Privacy Policy

The Business Growth Collective (BGC)

bgcollective.co.uk

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how The Business Growth Collective ("BGC", "we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects your personal data when you visit bgcollective.co.uk, engage with our services, attend our events, join our membership, communicate with us, or otherwise interact with our business.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in accordance with applicable UK data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation ("UK GDPR") and the Data Protection Act 2018.

By using our website or services, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. What Information We Collect

We may collect and process personal data that you provide directly to us, data collected automatically, and data received from third parties. This may include your name, business name, email address, phone number, billing information, payment details, job title, communication preferences, and any information you provide when filling out forms, signing up for memberships, attending events, or contacting us.

We may also collect technical data including your IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, pages visited, time spent on the website, and referral sources. In some cases, we may receive information about you from third-party platforms, payment processors, marketing tools, CRM systems, analytics providers, or publicly available sources.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data to operate, manage, and improve our services. This includes providing access to memberships, processing payments, delivering events, communicating with you, responding to enquiries, sending administrative information, managing customer relationships, and providing customer support.

We may also use your data for marketing purposes, including sending updates, promotional content, newsletters, offers, or information about services we believe may be relevant to you. Where required by law, we will obtain your consent before sending marketing communications, and you may opt out at any time.

Additionally, we may use your data for internal purposes such as analytics, service improvement, fraud prevention, legal compliance, and the protection of our business, members, and systems.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under several lawful bases depending on the context. These include the necessity to perform a contract when providing services or memberships, compliance with legal obligations, our legitimate interests in operating and improving our business, and, where applicable, your consent for marketing communications or optional services.

We ensure that any processing based on legitimate interests is balanced against your rights and freedoms.

5. How We Share Your Data

We do not sell your personal data. However, we may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist in operating our business. This may include payment processors, CRM systems, email marketing platforms, analytics providers, hosting services, event platforms, and IT support providers.

We may also share data where required by law, regulatory authorities, court orders, or to protect our legal rights, enforce our Terms and Conditions, or prevent fraud or misuse of our services.

In the event of a business sale, merger, restructuring, or transfer of assets, your data may be transferred to the relevant third party as part of that transaction.

6. International Transfers

Some of our third-party service providers may process or store data outside the United Kingdom. Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, reporting, and compliance obligations. Retention periods may vary depending on the nature of the data and the services provided.

When data is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. However, no system can be guaranteed completely secure, and you acknowledge that use of online services carries inherent security risks.

9. Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you may have rights including the right to access your personal data, request correction of inaccurate data, request deletion of your data, object to or restrict processing, request data portability, and withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

You may also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been mishandled.

10. Marketing Communications

You may receive marketing communications from us where permitted by law. You can opt out of these communications at any time by clicking unsubscribe links in emails or contacting us directly. Opting out of marketing does not affect service-related communications necessary for account management or service delivery.

11. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve user experience, analyse website traffic, understand user behaviour, and support marketing efforts. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, although some features of the website may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or policies of third-party websites, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal data.

13. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we become aware that we have collected data from a minor without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete it.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements, business operations, or data practices. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Continued use of our services after changes are made constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.