BUSINESSES were given expert training on protecting their businesses from terrorism and other disasters in the first event of its kind in East Lancashire.

More than 50 people from firms across Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley took part in the area’s first Project Argus training day, part of the government’s national counter-terrorism and security strategy.

Senior officers from the police, fire service, security services and paramedics, as well as business recovery experts, showed the group a video simulation of a bombing in a shopping centre, each giving their advice on what action they should take if the real thing happened.

Paul Fleck, Hyndburn Council’s safety and emergency planning officer, said: “We have a lot of work going on throughout the council and other agencies to prepare for big emergencies.

“One in five businesses is affected by a big emergency every year, whether that’s a terrorist incident, a flood, or something like large-scale civil disorder.

“It’s about how to prepare structurally, strategically and financially, to reduce the likelihood of these things happening, as well as keeping people safe and ensuring businesses recover when they do.”

Chris Shuttleworth, emergency planner for Ribble Valley Council, added: “We have looked at a terrorism incident but the lessons learned can easily be implemented in other types of disasters. We can work together to ensure everyone is kept safe and our town recovers quickly. Businesses are at the forefront of that.”

Andy Tomlinson, director of consultancy firm Adtapt(corr), attended the event. He said: “This is an area business leaders don’t often concentrate on because we are getting on with running our firms. We are used to looking at health and safety in work and evacuation in a fire, but not often what happens afterwards, and it’s great to see all these businesses working together to get the information they need.”

Lauren Heyworth, manager of Clinton Cards in Accrington, added: “It has been a great course altogether and really got us all thinking about how to make our workplaces safe. As a manager I’m responsible for the safety of the staff and customers, so this is very important.”

Project Argus is a government initiative introduced as part of the 2004 Civil Contingencies Act.

Training days are set to be held in all major towns across the UK.

PICTURED: Left to right: Chris Shuttleworth, Ribble Valley Emergency Planning, Paul Fleck, Hyndburn Council Emergency Planning, Paul West, N.W. Ambulance Service Emergency Planning, Becky Wane, Lancashire Police CTSA, Steve Molyneux, Lancashire Police CTSA, Nick Isherwood, NW Urban Search and Rescue, Hyndburn fire station manager Gary Monk and Chief Inspector Richard Morgan attend the Project Argus training day