Your privacy, in plain English.

The Search Hawk Limited ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy sets out how we handle your personal data when you visit our website, get in touch, or work with us, in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

01 Who we are

The Search Hawk Limited is a local marketing agency based in Hinckley, working with local service businesses across the West Midlands. For the purposes of data protection law, we are the "data controller" of the personal information you give us.

• Company: The Search Hawk Limited
• Registered office: Office 6, Hinckley Business Centre, LE10 2TP
• Company number: 15749342
• ICO registration number: ZC131349
• Contact: hi@thesearchhawk.co.uk

02 The information we collect

We only collect what we need to respond to you and provide our services. Depending on how you interact with us, this may include:

• Information you give us — your name, business name, email address, phone number, the towns you cover, your trade, and anything else you choose to tell us through our contact form, free forecast form, newsletter signup, by email, phone or WhatsApp.
• Information we collect automatically — when you visit our website we may collect technical data such as your IP address, browser type, device information, the pages you view and how you arrived, through cookies and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy).
• Information from working with us — if you become a client, we may hold account, billing and project information needed to deliver and manage our services.

03 Why we use it, and our lawful basis

Under UK GDPR we must have a lawful basis for using your personal data. We rely on the following:

• To respond to your enquiry or forecast request — on the basis of taking steps at your request before entering into a contract, and our legitimate interest in answering people who contact us.
• To provide our services — where we have a contract with you as a client, to perform that contract.
• To send you our newsletter — on the basis of your consent, which you can withdraw at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email.
• To improve and secure our website — on the basis of our legitimate interest in running and protecting our business. Non-essential cookies are only set with your consent.
• To meet legal and accounting obligations — where we are required to keep certain records by law.

04 Who we share it with

We do not sell your personal data, and we don't share it for anyone else's marketing. We only share it where necessary with trusted providers who help us run our business, including:

• Our website hosting and email providers.
• Form and analytics tools used on this website.
• Professional advisers such as our accountant, where required.
• Authorities or regulators where we are legally obliged to.

Any provider we use is required to keep your information secure and to only use it for the purpose we've engaged them for. Some providers may process data outside the UK; where they do, we take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

05 How long we keep it

We keep personal data only for as long as we need it. Enquiry and forecast details are kept for as long as needed to respond and follow up, and then for a reasonable period afterwards. Client records are kept for the duration of our work together and for as long as required by law (for example, financial records are typically kept for six years). Newsletter data is kept until you unsubscribe.

06 Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

• Ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Ask us to correct anything that's inaccurate or incomplete.
• Ask us to delete your data, where there's no good reason for us to keep it.
• Object to or restrict how we use your data in certain circumstances.
• Withdraw consent at any time, where we rely on consent.
• Ask us to transfer your data to another provider, where applicable.

To exercise any of these, just email hi@thesearchhawk.co.uk. We'll respond within one month. There's normally no charge.

07 Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies. You can read exactly which ones, and manage your preferences, in our Cookie Policy.

08 Keeping your data safe

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against loss, misuse and unauthorised access. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, but we work to protect your information and keep our systems up to date.

09 Complaints

If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, please contact us first and we'll do our best to put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK regulator, at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.

10 Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll change the "last updated" date at the top. We'd encourage you to check back occasionally.