Privacy Policy

This is the privacy notice of Midland Ecology. In this document, “we”, “our”, or “us” refer to Midland Ecology.

Background

We understand that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used and shared online. We respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits this website (“Our Site”) and will only collect and use personal data in ways that are described here, and in a manner that is consistent with Our obligations and your rights under the law.

1.   Definitions and Interpretation

In this Policy, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Account” means an account required to access and/or use certain areas and features of Our Site;

“Cookie” means a small text file placed on your computer or device by Our Site when you visit certain parts of Our Site and/or when you use certain features of Our Site. Details of the Cookies used by Our Site are set out in section 13, below;

“Cookie Law” means the relevant parts of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003;

“personal data” means any and all data that relates to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified from that data. In this case, it means personal data that you give to Us via Our Site. This definition shall, where applicable, incorporate the definitions provided in the EU Regulation 2016/679 – the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).

2.   Information About Us

2.1   Our Site is owned and operated by Midland Ecology.
2.2   Our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email at info@midlandecology.co.uk, by telephone at 01244661170, or by post at Unit 3, Well House Barns, Chester, CH4 0DH.

3.   What Does This Policy Cover?

This Privacy Policy applies only to your use of Our Site. Our Site may contain links to other websites. Please note that We have no control over how your data is collected, stored, or used by other websites and We advise you to check the privacy policies of any such websites before providing any data to them.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you understand it. Your acceptance of Our Privacy Policy is deemed to occur upon your first use of Our Site. If you do not accept and agree with this Privacy Policy, you must stop using Our Site immediately.

4.   Your Rights

4.1   As a data subject, you have the following rights under the GDPR, which this Policy and Our use of personal data have been designed to uphold:
4.1.1   The right to be informed about Our collection and use of personal data;
4.1.2   The right of access to the personal data We hold about you (see section 11);
4.1.3   The right to rectification if any personal data We hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete (please contact Us using the details in section 14);
4.1.4   The right to be forgotten – i.e. the right to ask Us to delete any personal data We hold about you (We only hold your personal data for a limited time, as explained in section 6 but if you would like Us to delete it sooner, please contact Us using the details in section 14);
4.1.5   The right to restrict (i.e. prevent) the processing of your personal data;
4.1.6   The right to data portability (obtaining a copy of your personal data to re-use with another service or organisation);
4.1.7   The right to object to Us using your personal data for particular purposes; and
4.1.8   Rights with respect to automated decision-making and profiling.
4.2   If you have any cause for complaint about Our use of your personal data, please contact Us using the details provided in section 14 and We will do Our best to solve the problem for you. If We are unable to help, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK’s supervisory authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office.
4.3   For further information about your rights, please contact the Information Commissioner’s Office or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

5.   What Data Do We Collect?

Depending upon your use of Our Site, We may collect some or all of the following personal and non-personal data. Please also see Our Cookie Policy:

5.1   name;
5.2   business/company name;
5.3   contact information such as email addresses and telephone numbers;
5.4   demographic information such as postcode, preferences, and interests;
5.5   financial information such as credit/debit card numbers;
5.6   IP address;
5.7   web browser type and version;
5.8   operating system;
5.9   a list of URLs starting with a referring site, your activity on Our Site, and the site you exit to;
5.10   details of your development.

6. Use of Your Information

6.1   All personal data is processed and stored securely, for no longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. We will comply with Our obligations and safeguard your rights under the GDPR at all times. For more details on security see section 7, below.

6.2   Our use of your personal data will always have a lawful basis, either because it is necessary for Our performance of a contract with you, because you have consented to Our use of your personal data (e.g. by asking for a quote), or because it is in Our legitimate interests.

Specifically, We may use your data for the following purposes:

6.2.1   Providing and managing your Account;
6.2.2   Providing and managing your access to Our Site;
6.2.3   Personalising and tailoring your experience on Our Site;
6.2.4   Supplying Our services to you (please note that We require your personal data in order to enter into a contract with you);
6.2.5   Personalising and tailoring Our services for you;
6.2.6   Replying to emails from you;
6.2.7   Supplying you with emails that you have opted into (you may unsubscribe or opt out at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in any emails we send;
6.2.8   Market research;
6.2.9   Analysing your use of Our Site and gathering feedback to enable Us to continually improve Our Site and your user experience;

6.3   With your permission and/or where permitted by law, We may also use your data for marketing purposes which may include contacting you by email AND/OR post with information, news and offers on Our services. We will not, however, send you any unsolicited marketing or spam and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that We fully protect your rights and comply with Our obligations under the GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

6.4   You have the right to withdraw your consent to Us using your personal data at any time, and to request that We delete it.

6.5   We do not keep your personal data for any longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. Data will therefore be retained for the following periods (or its retention will be determined on the following bases):

6.6   The information you provide to us when requesting a quote will be retained for up to 7 years. If you instruct us to carry out work for you, your client file will stay on record for up to 7 years.

6.7   We may need to share your information with professional advisors, local authorities and public bodies in order to provide you with the service you have requested from Us.

7.   Storing Your Personal Data

In operating our website it may become necessary to transfer data that we collect from you to locations outside of the European Union for processing and storing. By providing your personal data to us, you agree to this transfer, storing or processing. We do our utmost to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to make sure that your data is treated and stored securely.

Unfortunately, the sending of information via the internet is not totally secure and on occasion, such information can be intercepted. We cannot guarantee the security of the data that you choose to send us electronically. Sending such information is entirely at your own risk.

7.1   Data security is very important to Us, and to protect your data We have taken suitable measures to safeguard and secure data collected through Our Site.

7.2   Steps We take to secure and protect your data include:

7.2.1   Using SSL certificates on our website to protect your information, storing any hard copies of documents in locked filing cabinets inside an access-controlled office and restricting access to our online systems with effective password policies.

8. Disclosing Your Information

8.1   We will not disclose your personal information to any other party other than in accordance with this Privacy Policy and in the circumstances detailed below:

1. In the event that we sell any or all of our business to the buyer.
2. Where we are legally required by law to disclose your personal information.
3. To further fraud protection and reduce the risk of fraud.

8.2   We may sometimes contract with third parties to supply services to you on Our behalf. These may include payment processing, delivery of goods, search engine facilities, advertising, delivery of services and marketing. In some cases, third parties may require access to some or all of your data. Where any of your data is required for such a purpose, We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data will be handled safely, securely, and in accordance with your rights, obligations, and the obligations of the third party under the law.

8.3   We may compile statistics about the use of Our Site including data on traffic, usage patterns, user numbers, sales, and other information. All such data will be anonymised and will not include any personally identifying data, or any anonymised data that can be combined with other data and used to identify you. We may from time to time share such data with third parties such as prospective investors, affiliates, partners, and advertisers. Data will only be shared and used within the bounds of the law.

8.4   In certain circumstances, We may be legally required to share certain data held by Us, which may include your personal data, for example, where We are involved in legal proceedings, where We are complying with legal requirements, a court order, or a governmental authority.

9.   How Can You Control Your Data?

9.1   In addition to your rights under the GDPR, set out in section 4, when you submit personal data via Our Site, you may be given options to restrict Our use of your data. In particular, We aim to give you strong controls on Our use of your data for direct marketing purposes (including the ability to opt-out of receiving emails from Us which you may do by unsubscribing using the links provided in Our emails and at the point of providing your details and by managing your Account).

9.2   You may also wish to sign up for one or more of the preference services operating in the UK: The Telephone Preference Service (“the TPS”), the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (“the CTPS”), and the Mailing Preference Service (“the MPS”). These may help to prevent you from receiving unsolicited marketing. Please note, however, that these services will not prevent you from receiving marketing communications that you have consented to receiving.

10.   Your Right to Withhold Information

10.1   You may restrict Our use of Cookies. For more information, see section 12 Our Cookie Policy.

11.   How Can You Access Your Data?

You have the right to ask for a copy of any of your personal data held by Us (where such data is held). Under the GDPR, no fee is payable and We will provide any and all information in response to your request free of charge. Please contact Us for more details at info@midlandecology.co.uk, or by writing to us at Unit 3, Well House Barns, Chester, CH4 0DH.

12.   Our Use of Cookies

12.1   Our Site may place and access certain first-party Cookies on your computer or device. First-party Cookies are those placed directly by Us and are used only by Us. We use Cookies to facilitate and improve your experience of Our Site and to provide and improve Our services. We have carefully chosen these Cookies and have taken steps to ensure that your privacy and personal data are protected and respected at all times. Visit our dedicated page to read our full terms and conditions.

13.   Third-Party Links

On occasion, we include links to third parties on this website. Where we provide a link it does not mean that we endorse or approve that site’s policy towards visitor privacy. You should review their privacy policy before sending them any personal data.

14.   Contacting Us

Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding any matter relating to this Privacy Policy. Please contact Us by emailing email@midlandecology.co.uk, or by writing to us at Unit 3, Well House Barns, Chester, CH4 0DH.

15.   Changes to Our Privacy Policy

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time (for example, if the law changes). Any changes will be immediately posted on Our Site and you will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the Privacy Policy on your first use of Our Site following the alterations. We recommend that you check this page regularly to keep up-to-date.