Privacy Policy
 

Privacy Policy - The Hour-Group Ltd (GDPR Compliant)

Effective Date: 16th March 2025

1. Introduction

Hour Group ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (UK).   

The Hour-Group Ltd. encompasses both a training organisation and a consultancy firm, providing services primarily within the health, education, and social care sectors in England and Wales. This policy applies to all aspects of our operations, including data collected for marketing and educational purposes.

2. Data Controller

Hour Group is the data controller responsible for your personal data.

3. Lawful Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following lawful bases:

• Consent: When you provide explicit consent for us to process your data for specific purposes, such as marketing.   
• Contractual Necessity: When processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you, or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract (e.g., providing training or consultancy services).   
• Legal Obligation: When processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation to which we are subject.
• Legitimate Interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of a third party, provided those interests do not override your rights and freedoms. Examples include improving our services and website security.   

4. Personal Data We Collect

We collect various types of personal data, including:

• Identity Data: Name, title, date of birth.
• Contact Data: Email address, phone number, postal address.
• Professional Data: Job title, organization, professional qualifications, educational background.
• Financial Data: Payment information (processed securely by payment processors).
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, website usage data (collected via cookies and similar technologies).
• Marketing and Communications Data: Your preferences for receiving marketing communications.
• Educational Data: Learner progress, assessment results, feedback.
• Special Category Data: If needed for a specific training or consultancy service. We will only process this data with your explicit consent, or if a legal requirement is present. (Health Data for example)

5. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To provide and manage our training and consultancy services.
• To process registrations and payments.
• To communicate with you, including responding to inquiries and providing updates.
• To send you marketing communications (with your consent).
• To manage and deliver training courses and track learner progress.
• To improve our website and services.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations.
• To protect our rights and interests.
• To ensure website security and prevent fraud.

6. Sharing Your Personal Data

We may share your personal data with:

• Third-party service providers who assist us with website hosting, payment processing, email delivery, and other services (data processors acting on our instructions).
• Business partners involved in delivering training or consultancy services.
• Regulatory authorities when required by law.
• Professional advisors such as lawyers and accountants.
• Affiliated organizations within Hour Group.
• In the event of a business transfer (merger, sale, etc.).
• With your explicit consent.

7. International Data Transfers

If we transfer your personal data outside the UK or the European Economic Area (EEA), we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

• Adequacy decisions from the UK or European Commission.
• Standard contractual clauses.
• Binding corporate rules.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.   

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.   

• Marketing data: Retained until you withdraw consent.
• Educational data: Retained in accordance with relevant educational regulations and legal requirements.
• Consultancy data: Retained for the duration of the contract and for a reasonable period afterwards, to comply with legal obligations.
• We will regularly review our retention periods.

10. Your Rights Under GDPR

You have the following rights:

• Right to access: You can request a copy of your personal data.
• Right to rectification: You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete data.   
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): You can request that we delete your data in certain circumstances.
• Right to restriction of processing: You can request that we limit the processing of your data.
• Right to data portability: You can request to receive your data in a machine-readable format.
• Right to object: You can object to the processing of your data for certain purposes, including direct marketing.
• Right to withdraw consent: You can withdraw your consent at any time.
• Right to lodge a complaint: You can lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

11. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience. You can manage your cookie preferencesthrough your browser settings and our cookie consent tool.   

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under the age of 13, unless explicit consent is provided by a parent or legal guardian for a specific training course.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our Site and updating the "Effective Date."   

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:

• Email: info@hour-group.com
• Phone: 
• Address:  Flat 20 Maple Lodge, Maple Road, Manchester, M23 9HJ

15. Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the ICO if you believe we have not complied with data protection laws.

• Website: ico.org.uk
• Phone: 0303 123 1113
• Address: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.