Introduction

John Laing plc is one of the first in its industry to have successfully implemented a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) certificated to BS 25999 of public sector infrastructure assets in the UK.

Working within the financial delivery and operation of public sector infrastructure sector, John Laing’s utilises business continuity to ensure the provision of key supporting services including: business development, supplier liaison and operational and group management.

What is Business Continuity?

Business continuity is a process that helps organisations plan for the unexpected and better manage their risks and protect their assets. This means that in the event of an incident – whether significant loss of IT, people or telecommunications right through to terrorist activity, extreme weather or a pandemic – they have plans in place to resume ‘business as usual’ as quickly as possible.

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Background: John Laing

John Laing is a specialist owner, operator and manager of public sector infrastructure assets in the UK and internationally. By combining its skill in the management of development risk, project financing, asset management and operations with its chosen partners and the project supply chain, it has built an enviable reputation as a market leader in the privately-financed form of infrastructure renewal and modernisation, long recognised as a key element of public sector procurement policy.

John Laing’s reputation is the product of its success in delivering 67 privately financed infrastructure schemes for the public sector, ranging from the ground-breaking Croydon Urban Regeneration Vehicle, the Second Severn Crossing between England and Wales, the Greater Manchester Waste Management PFI as well as hospital, school and major road projects in the UK and Europe.

Why BS 25999 certification?

John Laing plc saw the value of BS 25999 certification and independent verification as something that would primarily reassure its stakeholders, but would additionally enhance its ability to bid competitively. It also saw business continuity as contributing towards its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) that would help to protect both the communities that John Laing serves, as well as its own employees.

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Certification: Working with LQRA

LRQA’s relationship with John Laing stretches back to 2001, with certification to: ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001, as part of an integrated management system. LRQA was selected to assist John Laing with the new certification, on the basis of its understanding and insight into John Laing’s unique role in the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) market and its business approach.

External certification was completed in January 2009, for the provision of key supporting services provided by John Laing to its project companies including: business development, operations management, accommodation, facilities management, supplier management and group management.

The company really valued the comments and observations made by assessors during surveillance visits.

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Business Continuity: tendering for contracts

John Laing believes that it’s one of the first in its industry to achieve BS 25999 business continuity certification and that this will increasingly be a factor in tendering for contracts. In addition, it’s now promoting business continuity with its suppliers. For LRQA, this is evidence of how in-depth client knowledge and industry insight can help to build strong relationships and provide added value.

Learning Points

Having implemented the management system, John Laing explain what they have learnt from the process; what they would do differently if they were to go through the implementation process again; and what comments and observations made by the assessors during surveillance visits were of most value. 

•   If we were to do this again we would spend more time assessing the Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Risk Registers - which in turn would make it easier to formulate our plans and set the Maximum Tolerable Period of Disruption (MTPoD’s). We believe that 70% of the initial effort should be spent on the BIAs.

•   The most useful comments were related to the understanding of recovery times and the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) - return to normality. The LRQA assessors had a very pragmatic approach that helped our understanding and consequently our implementation.

•   By focusing on Business Assurance we are able to assure our customers that we are able to withstand incidents and resulting disruption and recover normal services within tolerable periods. This is really important to our customers, given that we operate schools, hospitals, rail infrastructure and other public buildings and facilities.  It's essential that we continue to deliver an uninterrupted service at these key public-facing projects.

Business continuity is an increasingly important factor in tendering for contracts, in addition to John Laing promoting business continuity with suppliers.

“The key reason for a sound business continuity plan is to protect our employees, our business, and the communities we serve. We want to remain at the leading-edge of our industry and we believe this certificate helps us keep ahead of our competitors.”

Robin Phayre, HSEQ&BC Manager, John Laing plc

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