Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Hawthorne Digital collects, uses, stores and protects personal information when you visit our website, contact us, enquire about our services or work with us.

References to "we", "us" or "our" mean Hawthorne Digital. References to "you" or "your" mean visitors to our website, prospective customers, customers and other individuals whose information we may process.

We aim to handle personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Information We Collect

The information we collect will depend on how you interact with us and which services you use.

Information you provide

This may include:

• Your name and business name.
• Your email address and telephone number.
• Your business contact details.
• Information about your website or digital project.
• Enquiry details, messages and correspondence.
• Information supplied when entering into an agreement with us.
• Information required to provide or support an agreed service.

Technical information

When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically. Depending on the tools and services in use, this may include your IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited and general website usage information.

3. How We Collect Information

We may collect information through:

• Contact and enquiry forms on our website.
• Emails, telephone calls and other direct correspondence.
• Discussions relating to a quotation or project.
• Contracts, service agreements and customer communications.
• Our website and any analytics or technical tools in use.
• Information you choose to provide when using our services.

We only aim to collect information that is relevant and reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is being obtained.

4. How We Use Your Information

We may use your information to:

• Respond to enquiries and requests for information.
• Prepare quotations and discuss potential projects.
• Provide website design and other agreed services.
• Manage customer accounts and business relationships.
• Provide technical support and respond to service requests.
• Send important service-related communications.
• Maintain the security and operation of our website and services.
• Meet applicable legal, regulatory and contractual obligations.
• Improve our website, services and customer experience.

Where required, we will identify an appropriate lawful basis for processing your personal information. This may include taking steps at your request before entering into a contract, performing a contract, complying with a legal obligation, pursuing legitimate interests or obtaining your consent.

Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it at any time. This will not affect processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share relevant information with trusted third-party providers where necessary to operate our business or deliver services to you.

These providers may include:

• Website hosting and infrastructure providers.
• Email and communication service providers.
• Website platforms and software providers.
• Payment and accounting service providers, where applicable.
• Security, backup and technical support providers.
• Professional advisers where reasonably necessary.

We expect providers handling personal information on our behalf to protect it appropriately and only process it for authorised purposes.

We may also disclose information where required by law, where necessary to establish or defend legal claims, or where otherwise permitted by applicable data protection legislation.

6. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support its operation, remember preferences, understand website usage or improve performance.

Where non-essential cookies or similar technologies are used, we will seek consent where required by applicable law.

You can manage cookies through the settings in your web browser. Blocking certain cookies may affect how parts of a website function.

If analytics services are used, they may collect information about how visitors interact with our website. The specific information collected will depend on the services enabled.

7. Data Storage and Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, accidental loss, alteration, disclosure or destruction.

These measures may include access controls, account security, secure service providers, software updates, backups and appropriate internal procedures.

Where third-party platforms or providers are used, information may be stored or processed using their systems and infrastructure.

Although we take reasonable steps to protect information, no method of electronic storage or transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including providing services, managing our business relationship and meeting legal or regulatory obligations.

The length of time information is retained will depend on its nature, the reason it was collected and any applicable legal requirements.

When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete it or anonymise it where appropriate.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on the circumstances and applicable data protection law, you may have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request the deletion of personal information in certain circumstances.
• Ask us to restrict how we process your information in certain circumstances.
• Object to certain types of processing.
• Request the transfer of certain information to another organisation.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on your consent.

These rights are subject to legal conditions and exemptions. We may need to verify your identity before responding to a request.

You also have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator.

You can find further information at ico.org.uk.

10. Contact and Changes to This Policy

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, would like to exercise your privacy rights or have a concern about how your information is handled, please contact us.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes to our practices, services or legal obligations. Any updates will be published on this page, together with a revised update date.