Data Protection

We are committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy.

We collect and process personal information fairly, lawfully, and transparently in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Personal data is collected only for specified, explicit purposes and is not processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes.

We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and comply fully with UK data protection laws. We review and update our data protection practices regularly to ensure continued compliance.

We ensure that any data you provide to us is:

• Processed securely and confidentially

• Only accessed by authorised individuals

• Used solely for the purpose for which it was collected

• Stored only for as long as necessary and in line with our data retention policy

You have the right to access the personal data we hold about you, request corrections, ask for it to be erased, or object to its processing under certain circumstances.

For more information on how we handle personal data or to exercise your rights, please contact us at info@solidfoundations.co.uk, using the heading Data Protection.

How We Use Your Personal Data – Information for Job Applicants

As part of our recruitment process, we collect and process personal data relating to job applicants. We are committed to being transparent about how we handle your information and to meeting our data protection obligations.

What Data We Collect

We collect a range of information about you, including:

• Your name, address, and contact details

• Details of your qualifications, skills, experience, and employment history

• Information about your current salary and benefits

• Whether or not you have a disability for which we need to make reasonable adjustments

• Information about your right to work in the UK

• Equal opportunities monitoring information (e.g. gender, ethnicity, age) if voluntarily provided

• Results from any assessments or interviews conducted

How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data to:

• Assess your skills, qualifications, and suitability for the role

• Communicate with you about the recruitment process

• Carry out background and reference checks

• Keep records related to our hiring decisions

• Comply with legal or regulatory requirements

Lawful Basis for Processing

Our lawful basis for processing your data is:

• To take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract (e.g. employment)

• Our legitimate interests in managing an effective recruitment process

• To comply with our legal obligations (e.g. checking your right to work)

Who Has Access to Your Data

Your information may be shared internally for the purposes of recruitment, including with:

• Members of the HR and recruitment team

• Interviewers and managers involved in the recruitment process

• IT staff, if access to the data is necessary for their role

We may also share your data with third parties, such as:

• Former employers or referees you have provided

• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if a role requires a criminal record check

We do not share your data with any third parties for marketing purposes.

How Long We Keep Your Data

If your application is unsuccessful, we will retain your data for 6 months from the closure of the recruitment process unless you ask us to delete it sooner. If your application is successful, your data will be transferred to your personnel file and retained in line with our employee data retention policy.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your data

• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data

• Request deletion of your data (in certain circumstances)

• Object to or restrict our processing

• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

If you have any questions or concerns about how we use your data, or if you wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer at info@solidfoundations.co.uk, using the subject Data Protection.