Amber Francis ("us", "we", or "our") operates the website amberfrancis.co.uk (the "Service").

This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data. We use your data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information Collection and Use

We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our Service to you.

Types of Data Collected

Personal Data

While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you ("Personal Data"). Collecting this data helps us understand what you are looking for, enabling us to deliver improved services. Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:

• Contact information including email address

• Demographic information, such as postcode, preferences and interests

• Website usage data

• Other information relevant to client enquiries

• Other information pertaining to special offers and surveys How we use this data

Specifically, we may use data:

• For our own internal records.

• To improve the products and services we provide.

In addition when filling out our Contact form we will collect your:

• Name

• Email address

• Your phone number

This is to ensure that we can contact you regarding your query.

2. Tracking Technologies

We use tracking technologies such as Squarespace cookies, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console to collect and track information about how the Site is used. These tools help us analyse user behaviour and improve the Site's performance and user experience. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On.

2.1 Squarespace Cookies

Squarespace utilizes cookies, which are small text files stored on your device, to enhance your browsing experience and provide functionality essential for the operation of the website. These cookies may include:

• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the proper functioning of the website and cannot be disabled. They enable basic site features such as page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

• Preference Cookies: Preference cookies allow the website to remember information that changes the way the site behaves or looks, such as your preferred language or region.

• Analytics Cookies: Squarespace uses analytics cookies to track visitor interactions with the website, such as page views, traffic sources, and user behavior. This information helps us understand how visitors engage with our site and improve its performance and user experience.

You can manage or disable cookies in your browser settings, but please note that certain features of the website may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

2.2 Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a web analytics service provided by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. It utilizes cookies to collect information about how visitors use our site, including:

• Usage Data: Google Analytics collects data such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referral source, pages visited, and other usage data. This information is anonymized and aggregated before being transmitted to Google's servers for analysis.

• Demographic and Interest Reporting: Google Analytics may also collect demographic and interest information, such as age, gender, and interests, if available.

We use Google Analytics to analyze trends, compile reports on website activity, and improve our site's performance and user experience. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On.

2.3 Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a web service provided by Google that allows website owners to monitor and maintain their site's presence in Google Search results. It may collect data such as your website's search performance, indexing status, and search queries.

We use Google Search Console to optimize our site's visibility in Google Search results and identify any issues that may affect its performance. This information helps us improve our site's search engine optimization (SEO) and user accessibility.

2.4 Consent

By using our website, you consent to the use of these tracking technologies and the processing of data as described in this Privacy Policy.

2.4.1 Google Consent Mode

Google Consent Mode is an optional feature provided by Google that allows website owners to adjust how Google services such as Google Analytics collect data based on user consent preferences. By implementing Google Consent Mode, we can customize the behavior of Google services to align with user consent choices regarding cookies and tracking.

With Google Consent Mode, Google Analytics can adjust its data collection based on the consent status provided by users, helping us ensure compliance with privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ePrivacy Directive.

If you have any questions or concerns about our tracking technologies or data collection practices, please contact us using the contact information provided below.

3. Data Sharing

We are committed to protecting your privacy and will not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. However, we may share your personal information with trusted third parties in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may engage third-party service providers to perform various functions on our behalf, such as website hosting, data analysis, payment processing, and email communication. These service providers have access to your personal information only to the extent necessary to perform their duties and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

• Legal Compliance: We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal request, such as a court order, subpoena, or government investigation. We may also disclose your information to enforce our site policies, protect our rights or property, or ensure the safety of our users.

• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred to a successor entity as part of the transaction. We will notify you via email or prominent notice on our website of any change in ownership or control of your personal information.

• With Your Consent: We may share your personal information with third parties for other purposes with your consent or at your direction. For example, if you choose to participate in a promotional offer or event sponsored by a third party, we may share your information with that party for the purpose of fulfilling the offer or facilitating your participation.

3.1 Data Anonymization and Aggregation

We may anonymize and aggregate your personal information with that of other users to create statistical data and analysis for internal use or sharing with third parties. This aggregated data does not identify you personally and may be used for purposes such as market research, demographic analysis, and trend monitoring.

4. Data Security

Protecting your personal information is of utmost importance to us. We take reasonable measures to ensure the security of your data and prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Our website is hosted on Squarespace, a trusted platform that implements robust security measures to safeguard your information.

4.1 Squarespace Security Measures

Squarespace employs industry-standard security protocols and technologies to secure your data and maintain the integrity of our website. These security measures include:

• Encryption: Squarespace uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to protect the transmission of data between your browser and our website. This encryption ensures that sensitive information, such as personal details and payment data, is securely transmitted over the internet.

• Firewalls: Squarespace employs firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor and block unauthorized access to our servers and networks. These measures help prevent malicious attacks and unauthorized access to your personal information.

• Regular Security Audits: Squarespace conducts regular security audits and assessments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in their systems and infrastructure. This proactive approach helps ensure that your data remains secure at all times.

4.2 Your Responsibility

While Squarespace implements robust security measures to protect your data, it's essential to take precautions on your end as well. We recommend the following best practices to enhance your online security:

• Strong Passwords: Choose unique, complex passwords for your accounts and avoid using the same password across multiple platforms. Consider using a password manager to securely store and manage your passwords.

• Secure Browsing: Use a secure and up-to-date web browser when accessing our website. Keep your browser and operating system updated with the latest security patches and updates.

• Phishing Awareness: Be cautious of phishing attempts and suspicious emails that may attempt to trick you into disclosing personal information or login credentials. Verify the authenticity of emails and links before clicking on them.

4.3 Limitations

While we strive to maintain the highest standards of data security, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security against all threats or breaches. However, we are committed to promptly addressing any security incidents and taking appropriate measures to mitigate risks and safeguard your information.

By using our website, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks associated with online data transmission and agree that we shall not be liable for any unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration of your personal information.

5. Data Retention

We are committed to retaining your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. The specific retention period for your personal data may vary depending on the nature of the information and applicable legal requirements.

5.1 Retention Period

We will retain your personal information for the duration necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including:

• Booking and Communication: If you provide your personal information for booking freelance opportunities or contacting us, we will retain this information for as long as necessary to facilitate communication with you and fulfil any requests or inquiries.

• Legal Obligations: We may retain certain personal information to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and protect our rights and interests. This may include retaining records of transactions, communications, and other interactions with you.

5.2 Data Minimization

We will only retain your personal information for as long as necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was collected. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal data we hold is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. We will also review the personal information we hold on a regular basis and securely dispose of any data that is no longer needed or relevant for the purposes for which it was collected.

5.3 Data Retention Policies

Our data retention policies are designed to comply with applicable legal requirements and industry standards. We will adhere to the data retention principles and guidelines outlined in the UK Data Protection Act 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and other relevant regulations.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information held by us. If you would like to exercise any of these rights or have any questions about our data retention practices, please contact us using the contact information provided below.

7. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update or change this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Site. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any updates or changes.

8. Links from our site

Our website may contain links to other websites.

Please note that we have no control of websites outside the https://www.amberfrancis.co.uk/ domain. If you provide information to a website to which we link, we are not responsible for its protection and privacy.

Always be wary when submitting data to websites. Read the site’s data protection and privacy policies fully.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about our data retention practices, or if you would like to exercise your rights regarding your personal information, please contact us at contact@amberfrancis.co.uk.