Premier Structural Engineering Consultancy

1. Introduction

North Bar Engineer ("we", "our", "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services. We comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you:

Contact us via email, phone, or contact forms
Request a quote or consultation
Engage our services as a client
Subscribe to our newsletter or blog updates

This information may include: name, email address, phone number, postal address, property details, project information, and payment details.

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information including:

IP address and browser type
Operating system and device information
Pages visited and time spent on pages
Referring website addresses
Date and time of visits

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide structural engineering services and consultations
Respond to inquiries and communicate with clients
Process payments and maintain financial records
Improve our website and services
Send relevant updates, newsletters, or marketing communications (with consent)
Comply with legal obligations and professional requirements
Maintain records for insurance and liability purposes

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

Contract Performance: To fulfill our contractual obligations to clients
Legitimate Interests: To operate our business, improve services, and maintain client relationships
Legal Obligation: To comply with Building Regulations, professional standards, and legal requirements
Consent: For marketing communications and optional services (you may withdraw consent at any time)

5. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information with:

Building Control Bodies: As required for regulatory compliance
Professional Advisors: Lawyers, accountants, and insurance providers
Service Providers: IT support, payment processors, and cloud storage providers who assist our operations
Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect our rights

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Client project records are typically retained for 6-15 years in accordance with professional indemnity insurance requirements and limitation periods.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

Remember your preferences and settings
Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
Improve website functionality and user experience

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include secure servers, encryption, access controls, and regular security assessments. However, no internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:

Right of Access: Request copies of your personal data
Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate information
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal obligations)
Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation on how we use your data
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing or optional processing

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

12. International Data Transfers

Your information is primarily stored and processed in the United Kingdom. If we transfer data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with UK GDPR requirements.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a revised date. Your continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0333 090 3474

Address: Colonial House, Swinemoor Lane, Beverley HU17 0LS

15. Complaints

If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concerns, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection authority. Visit ico.org.uk for more information.