Businesses are facing the perfect storm – how you communicate matters

When it comes to communicating during an incident, industrial businesses are usually pretty confident in their abilities.  Rightly – or wrongly – they have faith that their step-by-step processes will swing into action.  

But what if your business faces a different type of threat? What if it isn’t a big explosion or a hydrocarbon release but instead a region-wide power cut or extensive cyber attack?  This year has seen a web of increasingly interlinked risks evolve – from energy to geopolitical, cyber to health – each of which has the potential to impact operations.

If they escalate, these issues will not be isolated or short-term. They will impact ongoing operations, your customers, your supply chain, your investors, and most importantly, your employees. After all, it’s what they’re talking about at the coffee point, what they’re worrying about at home, and all of that is impacting how they work.

An experienced communications professional is uniquely positioned to help you plan ahead – they know how your people will be thinking and feeling, they understand your customers and suppliers, and they get your business. Being prepared now will ensure employees are supported, and your reputation is protected.

What are the big business risks?

Energy prices and supply

Rising fuel prices caused by the US-Iran conflict are impacting both business operations and employees. While rising prices are hitting operations, margins, and the supply chain, some commentators have suggested that if the crisis continues, we could face power cuts and work-from-home requirements.

While that might seem like scare tactics, the Swift Centre for Applied Forecasting estimates an 8% chance of a blackout lasting over 24 hours before the end of 2026 and, if a severe winter occurs, that likelihood almost doubles to 15%.

Geopolitical unrest and supply chain impact

The impact of energy supplies aside, expanding geopolitical unrest is disrupting business confidence at home and abroad. The British Chamber of Commerce found that over 56% of UK firms feel exposed to geopolitical risk, rising to 80% for firms exporting goods overseas, with many moving from a "just-in-time" to a "just-in-case" approach to supply chains in response to geopolitical tensions and increased tariffs.

For companies with global teams, ensuring their safety and wellbeing is an ever-increasing challenge.

Cyber attacks and digital disruption

Hand-in-hand with increased geopolitical unrest and increased economic hardships is the growing risk from hackers and other digital disruptions. Cyber incidents were the top global business risk for the fifth year running in 2026, according to Allianz’s annual risk barometer.

Why plan your communications approach now?

If the current situation escalates and you have staff working remotely, during an extended power cut or cybersecurity incident, how will you communicate with them?

What is your plan for reassuring customers or suppliers that you have everything under control when supply chains get further squeezed?

The truth is, you don’t even need the incident to occur for uncertainty to creep in. Failing to communicate that you are prepared is enough to provide an in for competitors or erode employee and investor confidence. 

While the specifics of each organisation may be different, their communications challenges are not. When systems fail, the same issues appear:

• People do not know what’s happening, and you start to lose control over the situation

• Teams cannot access the tools that they depend on.

• Customers are left without answers.

Uncertainty can turn into frustration very quickly, and that is where reputational risks can appear.

Communications plans under pressure

Many organisations have crisis plans, but few have plans that work when the basics fail. If your response depends on emails, cloud-based systems, or internal platforms, what happens when none of those are available? Your resilience plan needs to reflect this.

That means putting systems in place that include offline contact lists that are regularly kept up to date, alternative communications methods such as SMS, routes that do not depend on digital systems, and named individuals who can make decisions quickly.

There are also a number of offline or low-connectivity apps, such as Briar and Zello, which are used for messaging and communications when networks are weak or offline. These are simple solutions, but they are often overlooked.

Investing in power banks for everyone to ensure they can have access to a mobile phone could also pay off. When core systems fail, they can be the difference between staying connected and losing control completely.

People are your priority

In every scenario that we have supported, one thing is consistent: if your internal communications are not clear, everything else suffers. What your team needs is simple:

• Reassurance that you’ve thought about possible issues before they happen.

• Acknowledgement of what is happening.

• Honesty about what is known and what is unknown.

• Clear instructions on what to do next.

• A dedicated point of contact for support and guidance.

• Regular communication during an ongoing event across multiple channels both on and offline.

Reverting to simple communication, if digital is not an option, is most effective such as face-to-face, short briefings Teams call, or picking up the phone is the most effective. Do you have a secure way to access critical people data if

Customer updates are key

Even if your operations are disrupted, your stakeholders will still expect to hear from you. This applies to all businesses, whether you are managing critical infrastructure, delivering professional services, or running a consumer-facing brand.

Even though you may not have access to your usual channels, some form of communication is always possible, whether it’s picking up the phone, sending a text message, or even a next-day delivery letter or driving to meet them.

Having a pre-agreed statement will save time and provide a strong starting point without extended discussion. This can be used as an email, basis for a phone call, or even a letter!

The important thing is to show that you are aware of the situation, are responding accordingly, and will keep them informed.

Being prepared is your competitive advantage

These threats at scale may not happen tomorrow, but they are scenarios that organisations need to be taking seriously now.

The ones that are prepared will not only better manage their situation, but they will also better protect people, their reputation, maintain trust, and recover faster.

At Korero, we work with organisations across energy, technology, consultancy, and B2B and B2C sectors to prepare for exactly these scenarios. From crisis communications strategy to emergency response training, internal communications support, and media training, we help teams respond with clarity when it matters most

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If you are reviewing your plans or want to understand where the gaps might be, get in touch with the team at Korero hello@korero.co.uk