Version May 2018
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to The Growth Company’s privacy notice.
We recognise the importance of the privacy and the security of your personal information and this privacy notice explains what we do to look after your personal data.
It tells you:
• Where and how we collect your personal information
• What we do with your information and how we keep it secure
• What your privacy rights are and how the law protects you
• How we look after your personal data
• Your rights over any personal information we hold about you
• How to contact us with any queries that you have
Please use the Glossary at the end of the privacy notice to understand the meaning of some of the terms used here.
You can click through the links below to find out how we manage your information. If you are reading this in hardcopy form, the full privacy information is available on the next page.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND WHO WE ARE
THE DATA WE COLLECT ABOUT YOU
HOW IS YOUR PERSONAL DATA COLLECTED?
HOW WE USE YOUR PERSONAL DATA
DISCLOSURES OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA
INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS
DATA SECURITY
DATA RETENTION
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
GLOSSARY
1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND WHO WE ARE
a. What does this privacy notice cover?
This privacy notice applies to you if you work with or receive services from our group companies, whether this is online, by phone, in person, through written forms, through mobile applications or otherwise by using any of our websites or interacting with us on social media. This privacy notice gives effect to our commitment to protect your personal information and has been adopted by all of the companies and businesses who are part of The Growth Company group. You can find out more about our group companies in the Who we are section below.
This privacy notice does not cover the following uses of personal data, unless stated otherwise:
• Personal data which we process about employees of The Growth Company. Information about how we handle employee data can be found on our staff privacy statement on our internal company webpages.
• Personal data which we process relating to children. Where we do process this personal data relating to children, children will receive a separate, targeted privacy notice.
It is important that you read this privacy notice together with any other privacy information we may provide on specific occasions when we are collecting or processing personal data about you so that you are fully aware of how and why we are using your data.
b. Who we are
The Growth Company is a not-for-profit organisation which drives business, economic, personal and professional development within communities by boosting employment, skills, investment and enterprise for the benefit of all.
To achieve this, The Growth Company is made up of different legal entities. Details of these companies, and the brands by which you recognise them, can be found here. When we say ‘we’ or ‘us’ or ‘our’ in this privacy notice, we are generally referring to the separate and distinct legal entities that make up The Growth Company (although it does depend on the context). It also includes any other businesses we add to this group in the future. When you are working with one of our group companies, it will be clear on information you receive from our group companies which company you are working with and this company will be the controller of your data unless specified otherwise. We have appointed a data protection officer (DPO) who is responsible for overseeing questions in relation to this privacy notice across The Growth Company. If you have any questions about this privacy notice, including any requests to exercise your legal rights, please contact the DPO using the details set out below.
c. Contact us
If you would like to exercise one of your rights as set out in this privacy notice, or you have a question or a complaint about this privacy notice or the way your personal information is processed, please contact us by one of the following means:
By email: DPOfficer@growthco.uk
By post: Data Protection Officer, Lee House, 90 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester M1 5JW
You also have the right to make a complaint at any time to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues. Go to ico.org.uk/concerns to find out more. We would, however, appreciate the chance to deal with your concerns before you approach the ICO so please contact us in the first instance.
d. Changes to this privacy notice and your duty to inform us of changes
This version was last updated in May 2018 and any historic versions can be obtained by contacting us.
We may change some of our group structures for administrative reasons. Whilst this will not change what we do with your data, or the services you receive from our group, this may mean that the controller of your data might become a different company in The Growth Company group. If we do this, we will update this privacy notice to let you know where your information will be held and we will make this change prominent.
It is important that the personal data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal data changes during your relationship with us.
e. Third Party Links
Our website and other documents you receive from us may include links to third-party websites, plug-ins and information. Following these links may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements.
2. THE DATA WE COLLECT ABOUT YOU
Personal data, or personal information, means any information about an individual from which that person can be identified. It does not include data where the identity has been removed (anonymous data). We may collect, use, store and transfer different kinds of personal data about you which we have grouped together as follows (with examples of each data type):
• Identity Data includes first name, maiden name, last name, username or similar identifier, marital status, title, date of birth, place of birth, age, image, nationality, national insurance number and gender.
• Contact Data includes home address, billing address, delivery address, email address and telephone numbers.
• Payment Data includes bank account, payment card details and details about payments to and from you and other details of products and services you have purchased from us.
• Financial Status Data includes financial position, benefits received, information taken from identification documents such as your passport or driving licence, credit status, housing status, your insurance, criminal and medical history, and details about additional insured parties and cardholders or joint policyholders.
• Employment & Educational Data includes job title, qualifications, employment status, references, directorships, business interests, employment ID, employment records and salary.
• Technical Data includes internet protocol (IP) address, your login data, browser type and version, time zone setting and location, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform and other technology on the devices you use to access this website.
• Profile Data includes your username and password, purchases or orders made by you, your interests, preferences, feedback and survey responses.
• Usage Data includes information about how you use our website, products and services.
• Marketing and Communications Data includes your preferences in receiving marketing from us and our third parties and your communication preferences.
• Special Categories of Personal Data includes details about your race or ethnicity, religious or philosophical beliefs, sex life, sexual orientation, political opinions, trade union membership, information about your health and genetic and biometric data).
• Criminal Conviction Data includes information about criminal convictions and offences.
We also collect, use and share Aggregated Data such as statistical or demographic data for any purpose. Aggregated Data may be derived from your personal data but is not considered personal data in law as this data does not directly or indirectly reveal your identity. For example, we may aggregate your Usage Data to calculate the percentage of users accessing a specific website feature. However, if we combine or connect Aggregated Data with your personal data so that it can directly or indirectly identify you, we treat the combined data as personal data which will be used in accordance with this privacy notice.
If you fail to provide personal data:
Where we need to collect personal data by law, or under the terms of a contract we have with you and you fail to provide that data when requested, we may not be able to perform the contract we have or are trying to enter into with you (for example, to provide you with services). In this case, we may have to cancel a product or service you have with us but we will notify you if this is the case at the time.
3. HOW IS YOUR PERSONAL DATA COLLECTED?
We use different methods to collect data from and about you including through:
• Direct interactions. You may give us your Identity, Contact, Employment & Educational, Financial Status, Payment and Marketing & Communications Data in person, by filling in forms on paper, online or electronically, by corresponding with us by post, phone, email or otherwise or providing information as part of a contract. This includes personal data you provide when you:
• apply for our services
• apply to provide goods and/or services to us
• create an account on our website
• submit information via our website
• subscribe our service or publications
• request marketing to be sent to you
• enter a competition, promotion or survey
• give us some feedback or evaluate our services
• Automated technologies or interactions. As you interact with our website, we may automatically collect Technical Data about your equipment, browsing actions and patterns. We collect this personal data by using cookies, server logs and other similar technologies. We may also receive Technical Data about you if you visit other websites employing our cookies. Please see our cookie policy on our website for further details.
• Third parties or publicly available sources. We may receive personal data about you from various third parties and public sources as set out below:
• Identity, Contact, Payment and Financial Status Data from data brokers or aggregators, including credit reference agencies.
• Technical Data from analytics providers and advertising networks.
• Identity, Employment & Educational, Financial Status and Contact Data from publicly availably sources such as Companies House and the Electoral Register.
• Identity, Contact, Marketing & Communications and Technical Data from third party delivery partners, including those who fund, licence and co-deliver our activities and those who refer clients to us. Examples include government bodies, non-departmental public bodies, private companies, membership organisations and external consultants.
• Identity, Contact, Profile, Usage, Marketing & Communications, Employment & Educational, Payment and Financial Status Data from third party website portals into which you have entered your personal data.
4. HOW WE USE YOUR PERSONAL DATA
We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances:
• Where we need to perform the contract we are about to enter into or have entered into with you.
• Where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.
• Where we need to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.
More information about the lawful basis we use is found in the Glossary. Generally we do not rely on consent as a legal basis for processing your personal data other than in relation to sending direct marketing communications to you via email or text message or where required to process Special Category Data. You have the right to withdraw consent to marketing at any time by Contacting us.
a. Purposes for which we will use your personal data
We have set out below, in a table format, a description of all the ways we plan to use your personal data, and which of the legal bases we rely on to do so. We have also identified what our legitimate interests are where appropriate. Note that we may process your personal data for more than one lawful ground depending on the specific purpose for which we are using your data. Please Contact us if you need details about the specific legal ground we are relying on to process your personal data where more than one ground has been set out below.
i)
Purpose/Activity:
To register you as a new customer or supplier or participate in a procurement opportunity
Type of data:
(a) Identity (b) Contact (c) Payment (d) Financial Status (e) Employment & Educational
Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
(a) Performance of a contract with you
(b) Necessary for our legitimate interests in developing our relationship with you as a potential client
ii)
Purpose/Activity:
To deliver agreed services to you (or prepare for their delivery)
Type of data:
(a) Identity (b) Contact (c) Profile (d) Payment (e) Financial Status (f) Technical (g) Usage (h) Marketing & Communications (i) Special Category Data (j) Criminal Conviction Data
Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
(a) Performance of a contract with you
(b) Necessary for our legitimate interests in (i) assessing your suitability in relation to a vacancy, (ii) delivering a service we offer, and (iii) tracking and reporting on contract progress
Where Special Category or Criminal Conviction Data is used, we will explain to you separately on what grounds we use these.
iii)
Purpose/Activity:
To manage our relationship with you which will include:
(a) Managing your account and providing services support
(b) Notifying you about changes to our terms or privacy notice
(c) Asking you to leave a review or take a survey
Type of data:
(a) Identity (b) Contact (c) Profile (d) Marketing and Communications
(e) Financial Status (f) Payment
Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
(a) Performance of a contract with you
(b) Necessary to comply with a legal obligation
(c) Necessary for our legitimate interests
in keeping our records updated and studying how customers use our products/services)
iv)
Purpose/Activity:
To manage consultancy or advisory services you provide to us or our clients
Type of data:
(a) Identity (b) Contact (c) Financial Status (d) Payment (e) Financial Status (f) Technical (g) Profile
Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
(a) Performance of a contract with you
v)
Purpose/Activity:
To use data analytics to measure and report on the performance of our services
Type of data:
(a) Identity (b) Contact (c) Usage (d) Profile
Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
(a) Performance of a contract with you
vi)
Purpose/Activity:
To administer our day-to-day business operations, including (i) enabling you access our facilities and/or services, (ii) meeting our legal obligations in carrying out our business, (iii) assessing applications to deliver services to us, and (iv) appointing oversight bodies to govern and advise on our activities
Type of data:
(a) Identity (b) Contact (c) Payment (d) Financial Status
Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
(a) Performance of a contract with you
(b) Necessary for our legitimate interests in ensuring our business functions are cost-effective, compliant and accessible
vii)
Purpose/Activity:
To enable you to take part in a prize draw, competition or complete a survey
Type of data:
(a) Identity (b) Contact (c) Profile (d) Usage (e) Marketing and Communications
Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
(a) Performance of a contract with you
(b) Necessary for our legitimate interests in studying how customers use our products/services, to develop them and grow our business
viii)
Purpose/Activity:
To administer and protect our business and this website (including troubleshooting, data analysis, testing, system maintenance, support, reporting and hosting of data), including measure or understand the effectiveness of our website and products / services
Type of data:
(a) Identity (b) Contact (c) Profile (d) Usage (e) Marketing and Communications (f) Technical
Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
(a) Necessary to comply with a legal obligation
(b) Necessary for our legitimate interests (i) in running our business, providing administration and IT services, ensuring network security, preventing fraud and in the context of a business reorganisation or group restructuring exercise, (ii) in studying how customers use our products/services, to develop them, to grow our business and to inform our marketing strategy
ix)
Purpose/Activity:
To make suggestions and recommendations to you about goods, services, opportunities or events that may be of interest to you
Type of data:
(a) Identity (b) Contact (c) Technical (d) Usage (e) Profile (f) Marketing and Communications
Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
(a) Necessary for our legitimate interests in developing our products/services and growing our business
(b) Your consent, where this is required by law
We strive to provide you with choices regarding certain personal data uses, particularly around marketing and advertising. We have established the following personal data control mechanisms:
PROMOTIONAL OFFERS FROM US You will receive marketing communications from us if you have requested information from us or if we can demonstrate that we have a legitimate interest in sending marketing material to you (and you have not opted-out).
THIRD-PARTY MARKETING We will get your express opt-in consent before we share your personal data with any company outside The Growth Company group for marketing purposes.
OPTING OUT You can ask us or third parties to stop sending you marketing messages at any time by following the optout links on any marketing message sent to you or by Contacting us at any time.
Where you opt out of receiving these marketing messages, this will not apply to personal data provided to us as a result of a product/service purchase, product/service experience or other transactions.
c. Cookies
You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. If you disable or refuse cookies, please note that some parts of this website may become inaccessible or not function properly. For more information about the cookies we use, please see the cookie policy on our website.
d. Change of purpose
We will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it, unless we reasonably consider that we need to use it for another reason and that reason is compatible with the original purpose. If you wish to get an explanation as to how the processing for the new purpose is compatible with the original purpose, please Contact us. ]
If we need to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will notify you and we will explain the legal basis which allows us to do so.
Please note that we may process your personal data without your knowledge or consent, in compliance with the above rules, where this is required or permitted by law.
5. DISCLOSURES OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA
We may have to share your personal data with the parties set out below for the purposes set out in the table in paragraph 4 above.
• Internal Third Parties as set out in the Glossary.
• External Third Parties as set out in the Glossary.
• Third parties to whom we may choose to sell, transfer, or merge parts of our business or our assets. Alternatively, we may seek to acquire other businesses or merge with them. If a change happens to our business, then the new owners may use your personal data in the same way as set out in this privacy notice.
We require all third parties to respect the security of your personal data and to treat it in accordance with the law. We do not allow our third-party service providers to use your personal data for their own purposes and only permit them to process your personal data for specified purposes and in accordance with our instructions.
6. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS
In some circumstances we transfer data to, and store data in, countries which are outside the EEA. The EEA includes all EU Member countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, particularly if we offer you a service which is delivered in close collaboration with countries outside the EEA.
If we do this, we have procedures in place to ensure your data receives the same protection as if it were being processed inside the EEA. For example, our contracts with third parties stipulate the standards they must follow at all times. If you wish for more information about these arrangements please contact our Data Protection Officer.
Any transfer of your personal data will follow applicable laws and we will treat the information under the guiding principles of this Privacy Notice.
7. DATA SECURITY
We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed. In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those employees, agents, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality.
We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal data breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach where we are legally required to do so.
How long will you use my personal data for? We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.
To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the amount, nature and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorised use or disclosure of your personal data, the purposes for which we process your personal data, and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.
Details of retention periods for different aspects of your personal data are available in our retention policy which you can request from us by Contacting us.
In some circumstances you can ask us to delete your data: see Request erasure below for further information.
In some circumstances we may anonymise your personal data (so that it can no longer be associated with you) for research or statistical purposes in which case we may use this information indefinitely without further notice to you.
Under certain circumstances, you have rights under data protection laws in relation to your personal data. Please refer to the Glossary below to find out more about these rights:
• Request access to your personal data
• Request correction of your personal data
• Request erasure of your personal data
• Object to processing of your personal data
• Request restriction of processing your personal data
• Request transfer of your personal data
• Right to withdraw consent
If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out above, please Contact us.
You will not have to pay a fee to access your personal data (or to exercise any of the other rights). However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is clearly unfounded, repetitive or excessive. Alternatively, we may refuse to comply with your request in these circumstances.
We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and ensure your right to access your personal data (or to exercise any of your other rights). This is a security measure to ensure that personal data is not disclosed to any person who has no right to receive it. We may also contact you to ask you for further information in relation to your request to speed up our response.
We try to respond to all legitimate requests within one month. Occasionally it may take us longer than a month if your request is particularly complex or you have made a number of requests. In this case, we will notify you and keep you updated.
• Legitimate Interest means the interest of our business in conducting and managing our business to enable us to give you the best service/product and the best and most secure experience. We make sure we consider and balance any potential impact on you (both positive and negative) and your rights before we process your personal data for our legitimate interests. We do not use your personal data for activities where our interests are overridden by the impact on you (unless we have your consent or are otherwise required or permitted to by law). You can obtain further information about how we assess our legitimate interests against any potential impact on you in respect of specific activities by Contacting us
• Performance of Contract means processing your data where it is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are a party or to take steps at your request before entering into such a contract.
• Comply with a legal or regulatory obligation means processing your personal data where it is necessary for compliance with a legal or regulatory obligation to which we are subject.
• Consent means any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of your wishes by which you, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signify agreement to the processing of personal data.
b. Third Parties
Internal Third Parties
Other companies in The Growth Company group acting as joint controllers or processors and who are based in the United Kingdom and provide corporate services including IT and system administration, HR, Marketing and Financial services and undertake management reporting. Information will also be shared within the group for marketing purposes where either you have consented for us to do so or where we are legally otherwise able to share this information. This is in order that we can provide a high quality service across our group and can provide you with advi