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Introduction to resilience

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Storm winds are blowing. Suddenly, the power goes out. What do you do?

For householders, the lights are off, the internet is down, and there may be no water or heating.

For commuters, unexpected traffic chaos and train delays.

For businesses, sales are disrupted and operations stall.

Soon, the power is restored, and life returns to normal. But what if it didn’t?

We live in an interconnected world where a fault in one system sends shockwaves through many others. Disruptions can be sudden or slow-burning, visible or hidden — but they are increasingly frequent, complex, and wide-reaching.

The risks are real. But so is our power to shape how we respond.

This is where resilience comes in.

Why we need to be resilient

From climate shocks and cyberattacks, to health crises and supply chain failures, we face more frequent, complex, and interconnected risks — and no service, organisation, or community is untouched.

Resilience matters because:

Impacts are real — and rising
Vulnerability isn’t shared equally
Many risks are foreseeable
Response without readiness isn’t enough

We can’t predict every emergency. But we can minimise impacts, and prepare for uncertainty with equity, capability, coordination, and confidence.

“Soon, the power is restored, and life returns to normal. But what if it didn’t?”

What Makes Us Resilient?

To be resilient we need to invest time and effort in:

Capabilities – The leadership, data, partnerships, and resources that underpin effective action — including digital readiness, secure technology, and trusted relationships.
Practice – The systems and steps we take to anticipate, prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from disruption — grounded in learning, reflection, and collaboration.
Behaviours – Mindsets that keep us forward-looking, adaptive, and connected — in everyday work and during disruption, supported by clear communication and strong networks.

Resilience is not delivered to people — it’s built with them. It’s something we practise, strengthen, and grow over time. And the more we work together, the more resilient we become.

“Resilience is not delivered to people — it’s built with them”

We all have our part to play

Resilience isn’t a checklist, a plan, or a procedure. It’s a way of working that helps us grow and improve, even in the face of disruption.

At the UK Resilience Academy, we see it as both a collective responsibility and a practical discipline — something built through shared effort, not delivered from above.

Whether you’re building capabilities in a frontline service, shaping strategy in government, leading in business, or driving change in your community — we’re here to support you.

You aren’t an audience. You’re co-creators of a more resilient future.

Learn with the UKRA

In person, online and bespoke training & education to build resilience skills.

Emergency preparation for all

Flooding, fires, power cuts and other emergencies affect us all. Learn how we can each take simple steps to become prepared.

Resources for resilience

Articles, podcasts, tools & more to support your resilience plans.