This policy explains when and why we collect personal information on visitors to our website, how we use it, the conditions under which we may disclose it to others and how we keep it secure.

Any questions regarding this policy should be sent by email to enquiries@bscf.org or in writing to BSCF, 2a St George Wharf, Vauxhall, London, SW8 2LE. 

How do we collect information from you?

We obtain information during the course of your visit to our website, for example, when you register, request information, enter our awards, or ask to receive newsletters and documents. We also obtain information from you if you book or attend an event or apply to sit a competence validation.

Why do we do this?

We need to keep a record of your contact details in order to deliver information to you on a range of things including: technical information, invitation to technical events and CPD and give access to BSCF’s competence validation portal.

What type of information is collected from you?

The personal information we collect will include your name, company details, address, email address and phone number.

We use cookies to track visits and progression through our website. We don't use this for individual visits, just aggregated data of all visits used in analytic reports.

We ask you to register through our website if you want ongoing updates, information on technical developments as they occur, invitations and event details. 

If you pay for a service, book onto an event or validation assessment, your card information is collected by our third party payment processors, SagePay, who specialise in the secure online capture and processing of credit/debit card transactions, as explained below.

Why do we want your information?

Like all businesses we want to be able to communicate with people in other businesses in our industry.

BSCF produces technical analysis, explanations of the building regulations and building control system, commentary on regulation changes and developments and we share this with customers through Bulletins, newsletters and e-shots.

BSCF also runs events and competence validation assessments.

We offer access and involvement in all of this to the built environment industry. By volunteering your contact details and registering with BSCF we can offer you information and updates.

How we may use your personal information

We will only use your personal information to:

• Administer your account, ie set it up, make sure it is accurate and get back to you from time to time to ensure your details are current and that you wish to continue.
• Fulfil our promises to provide a service or information.
• Seek your views or comments on the services we provide.
• Notify you of changes to services or products you have told us you’re interested in and any new or comparable services that are similar and relevant.
• Promote the use of our services.
• Process payments and invoices you make to us. This includes sending you emails, invoices, receipts, statements, alerting you if we need a different or up-to-date credit card. We use SagePay for secure credit card transaction processing, and we send billing information to those third parties to process your orders and credit card payments.
• Send you system alert messages. For example, we may let you know about temporary or permanent changes to our services, like planned outages, version updates, releases, abuse warnings, and changes to our privacy policy.
• Communicate with you about your account and provide customer support.
• Ensure compliance with relevant terms and conditions and applicable law.
• Meet legal requirements such as complying with contracts, court orders, valid discovery requests, valid subpoenas, and other appropriate legal mechanisms.
• Provide information to representatives and advisors, such as legal attorneys and accountants, to help us comply with legal, accounting, or security requirements.

Who has access to your information?

BSCF does not sell data to any third party and will only share some data when it is relevant to the service provided.

We do not retain data unless we are satisfied we have permission and rights.

When you are using our secure online payment pages, your transaction is processed by a third party payment processor, SagePay, who specialises in the secure online capture and processing of credit/debit card transactions. If you have any questions regarding secure transactions, please contact us.

Our website includes links to other websites whose privacy practices may differ from ours. If you submit personal information to any of those sites they become the Data Controller and your information is governed by their Privacy Policy. We encourage you to understand the privacy policies of any Web site you visit.

Use of 'cookies'

Like many other websites, the BSCF website uses cookies to help improve the website and your experience of it. 'Cookies' are small pieces of information sent by an organisation to your computer and stored on your hard drive to allow that website to recognise you when you visit.

We use “session cookies” for the analysis of aggregated cookie data.  This means we measure the number of hits, visits, openings etc.  However, we do not use the cookie to identify you personally. 

You can configure your web browser to refuse cookies, to delete cookies, or to be informed if a cookie is set. You can find out how to do this by clicking "help" on your browser menu, however it will lead to reduced functionality and you may not be able to enjoy our website, or any other website in the way they are designed to be used.

The cookies we use enable us to track the pages you visit via Google Analytics and allow you to share pages with social networks such as Facebook.

Security

BSCF treats the security of your personal information very seriously. When you enter sensitive information (such as a credit card number) on our order forms, we encrypt the transmission of that information using secure socket layer technology (SSL). When you are on a secure page, a lock icon will appear at the top of web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Google Chrome.

We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it. However, no method of transmission over the internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure and therefore, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.   

It is important that all computer users have good passwords, change them frequently and use firewall/virus protection software. 

We limit access to data to only those people who have responsibility for delivering services and communications. Anyone who handles BSCF data receives training in using and protecting data.

Data is also provided to digital communication distributors for the mass transmission of communications and newsletters. This is done under contract using industry compliant software.

Except for information covered by different laws eg VAT invoices, BSCF does not retain old, expired or ‘deleted’ data. If you opt out your data will be “forgotten”.

If you have any questions about security on our website, you can contact us by writing or email us at the address below. How you can access and update your information.

The accuracy of your information is important to us and if any of that information is inaccurate or out of date, please contact us.

You also have the right to ask for a copy of the information BSCF holds about you and we will provide access to information we hold within a reasonable time using methods we choose to ensure your access does not compromise other’s data or our ability to conduct business efficiently.

Notification of privacy policy changes

We may update this privacy statement to reflect changes to our information practices. If we make any material changes, we may notify you by email (sent to the email address specified in your account) or by means of a notice on this website or your account prior to the change becoming effective. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our privacy practices.

It is your right to control your personal information

You may at any time control access to and use of your personal information by contacting us at the address below. Such control will include the ability to see what information we hold and to opt out of any use of your personal information and to prevent disclosure to any third party except as required by law or the order of a court of proper jurisdiction.

Your right to file a complaint about your personal information

You have the right to contact us with a complaint if you’re unhappy with the way we have used your personal data, and we’re committed to resolving complaints about our collection or use of your personal information. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if this issue isn’t resolved.

BSCF is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Contact information

You can contact us about this privacy policy, or with enquiries and complaints, by writing to or emailing us at:

BSCF
2a St George Wharf
Vauxhall
London
SW8 2LE

Tel: 020 8616 8120

Email: enquiries@bscf.org 

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Additional aspects associated with Competence Validation Assessments

This policy explains when and why we collect personal information of those who apply for certification by the BSCF, how we use it, the conditions under which we may disclose it to others and how we keep it secure. This is in addition to the general privacy policy.

Any questions regarding this policy should be sent by email to certification@thebscf.org or in writing to BSCF, 2a St George Wharf, Vauxhall, London, SW8 2LE.

How do we collect information from you?

We obtain information through the application and assessment process.

What type of information is collected from you?

The personal information we collect will include your;

• Name
• Company /or employer details
• Home address
• Date of birth
• Fee payments
• Information about your assessments and results
• Email address
• Phone number
• National Insurance Number – this is so we are able to verify your identity and is a requirement of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR)

We ask you to register through our website if you want ongoing updates, information on technical developments as they occur, invitations and event details.

How we use your personal information

The BSCF will keep a record of the details you provided with your application, any supporting documents as part of the assessment process. Personal information will include data such as your name.

Your personal information will only ever be shared to comply with any statutory, legal, and regulatory requirements (for example with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR)).

How long do we keep your information?

Your personal data will be retained for 15 years from certification – this is a requirement of the Building Safety Regulator.

Contact information

You can contact us about this privacy policy, or with enquiries and complaints, by writing to or emailing us at:

BSCF
2a St George Wharf
Vauxhall
London
SW8 2LE

Tel: 020 8616 8120

Email: enquiries@bscf.org