Resilience and adaptation of small and medium‐sized enterprises to flood risk

Abstract

PurposeThe UK has experienced a number of flood events in recent years, and the intensity and frequency of such events are forecast to further increase in future due to changing climatic conditions. Accordingly, enhancing the resilience of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) – which form an important segment in a society – to flood risk, has emerged as an important issue. However, SMEs often tend to underestimate the risk of flooding which tends to have a low priority in their business agenda. The purpose of this paper is to undertake an investigation of adaptation to the risk of flooding considering community‐level measures, individual‐level property protection, and business continuity and resilience measures.Design/methodology/approachA total of four short case studies were conducted among SMEs to identify their response to flood risk, and what measures have been undertaken to manage the risk of flooding.FindingsIt was observed that SMEs have implemented different property‐level protection measures and generic business continuity/risk management measures, based on their requirements, to achieve a desired level of protection.Practical implicationsSMEs are likely to positively respond to property‐level adaptation following a post‐flood situation. It is important that information such as costs/benefits of such measures and different options available are made accessible to SMEs affected by a flood event.Social implicationsImplementation of property‐level adaptation measures will contribute towards the long term adaptation of the existing building stock to changing climatic conditions.Originality/valueThe paper contributes towards policy making on flood risk adaptation and SME decision making, and informs policy makers and practitioners.