Privacy Notice

This privacy notice explains how I collect, use and protect your personal information.

Contact details

Email: privacy@michaelgrimes.co.uk

What information I collect and why

To provide goods and services

I collect or use the following information to provide services and goods, including delivery:

  • Names and contact details

  • Website user information (including user journeys and cookie tracking)

  • Photographs or video recordings

  • Call recordings

  • Records of meetings and decisions

  • Information relating to compliments or complaints

For service updates or marketing purposes

I collect or use the following information for service updates or marketing purposes:

  • Names and contact details

  • Marketing preferences

  • Recorded images, such as photos or videos

  • Call recordings

  • Purchase or viewing history

  • Website and app user journey information

  • Records of consent, where appropriate

Lawful bases and data protection rights

Under UK data protection law, I must have a lawful basis for collecting and using your personal information. There is a list of possible lawful bases in the UK GDPR. You can find out more about lawful bases on the ICO’s website.

The lawful basis I rely on may affect your data protection rights, which are summarised below. You can find out more about your rights and any exemptions that may apply on the ICO’s website.

Your rights

Right of access

You have the right to ask for copies of your personal information. You can also request details about where I obtained your personal information and who I share it with. Some exemptions apply, which means you may not receive all of the information you request.

Right to rectification

You have the right to ask me to correct or complete personal information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

Right to erasure

You have the right to ask me to delete your personal information in certain circumstances.

Right to restriction of processing

You have the right to ask me to limit how I use your personal information in certain circumstances.

Right to object to processing

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

Right to data portability

You have the right to ask me to transfer the personal information you have provided to another organisation, or directly to you, where applicable.

Right to withdraw consent

Where I rely on consent as my lawful basis, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

If you make a request, I will respond without undue delay and, in any event, within one month.

To make a data protection rights request, please contact me using the details above.

My lawful bases for collecting and using personal information

To provide services and goods

My lawful bases for collecting or using personal information to provide services and goods are:

Consent

I have permission from you after providing all relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

Contract

I need to collect or use the information so that I can enter into or fulfil a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object.

Legal obligation

I need to collect or use your information so that I can comply with the law. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to erasure, the right to object and the right to data portability.

Legitimate interests

I collect or use your information because it benefits you, my business or another party, without causing an undue risk of harm.

My legitimate interests are:

Professional networking and business development

I maintain records of professional contacts and previous interactions so that I can maintain professional relationships, avoid losing important context from previous conversations, assess whether my services may be relevant to an organisation, and communicate about matters that may be relevant to the individual or organisation.

The information recorded is limited to professional contact details and notes about previous interactions. Individuals would reasonably expect a consultant or service provider to retain information about professional conversations and contacts. I do not use this information in ways that are unexpected, intrusive or likely to cause harm.

Client and project management

I collect and use personal information to manage client relationships, maintain records of communications, administer projects, issue invoices and keep accurate business records.

This helps me provide a consistent and professional service and reduces the risk of errors or misunderstandings. Individuals would reasonably expect this information to be retained while services are being provided and for appropriate business and legal record-keeping purposes.

I limit access to information and retain it only for as long as necessary.

Responding to enquiries and providing services

I collect and use personal information to respond to enquiries, discuss potential projects, provide consultancy and support services, and communicate with clients throughout our working relationship.

For more information about my use of legitimate interests as a lawful basis, please contact me using the details above.

For service updates or marketing purposes

My lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for service updates or marketing purposes are:

Consent

I have permission from you after providing all relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

Contract

I need to collect or use the information so that I can enter into or fulfil a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object.

Legal obligation

I need to collect or use your information so that I can comply with the law. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to erasure, the right to object and the right to data portability.

Where I get personal information from

I obtain personal information:

  • Directly from you

  • From councils and other public sector organisations

  • From publicly available sources

  • From previous employers

  • From suppliers and service providers

How long I keep information

I only keep personal information for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including meeting any legal, accounting or reporting requirements.

To determine the appropriate retention period, I consider:

  • The amount of information held

  • The nature and sensitivity of the information

  • The potential risk of harm from unauthorised use or disclosure

  • Any applicable legal requirements

By law, I must keep basic information about clients (including contact, identity, financial and transaction data) for six years after they cease being clients for tax and legal liability purposes.

In some circumstances, you can ask me to delete your data. I may also anonymise personal information so that it can no longer be associated with you. Where this happens, I may use that anonymised information indefinitely for research, reporting or statistical purposes.

Who I share information with

Data processors

QuickBooks

QuickBooks manages my accounting and invoicing and integrates with HubSpot for client management.

HubSpot

HubSpot is my customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing platform. It stores information about clients and prospective clients and manages marketing consent preferences.

Microsoft

Microsoft provides my email, cloud storage and productivity services.

Other organisations I may share information with

  • Professional consultants

  • Organisations that I am legally required to share information with

Sharing information outside the UK

Where necessary, my data processors may transfer personal information outside the UK.

When this happens, they comply with UK GDPR requirements and put appropriate safeguards in place.

HubSpot

  • Category: CRM and marketing platform

  • Country: United States

  • Safeguard: UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)

Microsoft

  • Category: Email, cloud storage and productivity services

  • Country: United States

  • Safeguard: UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)

Intuit QuickBooks

  • Category: Accounting and invoicing software

  • Country: United States

  • Safeguard: UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)

How to complain

If you have concerns about how I use your personal information, you can contact me at:

Email: privacy@michaelgrimes.co.uk

If you remain unhappy after raising a complaint with me, you can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Helpline: 0303 123 1113

Website: https://www.ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint

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