Organisations that can help flood affected businesses

Worcestershire Hub
Dedicated help line for businesses affected by flooding - T. 01905 768101
Worcestershire Hub Flood Recovery Information

Worcestershire County Council
Planning and Economic Development Unit - T. 01905 766746

Commercial Property
Visit www.propertypilot.co.uk and complete an on-line search for commercial property fitting you requirements. Alternatively contact Pat Prosser at the Economic Strategy and Regeneration Unit T. 01905 766375

Trading Standards

District Council Economic Development Officers

Bromsgrove   -.Mr P Michael   T. 01527 881327
- E. p.michael@bromsgrove.gov.uk

Wyre Forest  - Mr S Singleton  T. 01562 732168
- E. steve.singleton@wyreforestdc.gov.uk
- Lynn Wherton  T. 01562 732169

Malvern Hills - Mr S Smith  T. 01684 862316
- E. simon.smith@malvernhills.gov.uk
- Ms Janet Yates T. 01684 862483

Wychavon  - Ms J Dobson  T. 01386 565588
- E. Jane.dobson@wychavon.gov.uk

Redditch  - Ms G Harris   T. 01527 534086
 - E. georgina.harris@redditchbc.gov.uk

Worcester City - Ms L Allen  T. 01905 722536
- E. lallen@cityofworcester.gov.uk

Business Link
Business Link has developed a Flood Recovery Plan and has a team of advisors is available to offer up to 5 days free business advice. Where projects qualify Business Link may be able to offer up to £2,500 in subsidised consultancy to offset the cost of carrying out recommendations.

Contact Business Link West Midlands on T.0845 113 1234
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home?r.l1=5000499877&site=131&r.s=m

Federation of Small Businesses
The FSB has set up a £500,000 fund to provide interest-free loans to its members in an effort to help the many thousands of small businesses that have been affected. To access the fund, FSB members should contact their regional office.
For the Towergate Partnership advice
T. 01253 336000 or visit www.fsb.org.uk
Contact Angela Smith Regional FSB Organiser on 01386 750032
email angela.region092@fsb.org.uk.

• Citizens Advice Bureaux
  Information and support for a wide range of issues, including help to recover from a flooding can be found on:
  www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  www.adviceguide.org.uk
• National Farmers Union
  http://www.nfuonline.com/x153.xml
• Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
  http://www.defra.gov.uk/
• Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
  http://www.hwchamber.co.uk/
• Restoration Following Floods
  http://www.ciria.org.uk/flooding/
• DEFRA - Flood & Coastal Defence
  http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/default.htm
• Flooding - Health Implications
  http://www.hpa.org.uk/flooding/
• Severn Trent Water
  http://www.stwater.co.uk/
• ABI - Insurance Information
  http://www.abi.org.uk/default.asp
• Flood Guide for Businesses
  http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/826674/830330/882628/?lang=_e
• After a Flood Guide
  http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/826674/882909/483622/351270/?lang=_e

More Flooding Advice For Businesses
Wychavon District Council

If Your Business Has Been Flooded

• There could be a serious risk to public health from infection and food contamination.
• Do not prepare any food or re-open the establishment until the premises have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• The floodwater may be heavily contaminated with sewerage, harmful bacteria and other pollutants such as oil / petrol etc.
• All food contact surfaces, equipment, utensils, work tables etc. must be thoroughly sanitised before re-using. Any heavily contaminated items should be thrown away.
• All food that may have been contaminated must be destroyed. Initially this must be double bagged and placed in a sealed container to prevent attracting pests.
• Contact your commercial waste contractor to arrange collection of this food in the normal way. Additional collections and skips may be made available, we will try and notify affected businesses if this is possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves, Wellingtons, overalls etc. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling anything that may be contaminated and use hot soapy water and liquid anti-bacterial soap.
• Do not use any electrical items or circuits until they have been checked by a competent person (i.e. a qualified electrician) before using. This also applies to oil and gas fired equipment such as cookers and boilers.
• If you become ill or suffer any gastric symptoms following the clean up please visit your GP as soon as possible. Do not handle or prepare food if you are suffering from gastric illness (i.e. diarrhoea, vomiting etc.)
• In significant cases of food loss we may be able to issue a ‘voluntary surrender notice’ to help with your insurance claim. Contact Environmental Health (see below) to arrange this.

General Health & Safety

• If cleaning up try to avoid contact with floodwater. Wear protective clothing including rubber gloves, Wellingtons, overalls etc. Avoid ingesting any water and wash hands thoroughly and regularly with hot water and liquid anti-bacterial soap.
• Do not use any electrical equipment or circuits that have been flooded until checked and declared safe by a qualified electrician.
• If the power supply is off assess the risk to your staff and customers and consider closing the business if necessary.
• Do not use any internal lifts until power supplies are back to normal or your staff may become stranded if the supply is interrupted.
• Use specialist detergents if cleaning up any petrol/oil and follow safety information from the manufacturer. Ensure adequate ventilation.
• Do not enter any confined spaces e.g. cellars where there is known oil/petrol contamination.

Commercial Waste

• For any flood damaged commercial waste please arrange collection with private contractors, please look under Waste in the Yellow Pages for details.

Royal Mail Post

If you are concerned about your post from Royal Mail there are several options to change your deliveries:

• Mail Collect is a FREE service that allows you to collect your post.
• Redirection allows you to select an alternative address. This is a paid service.
• Keepsafe - This paid service is for Royal Mail to keep your post until it is suitable to you.

For more information visit the Royal Mail website or call the Evesham depot on 08456 112624.

Insurance Advice from Chamber of Commerce

If you are one of the many businesses in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire area that have suffered damage as a result of the latest devastating floods, the Chamber of Commerce would offer the following advice:

• Notify your Broker or Insurance Company as soon as possible of your intention to submit a claim
• Your Insurers will probably want to send a loss adjuster to inspect the damage, but this may take few days because of the sheer volume of flood claims, so try to be patient
• Take photographs or video of the damage to the buildings and contents
• Mark the water levels on the wall for reference
• Dry out the premises as soon as possible which may involve the use of dehumidifiers or similar specialist equipment.
• Do not attempt any repairs until you are confident that the flooding period has ceased and the premises have fully dried out
• Do not attempt to sell any flood affected stock, which may well have been contaminated by sewage
• Wear protective clothing when handling debris
• Make a note of any staff resources and other emergency expenses incurred during the clean up operation
• Keep your customers fully advised of the situation, as they are more likely to be understanding of any disruption to supplies.
• If the damage to your premises is substantial, drying out could take some considerable time and it may be necessary to source alternative premises, which will be in short supply, as soon as possible.
• Keep trading records, the last set of company accounts and details of any increased costs readily to hand as these will be required for any Business interruption claim
• You may well be approached by claims management companies offering to help you with your claim and negotiate with your insurers. If your loss is substantial or complex and you decide that you need professional help with your claim, ensure that you deal with a firm that is authorised and regulated by the FSA (FSA Register), who are obliged to handle your claim fairly. Non-authorised companies may be operating illegally.

Business Link West Midlands

Business Link has developed a Flood Recovery Plan aimed at allowing businesses to overcome their immediate difficulties, retain skills and plan for the future.

The offer will see Business Link’s team of more than 100 advisers giving up to five days free business advice to help to help restart the estimated 1,000-plus flood-hit businesses in Warwickshire and Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire.

And where projects qualify, Business Link may be able to offer up to £2,500 in subsidised consultancy to offset the cost of carrying out any recommendations.

After an initial telephone consultation, followed where necessary by personal visits, advisers will offer proposals for short term activity, medium term planning and long term objectives to get businesses back on track.

Flood affected businesses should contact Business Link West Midlands through its main switchboard number on 0845 113 1234, or visit the Business Link West Midlands Website.

Interest Free Loans

Also the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) are offering interest free loans of up to £5,000 to members affected by flooding.  For further information on this fund please contact Angela Smith Regional FSB Organiser on 01386 750032, email angela.region092@fsb.org.uk.