Privacy policy
1. Website Operator
1.1 This website (“Website”) is operated by the West Midlands Regional Observatory an operating unit of Advantage West Midlands, which is a non departmental public body and is situated at 3 Priestley Wharf, Holt Street, Aston Science Park, Birmingham. B7 4BN (“us”, “we” or “the operator”).
1.2 The main aim of the West Midlands Regional Observatory is to promote and help the sharing of data and intelligence relevant to the West Midlands.
1.3 The Regional Data and Intelligence Network (“RDIN”) is a loosely affiliated network of individuals in the region who are generators, holders or users of data and intelligence resources. These individuals may be data analysts, research officers, policy officers, information managers and others. The RDIN is coordinated by us.
2. General
2.1 This privacy statement sets out how we comply with our data protection obligations. This applies to both our website and other activities. Any changes to this policy will be posted online and accessible at www.wmro.org.
2.2 We are committed to respecting your privacy. Once you choose to provide us with any information by which you can be identified, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with sections 4 and 5 of this privacy statement.
2.3 When you register to use the Website (whether online or otherwise), you will be asked to provide personal information and to confirm the purposes for which we may use that personal information. The nature of the personal information you provide and extent of the consent you give will determine the level of access you have to various areas of the Website, as referred to in clause 3 below.
2.4 You can withdraw consent at any time by emailing us at info@wmro.org. If you do decide to withdraw your consent this may result in your access to some parts of the Website being restricted.
3. What We Collect
3.1 If you register as a user on the website we will ask you to provide the following information:
3.1.1 Basic personal information, including name, job title, company, address and e-mail address.
3.1.2 Optional information regarding your personal or professional interests, demographics, experiences with our Website (and any services featured therein) and contact preferences.
4. What We Do With the Information We Gather
4.1 The information you provide will help us to understand your needs and wishes so that we can provide you with a better service. In particular, we will use this information for the following purposes:
4.1.1 Operation of the Website and the delivery of its constituent information services.
4.1.2 Administration of the Website and user records.
4.1.3 The provision and improvement of our products and services, including the RDIN.
4.1.4 Seeking feedback from those who have used the services featured on the Website.
4.1.5 Issuing promotional e-mails about services relevant to the Website, ourselves, the RDIN or other information of interest, except where you have indicated that you do not want these.
4.1.6 Research and historical analysis.
4.1.7 Any other purpose that is in the public interest.
5. Who We Share Your Information With
5.1 We will not sell or lease your personal information to third parties, unless we have your permission.
5.2 We will occasionally pass your information to our contractors so that they can carry out legitimate activities relating to the work of West Midlands Regional Observatory, such as those in Section 4.
5.3 We may occasionally pass your information to other organisations for non-commercial research or historical purposes, or where the activity to be undertaken is in the public interest.
5.4 Where you have elected to go in the Directory of Specialists your personal information may be distributed to other registered members of the RDIN.
5.5 The operation of this Website and the RDIN may require or result in the transmission of personal information outside of the European Economic Area. The data protection laws in these countries may not be as extensive as in the European Economic Area. We will take appropriate steps to ensure the same level of protection for the processing carried out in these countries as within the European Economic Area, although you are reminded that if you agree to your personal details being disclosed on the Website you are acknowledging that they will be accessible in countries outside the European Economic Area.
6. What if you think we have incorrect information, or you would like a copy of the information we hold about you?
6.1 You may request details of personal information which we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 1998. A fee will be payable. If you would like a copy of the information held on you please write to:
West Midlands Regional Observatory
Level 3 Millennium Point
Curzon Street
Birmingham B4 7XG
6.2 Personal details that are given to us upon your initial registration will be confirmed with you once a year.
6.3 If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write or e-mail us as soon as possible to the above address. We will correct promptly any information which is found to be incorrect.
7. Other Web Sites
7.1 Our Website may contain links to enable you to visit other web sites of interest easily. However, once you have used these links to leave our site you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the web site in question.
8. Cookies
8.1 Our site uses a permanent cookie if you request to be kept logged in between sessions. It also uses temporary session cookies for a variety of tasks; these are automatically removed when you leave the site.
8.2 Third party sites may place and read cookies on your browser, or use web beacons to collect information, in the course of advertisements being served on this website.
8.3 Most browsers provide facilities that will allow you to disable cookies and you may disable them while using our site. However if you do, you may find that the ability of the site to remember information you provide is reduced and that in some circumstances you will have to re-enter it.
This privacy policy was last updated on 14 April 2008.