UNPLANNED events can have a devastating effect on small businesses. Crises such as fire, damage to stock, key staff being ill or IT systems failing could all make it difficult, or even impossible, to carry out day-to-day activities.

But with good planning you can take steps to minimise the potential impact of a disaster - and, ideally, prevent it happening in the first place.

To help the region's businesses identify potential risks, make preparations for emergencies and test how their business is likely to cope in a disaster situation, Business Link has launched an online guide to crisis management.

Planning is very important for small businesses since they often lack the resources to cope easily in a crisis and failure to plan could be disastrous.

At best, a company can risk losing customers while getting the business back on its feet and, at worst, the business may never recover and may ultimately cease trading.

By highlighting what steps to take to minimise the potential impact of crises, explaining how to deal with an emergency, and how to manage risk, we can work with the region's businesses and help them plan so they are in a better position and prepared for potentially devastating eventualities.

This guide is one of the features on the newly enhanced Business Link website, which also includes interactive tools and user-friendly guides on risk assessment, business continuity planning and implementing change management.

The website enables you to access key information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

However, if you would like to discuss your needs with one of our team we are always at the end of the phone.

Businesses can also sign up for email alerts to ensure they remain a step ahead and fully informed about business developments.

Business Link's substantial team of expert brokers operate across the region in local access points and on a mobile basis.

* For more information visit www.businesslinknortheast.co.uk or telephone 0845-600-9006