What Information We Collect

We collect different types of information depending on how you interact with us. Here's what that looks like in practice:

Information You Give Us Directly

When you sign up for our learning programmes or contact us, you typically provide:

• Your name and email address
• Phone number if you want us to call you back
• Educational background and experience level
• Payment details when enrolling in courses
• Any questions or feedback you send our way

Automatic Collection

Like most websites, we gather some technical information automatically. This includes your IP address, browser type, and how you navigate our site. We use this to improve your experience and fix any issues that come up.

How We Use Your Information

We're pretty straightforward about why we need your data. Here's the breakdown:

If you've given us permission to send marketing emails, you can change your mind anytime. Just click the unsubscribe link in any email or drop us a message.

Who We Share Your Data With

We're not in the business of selling your information. But we do work with some trusted partners to run our services:

Service Providers

• Payment processors for handling course fees securely
• Email platforms to send you course materials and updates
• Cloud storage providers where course content lives
• Analytics tools to understand how people use our site

These companies can only use your data to provide services to us. They can't use it for their own purposes.

Legal Requirements

Sometimes we're legally required to share information with authorities or regulators. This doesn't happen often, but when it does, we only share what's legally necessary.

Your Rights Under UK Law

UK data protection law gives you significant control over your personal information. Here's what you can do:

Access Your Data

You can request a copy of all the personal information we hold about you. We'll provide this free of charge within one month, usually sooner.

Correct Inaccurate Information

If something we have on file is wrong, let us know and we'll fix it promptly. This matters particularly for contact details or educational records.

Delete Your Data

You can ask us to delete your information in certain situations. For example, if you withdraw consent for marketing or if you're no longer enrolled in our programmes. There are some exceptions where we need to keep records for legal or accounting purposes.

Object to Processing

You can object to how we use your data, particularly for marketing purposes or automated decision-making.

Data Portability

Want to take your data elsewhere? You can request your information in a commonly used electronic format that's easy to transfer.

How We Protect Your Information

Security isn't just a checkbox for us. We use multiple layers of protection:

• All data transmitted to and from our site uses encryption
• Our systems are regularly tested for vulnerabilities
• Staff access to personal data is strictly limited and monitored
• We use secure cloud hosting with automatic backups
• Payment information is processed through PCI-compliant providers

No system is completely foolproof, but we work hard to minimize risks. If we ever experience a data breach that affects you, we'll notify you and the ICO within 72 hours as required by law.

How Long We Keep Your Data

We don't keep information longer than necessary. Here's our general approach:

Active Students

While you're enrolled in our programmes, we keep all your information to deliver the service and support your learning.

After Course Completion

We retain your records for six years after you finish a course. This lets us provide certificates, answer queries about your studies, and meet our accounting obligations.

Marketing Data

If you've only signed up for our newsletter without enrolling, we'll keep your details for three years unless you unsubscribe sooner.

Enquiries

General enquiries and support tickets are kept for two years to help us improve our service.

After these periods, we either delete your data securely or anonymize it so it can't be linked back to you.

Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies to function properly and improve your experience. Most are essential for basic features like remembering you're logged in.

Essential Cookies

These keep the site working and can't be turned off. They handle things like security and accessing your course materials.

Analytics Cookies

We use these to understand which parts of our site work well and which need improvement. The data is aggregated and anonymized.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. But disabling certain cookies might affect how the site works for you.

International Transfers

Most of your data stays within the United Kingdom. However, some of our service providers operate servers in other countries.

When we transfer data internationally, we ensure there are appropriate safeguards in place. This might include adequacy decisions by the UK government or standard contractual clauses approved by the ICO.

If you'd like details about where your specific data is stored, just ask and we'll explain.

Children's Privacy

Our courses are designed for adults aged 18 and over. We don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.

If you're a parent and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately and we'll delete it.

Changes to This Policy

We review and update this policy regularly to reflect changes in how we work or in legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we'll notify you by email if you're an active student or display a prominent notice on our website.

The "Last Updated" date at the top shows when we last revised this policy. We recommend checking back occasionally if you want to stay informed.

Complaints and Concerns

If you're unhappy with how we've handled your personal data, we want to hear about it. Please contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue:

Email: contact@oliventarqa.com
Phone: +44 7766 487041
Address: 178 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7DW, United Kingdom

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office, the UK's data protection regulator:

ICO Website: ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113