Your privacy is important to Business Wales and in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) we have developed a Privacy Notice that covers why we collect and use your information. This privacy notice ensures that your personal data will be processed fairly and lawfully and in a transparent manner.
Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with our privacy practices.
1. Why we collect and process the data collected
The Welsh Government will be the Data Controller for the personal data you provide in accessing Business Wales Support. In line with our public task the data will be used to identify you and provide the most appropriate support to you from our teams.
This information will include personal information and relevant business information which will enable us to provide you with the appropriate advice and information. Failure to provide us with this information may preclude you from accessing the service.
Welsh Government requires beneficiary data in order to fulfil the reporting requirements of the European Commission for European Regional Development Funded projects.
This information also allows The Welsh Government to carry out the funding, planning, monitoring and to produce statistical publications.
Welsh Government collects information to monitor and report on the number of individuals and enterprises taking part in projects and the number of people from different groups being supported (e.g. different ages, genders and ethnicities).
We may contact you to request your permission to use your business details for Business Wales marketing activities. The Welsh Government will not use your data without your consent for this particular purpose.
Please note that research organisations/evaluators will only contact a sample of individuals and/or enterprises. If you are contacted to take part in any research/evaluation about your experience on the project the purpose of the interview or survey will be explained to you and you will be given the option to say yes or no to taking part. Your contact details will only be used for approved research and will be deleted once this approved research is complete.
2. Who will have access to your data?
The information will be stored on a Welsh Government secure IT System. It is collected and shared with the following organisations for the purposes listed below:
- Our Business Wales Contractors delivering the service to you.
- By approved social research organisations, to carry out research, analysis or equal opportunities monitoring of the service.
- EC (European Commission) and European Funds Audit Team (EFAT) who will take samples of our data to ensure we are following the correct processes.
- Welsh Government support service teams and its system technical administrators who support the I.T. system. System technical administrators will not use your details in any way.
4. How long do we keep it?
We are required under State aid legislation to keep your personal data for a minimum of 10 years after the project ends after which time it will be securely destroyed.
5. What are your rights?
Under the data protection legislation, you have the right:
- to access the personal data the Welsh Government holds on you;
- require us to rectify inaccuracies in that data
- to (in certain circumstances) object to or restrict processing
- for (in certain circumstances) your data to be ‘erased’
- to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is our independent regulator for data protection
The contact details for the Information Commissioner’s Office are:
Customer Contact
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 745 or 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.org.uk
For help with any of the above rights then please contact our Business Wales Helpline 03000 6 03000 or use the contact us form.
6. The Freedom of Information Act and your Information
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 allow the public to ask to see information held by public bodies, including the Welsh Government. The information you provide us may be the subject of a freedom of information request by another member of the public. We would consult with you to seek your views before responding to such a request.
7. Changes to this policy
The Welsh Government may make changes to this privacy policy at any time. Changes will be posted here and are effective immediately. When changes occur to this policy we will contact you on the email address we have recorded in your account to enable you to review the new version.
For further information on your information rights
Postal address:
Data Protection Officer
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
CARDIFF
CF10 3NQ
Email address: DataProtectionOfficer@gov.wales
Last updated 17 June 2021.