Firms whose premises are wrecked by fire or flood are being offered a pioneering scheme to keep their businesses operating normally.

De Boer, based in Banbury, is offering a "999" service to enable companies to move their entire operations into a replacement building while major work or repairs are carried out.

De Boer says its scheme can reduce the risk of losing contracts or clients when prem- ises are temporarily out of action, either from fire or flooding or because of building work.

The scheme also helps insurers because claims for lost business are smaller.

Commercial director Chris Pomphrey said: "If a store or business was hit by flood or fire, we could erect temporary structures in days.

"This allows them to continue trading while the insurance assessment is conducted.

"We have a huge pan-European stock and our teams can erect high-quality structures quickly and on sometimes awkward terrain."

As well as being a major provider to international sporting events and high-profile exhibitions and conferences, De Boer supplies temporary office space or accom- modation to blue-chip clients.

In Amsterdam, oil giant Shell has moved its staff into a De Boer structure while its headquarters is refurbished.

And in France, De Boer's structures have even been turned into a temporary hotel for 1,500 visitors to the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race.

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