1. Who We Are
Guardian Forge Ltd is responsible for the personal information described in this notice when we decide how and why it is used. Company No. 17429633. Registered Office: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ. ICO registration: ZC230688.
You can contact us at info@guardianforge.co.uk or on 0800 612 2126.
2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect your name, job title or business role, company, business contact details, telephone number, enquiry details, service interests and correspondence with us. If you become a client, we may also process information needed to deliver the agreed service and administer the relationship.
Our website may also process technical information such as IP address, browser information and website-usage data. Google Analytics is only loaded after you consent to non-essential analytics.
Please avoid sending special-category or highly sensitive personal information through the general website contact form unless it is necessary for us to understand your enquiry. Existing clients should use the agreed secure communication route where appropriate.
Anonymous consultation feedback. Our consultation feedback form does not ask for a name, email address, company or booking reference, and Guardian Forge does not store an IP address with the feedback response. The form stores only the seven ratings selected and any optional comment provided.
If you include identifying information in the optional comment, that information will form part of the feedback you submit. Standard website hosting and security logs may exist separately from the feedback response.
3. How We Collect Information
- Information you provide through website forms, telephone calls, email, WhatsApp or other direct communications.
- Information provided during the delivery of our services.
- Technical and analytics information generated through use of our website where you have provided the required cookie consent.
- Business information from public sources, such as Companies House, where relevant to a legitimate business purpose.
4. Why We Use Your Information and Our Lawful Bases
We use personal information to respond to enquiries, provide quotations, take steps before entering into a contract, deliver contracted services, administer client relationships, maintain security, meet legal obligations and improve our website and services.
Depending on the activity, our lawful basis may be contract, legal obligation, legitimate interests or consent. Where we rely on legitimate interests, those interests may include responding to business enquiries, protecting our systems, administering our business and maintaining appropriate business relationships, subject to balancing those interests against individual rights and freedoms.
5. Google Maps
Our Contact page includes an embedded Google Map showing our Manchester contact location. When that page loads, Google may receive technical information such as your IP address, browser/device information and interactions with the map. If you use the journey-planning feature, the starting address you enter is sent to Google Maps when you choose to open directions. Please review Google's own privacy information before using the service.
6. Microsoft 365, Bookings and Teams
Guardian Forge uses Microsoft 365 services including Outlook, Microsoft Bookings and Microsoft Teams to manage business communications, appointments and online consultations. Our website provides a Guardian Forge-branded booking page. When you submit a booking, the contact and appointment information you provide is sent securely from our server to Microsoft Bookings/Microsoft 365 so the appointment can be created, availability can be maintained and confirmation, reminder and meeting information can be provided.
7. WhatsApp Communications
If you choose to contact Guardian Forge through WhatsApp, your telephone number, profile information made available through WhatsApp, message content and any information you choose to provide may be processed so we can respond to your enquiry and manage our communications with you.
WhatsApp is operated by Meta. Your use of WhatsApp is also subject to WhatsApp/Meta's own privacy terms and data-processing practices. Do not use WhatsApp to send information you would not be comfortable processing through that service.
8. Who We May Share Information With
We may use trusted service providers for website hosting, email, communications, analytics, IT support, document management or other business operations. We may also disclose information where required by law, regulation, a court or a competent authority. We do not sell personal information.
9. International Transfers
Some technology or communications providers may process information outside the UK. Where UK data-protection law requires safeguards for an international transfer, we take reasonable steps to ensure an appropriate transfer mechanism is used.
10. Retention
We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including to meet legal, regulatory, accounting, contractual and dispute-resolution requirements. Retention periods vary depending on the nature of the information and relationship.
11. Security
We use proportionate technical and organisational measures intended to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure. Access is limited according to business need.
12. Your Rights
Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights to access, correct, erase or restrict use of your personal information, object to certain processing, request portability, or withdraw consent where processing is based on consent. These rights are not absolute and legal exemptions may apply.
To exercise a right, contact info@guardianforge.co.uk. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
13. Cookies
Our use of cookies and similar technologies is explained in our Cookies Policy. Non-essential analytics is not activated unless you choose to accept it.
Website typography and Google Fonts
To present Guardian Forge branding consistently across devices, our website may request the Cormorant Garamond and Inter typefaces from Google Fonts. When your browser retrieves this font, technical information such as your IP address and browser details may be transmitted to Google. Google Fonts is used for presentation only and is not used by Guardian Forge to identify you.
14. Changes to This Notice
We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, systems or legal obligations change. The review date above shows when this version was last checked.