Management Solutions & Training Ltd

  Building Resilience: Lessons from the April 2025 European Blackouts On 28 April 2025 , Spain and Portugal experienced a widespread power outage that disrupted transport, aviation, and essential services, triggering thousands of emergency responses. Southern France and parts of the UK also reported brief power losses earlier in the day. This event was a powerful reminder that large-scale blackouts are no longer just possibilities—they are real risks in today’s interconnected world. For organisations across both the public and private sectors , this blackout underscored the urgency of Business Continuity Planning (BCP) . At Management Solutions and Training Ltd , we specialise in helping businesses prepare for such disruptions, developing resilience-focused strategies and training that ensure operational continuity. Impact Assessment by Duration The effects of a power outage vary greatly depending on its length. Here’s a breakdown of potential consequences over time: 1 H...

  Lessons from the Heathrow Power Outage:  Strengthening Business Continuity Planning for the Future Introduction: A Crucial Lesson in Resilience The Heathrow power outage, triggered by a fire at an electrical substation, brought chaos to one of the busiest airports in the world. With over 200,000 passengers affected and operations severely disrupted, it exposed vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and operational planning. While such incidents are challenging, they offer valuable lessons for organisations across industries. Businesses can learn from this event to enhance their own Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and ensure resilience against future disruptions. The Heathrow Power Outage: What Went Wrong? The power failure originated from a fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which supplied electricity to Heathrow Airport. Despite having backup transformers, the failure of one backup system exacerbated the disruption, leaving only two substations opera...