Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Codestern ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal data when you visit our website at codestern.co.uk or use our services. We process your data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us at hello@codestern.co.uk or 11 Shambles, York, YO1 7LZ.

2. Data controller

Codestern is the data controller responsible for your personal data. Our contact details are: 11 Shambles, York, YO1 7LZ; email: hello@codestern.co.uk; phone: +44 (0) 7407 480 687.

3. Data we collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

• Identity data: name, job title, company name
• Contact data: email address, telephone number, postal address
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, referring URL
• Usage data: how you use our website and services
• Communications: messages you send via our contact form, email, or WhatsApp

We collect this data when you submit a contact form, send us an email, call or message us, visit our website (via cookies and similar technologies), or engage with our services.

4. How we use your data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To respond to your enquiries and provide the services you request
• To manage our business relationship and communicate with you
• To improve our website, services, and user experience
• To send marketing communications (only where you have opted in)
• To comply with legal obligations and protect our legal rights

Our legal bases for processing include: consent (where you have given it), performance of a contract, legitimate interests (e.g. website analytics, business communications), and compliance with legal obligations.

5. Data sharing

We may share your data with trusted third parties who assist us in operating our business, such as hosting providers, analytics providers, and professional advisors. We require such parties to process your data only for our specified purposes and in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

We do not sell your personal data. We may disclose your data if required by law or to protect our rights, safety, or property.

6. Data retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Enquiry and project data are typically retained for the duration of our relationship plus up to 7 years for legal, accounting, or regulatory purposes. Technical and usage data may be retained for shorter periods.

7. Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Rectification of inaccurate data
• Erasure (in certain circumstances)
• Restrict processing in certain circumstances
• Data portability
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@codestern.co.uk. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

8. Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies. For detailed information, please see our Cookie Policy.

9. Data security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. International transfers

Where we transfer your data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (such as adequacy decisions or standard contractual clauses approved by the ICO).

11. Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.

12. Contact

For any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at hello@codestern.co.uk, 11 Shambles, York, YO1 7LZ, or +44 (0) 7407 480 687.