A new UK report, “Resilient Business Networks: Exploring the role of business networks in urban resilience“, published in May 2025, found that over 73% of businesses had been involved in some UK emergency response. Yet approximately 70% of the surveyed businesses did not know who their Local Resilience Forum is. Over 90% reported that they want to be more involved in resilience activities and think it is important to do so.
The study was carried out by Business in the Community (BITC), in partnership with Greater London Authority’s Resilience Unit. Their strongest recommendation was for businesses to build strategic partnerships in the cities where they operate. The London Resilience Unit as part of the Greater London Authority wasted no time. In late May, they hosted a launch event for the new London Business Networks for Resilience.
In the heart of our city at Canary Wharf, business networks, resilience stakeholders and other London community networks – like the London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP) and the London Boroughs Faith Network (LBFN) – gathered to discuss findings and key issues highlighted by the report, and, well… to network.
Businesses’ engagement and collaboration are crucial to London’s resilience, yet there is a growing need for stronger cooperation between business networks and their members, the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) and Borough Resilience Forums (BRFs). Such engagement with businesses contributes to the whole of society approach that is highlighted in the UK Government Resilience Framework.
Geethika Jayatilaka and Elizabeth Mayer representing LCEP, and Steve Miller of LBFN, attended the event, which started with networking and then a discussion panel.
The panellist discussions reflected the core values of our work with LCEP:Build trusted relationships before you need them
- Plan and exercise to build confidence and skill and act on the learning
- Ensure clear communication to provide a trusted source of information
- Work across boundaries
The LCEP perspective
From the LCEP perspective, much of the panellist discussion focused on how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can prepare themselves better, not about how they can contribute to their communities before/during/after a disaster. And with that thought in mind, LCEP continues to strive towards a London where everyone, especially the Business Networks for Resilience, benefit from linking to their local volunteer organisations and centres.
Both Geethika and Steve separately contributed their London partnership experience and learnings during the plenary Q&A session, emphasising to the participants and the panellists that engagement with communities before, during and after an emergency is essential.
In networking discussions with other participants before and after the panel, we covered the journey that LCEP has taken to link networks together for resilience and how important it is. SMEs colleagues expressed their concerns which are the same as small charities, particularly around having enough resources to be involved in these networks and be better prepared for emergencies. We reflected on how we need to think creatively in the ways we link networks across VCS, statutory and business institutions and networks, especially Borough Resilience Forums (BRFs). We wanted to think more about how our sectors could integrate with one another.
And this is what LCEP is busy doing now.
Moving forward, LCEP is looking at ways to work cohesively with the London Business Networks for Resilience along with the other community resilience networks, LBFN, Communities Prepared, and the new Protection Approaches. We are all aiming to be more connected, share resources, and ensure that communities are at the heart of all of resilience in London.
To share thoughts and ideas about this work, please contact Elizabeth at elizabethmayer@lcep.london.
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