Privacy Policy

Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how brave-networth collects, uses, stores, and protects personal information obtained through our website and email communications. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in an open and transparent manner.

brave-networth is the data controller responsible for personal information processed through this website. Our registered office is located at 42 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4HZ, United Kingdom.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

When you contact us via email, we collect the information you choose to provide, which may include:

• Your name
• Email address
• The content of your message
• Any additional information you voluntarily include in your communication

We do not operate contact forms on our website. All direct communication occurs via email.

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, certain information is automatically collected through standard web server logs and analytics tools:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website
• Date and time of visit

This information is collected to understand how visitors use our website and to improve user experience. It is aggregated and analysed in a way that does not identify individual users.

How We Use Your Information

Email Communications

Information provided through email contact is used solely for:

• Responding to your enquiry or request
• Maintaining records of correspondence for administrative purposes
• Improving our services based on feedback received

We do not add email addresses to marketing lists. We do not share your contact information with third parties for marketing purposes.

Website Analytics

Automatically collected information is used to:

• Analyse website traffic patterns and user behaviour
• Identify technical issues and improve website performance
• Understand which content is most useful to visitors
• Make informed decisions about website structure and content

Research Purposes

Feedback about service providers submitted through email may be used to inform our reviews. Any such feedback is anonymised and aggregated before inclusion in our research. Individual contributors are never identified without explicit consent.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal information under the following legal bases as defined by UK GDPR:

• Legitimate interests: We process automatically collected website data based on our legitimate interest in understanding website usage and improving our services. This processing does not override your rights and freedoms.
• Consent: When you contact us by email, we consider your action as consent to process the information you provide for the purpose of responding to your enquiry.
• Legal obligation: In some cases, we may be required to retain records to comply with legal or regulatory requirements.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected:

• Email correspondence: Retained for up to three years from the date of last contact, unless there is a legitimate reason to retain it longer (such as ongoing research collaboration or dispute resolution).
• Website analytics data: Aggregated data is retained indefinitely for historical analysis. Raw log data containing IP addresses is retained for a maximum of 12 months.
• Cookie data: See our separate Cookies Policy for specific retention periods.

After the retention period expires, personal information is securely deleted or anonymised.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:

• Email communications are transmitted using encrypted connections
• Access to personal information is restricted to authorised personnel only
• Our website hosting infrastructure includes security measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection
• Regular security assessments are conducted to identify and address vulnerabilities

While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted to our website.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent personal information to third parties. Information may be shared only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist with website hosting and email services. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the specific services they provide to us.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, or legal process, or if necessary to protect our rights or the rights of others.
• Business transfers: If brave-networth is acquired or merged with another organisation, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. You will be notified of any such change.

We never share personal information with service providers we review or with marketing companies.

Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have several rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to rectification: You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to erasure: You can request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances.
• Right to restrict processing: You can ask us to limit how we use your information in specific situations.
• Right to data portability: You can request a copy of your information in a structured, commonly used format.
• Right to object: You can object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Rights related to automated decision-making: You have protections against decisions made solely by automated means. We do not use automated decision-making or profiling.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within one month of receiving your request.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to external websites operated by third parties. This Privacy Policy applies only to our website. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

International Data Transfers

Our website hosting infrastructure is located within the United Kingdom and European Economic Area. We do not routinely transfer personal information outside the UK or EEA. If such transfers become necessary, we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place as required by UK GDPR.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will update the "last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

If changes materially affect how we use personal information you have already provided, we will notify you by email where possible, or through a prominent notice on our website.

Contact and Complaints

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]
Address: brave-networth, 42 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4HZ, United Kingdom

If you are not satisfied with our response to a privacy concern, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection authority:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113
Website: ico.org.uk