PRIVACY POLICY

This privacy policy explains how Startup Sherpas uses the personal information we collect from you when you use our platform.

Here is what we will explain: 

• What data do we collect?
• How do we collect your data?
• How will we use your data?
• How do we store your data?
• What are your data protection rights, and what is our legal reason to collect and use your data?
• What are cookies?
• How do we use cookies?
• What types of cookies do we use?
• How to manage your cookies
• Privacy policies of other websites
• Changes to our privacy policy
• How to contact us
• How to complain

What data do we collect?

We collect the following personal identification information:

• Your name (first and last name)
• Your email address
• Your school or company name
• If you are purchasing a subscription, then you will be asked to provide additional details; your billing address, and also your credit card details (if buying using a card).

How do we collect your data?

We collect your data when you voluntarily provide it to us through form fills on our website. This might include signing up for our newsletter, requesting information, or expressing interest in our services.

If you are purchasing a subscription using a credit card, this data is collected directly by Stripe (our payment partner). This is done to keep your data completely secure. You will see on the payment page where you enter these details that the input box for your card detail is powered by Stripe.

How will we use your data?

We will use your data to:

• Respond to your inquiries and provide information about our services.
• Contact you regarding events, updates, or opportunities related to our programmes.
• Understand our audience better for internal reporting purposes (e.g., tracking the types of schools interested in our services).
• Subscribe you to our service. You are able to purchase online if you are a school, and we use the data you provide to fulfil your order.

How do we store your data?

We take protecting your security and privacy seriously, and we follow industry standards to protect the integrity of your information. This means we do things like provide secure communication with our servers at all times, encrypt content in transit, and run regular 3rd party security audits (our annual PenTest) to make sure your information is secure.

Lawful bases and data protection rights

Under UK data protection law, we 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.

Which lawful basis we rely on may affect your data protection rights which are in brief set out below. You can find out more about your data protection rights and the exemptions which may apply on the ICO’s website:

• Your right of access – You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information. You can request other information such as details about where we get personal information from and who we share personal information with. There are some exemptions which means you may not receive all the information you ask for. You can read more about this right here.
• Your right to rectification – You have the right to ask us to correct or delete personal information you think is inaccurate or incomplete. You can read more about this right here.
• Your right to erasure – You have the right to ask us to delete your personal information. You can read more about this right here.
• Your right to restriction of processing – You have the right to ask us to limit how we can use your personal information. You can read more about this right here.
• Your right to object to processing – You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data. You can read more about this right here.
• Your right to data portability – You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you. You can read more about this right here.
• Your right to withdraw consent – When we use consent as our lawful basis you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You can read more about this right here.

If you make a request, we must respond to you without undue delay and in any event within one month.

To make a data protection rights request, please contact us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice.

Our lawful bases for the collection and use of your data

Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information are:

• Consent: We rely on your consent when you provide us with your information through form fills on our website. This includes your name, email, and school name. By submitting these details, you give us permission to contact you with relevant information and updates. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, and all of your data protection rights apply, including the right to object.
• Contractual. If you purchase a subscription to RealWork, you are asked for name, billing address and also (if buying with a Credit Card), and your card details to fulfil the subscription. Credit card data is not processed directly by us, but by our payment processing partner, Stripe.
• Legitimate Interest: In some cases, we may process your data under our legitimate interests, for example, to communicate with you about our services or improve user experience on our website. We ensure that this does not infringe on your rights and is necessary for the ongoing interest of providing useful information. You have the right to object to this processing if you believe it affects your rights.

What are cookies?

Cookies are text files placed on your computer to make our platform work, or sometimes they are used to collect information about you.

For further information, visit allaboutcookies.org.

How do we use cookies?

We only use cookies to keep you signed in as you use the platform and take part on our programmes.

What types of cookies do we use?

There are a number of different types of cookies, and our website uses strictly necessary, functional and analytical cookies.

Our cookie list

How to manage cookies

You can set your browser not to accept cookies, and the above website tells you how to remove cookies from your browser. However, in a few cases, some of our website features may not function as a result.

Privacy policies of other websites

Some of our content links to other websites. Our privacy policy applies only to our platform, so if you click on a link to another website, you should read their privacy policy.

Changes to our privacy policy

Startup Sherpas keeps its privacy policy under regular review and places any updates on this web page. Check our the ‘Last Updated’ section at the end.

How to contact us

Email

hello@startupsherpas.org

How to complain

If you have any concerns about our use of your personal data, you can make a complaint to us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice.

If you remain unhappy with how we’ve used your data after raising a complaint with us, you can also complain to the ICO.

The ICO’s address:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Helpline number: 0303 123 1113

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

Last updated

12 October 2024