you need to have a plan on what happens with perishable stock during a blackout. Maybe consider a backup generator for fridges and freezers.
Create a priority list of systems and workflows to protect and support during outages.
Communicate with customers and stakeholders
Trust is built in moments of crisis. If a blackout impacts your services:
- Be proactive - communicate early and honestly, this will give everyone a good idea of what the plan is and will cause less panic.
- Use social media, SMS, and email for updates – Using a range of different media outlets for updates makes it more likely that people will be able to receive updates.
- Set realistic expectations on delays or disruptions – Make sure to be clear and truthful with customers and stakeholders. This avoids upsetting anyone or causing confusion.
This shows preparedness and helps retain loyalty during difficult times.
Blackouts may seem like distant threats, until they’re not. Spain and Portugal’s experience shows how widespread and sudden these events can be. UK businesses that plan will not only survive such disruptions but can use their resilience as a competitive edge.
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