- New report outlines principles for good practice and a joined-up approach to risk assessment to enhance resilience
- Engineering techniques will help risk owners in the private and public sectors with scenario design, exploration of interdependencies, and building organisational resilience
Ahead of the a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service on Sunday 23 April 2023, the Royal Academy of Engineering has published a report of its review of the UK 2019 National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) methodology and sets out the lessons learned from an engineering perspective on the UK’s central risk assessment.
The NSRA outlines and assesses the most significant risks facing the country and informs plans to mitigate those risks. In 2021, the Cabinet Office’s Civil Contingencies Secretariat commissioned the Academy to review the methodology behind the 2019 NSRA. Today’s report Building resilience: lessons from the Academy’s review of the National Security Risk Assessment methodology summarises the findings, which fed into the National Resilience Framework published at the end of 2022.
Engineers are trained to examine complex systems, assess risks and their propagation, and construct systems for safety and resilience. Building upon its previous work on risk and resilience and the cross-sector experience of its Fellows, the Academy examined a range of practices from industries such as nuclear and chemical and explored a breadth of risks close to engineering, from cyber threats to flooding.
Through case studies and interviews with major private and public sector risk owners, the Academy drew out lessons relevant to risk owners of all types and focused on techniques for scenario design, exploring interdependencies, and building organisational resilience. Seven principles for good practice were identified to help organisations to employ a joined-up approach to risk assessment that strengthens resilience in practice, helping to build toward the government’s goal of “making resilience a national endeavour, so that as a country is we are prepared for the next crisis, whatever it might be”. The seven principles are:
- Ensure a joined-up approach
- Encourage participation and communicate clearly
- Focus on impact
- Explore the interdependencies
- Consider a range of scenarios
- Embed new data and metrics
- Review based on need
The review also made some practical recommendations based on the limitations of the 2019 methodology, 12 of which were intended for immediate implementation and are referenced in the National Resilience Framework. A further recommendation presented a more radical, alternative ‘blank page’ approach.
Professor Joan Cordiner FREng FRSE, who led the Academy’s review of the NSRA, said: “This review has been an opportunity to learn from a diverse range of industry sectors, academia, and government. We are pleased that the review is referenced in the National Resilience Framework and I encourage all those with a stake or responsibility in risk management to reflect upon the extent to which the principles for good practice are incorporated in their risk assessments, and to act upon them.
“Implementing the lessons learned will not necessarily be easy, as risk, resilience, and organisational culture are closely intertwined. But with the lived experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time to foster a resilience-oriented culture that drives action to make the UK a safer, more prepared nation for everyone.”
Notes for editors
- Emergency alerts are to warn the public of scenarios such as severe flooding, fires, and extreme weather and will only be sent by the emergency services, government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies.
- In December 2022, the government published its Resilience Framework outlining its ambition to develop partnership with the private sector on resilience.
- The Academy was commissioned by the Cabinet Office to review the NSRA following the Academy’s work on Critical Capabilities, published in May 2021, that examined how the UK could be better prepared for future emergencies. It looked at four case study past emergencies and the UK’s response at the time to draw out lessons and practices for preparedness.
- The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.