Privacy Policy

At Apex Guild Awards, we are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data with transparency and care. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect the information you provide when you interact with our website or participate in the Apex Guild Awards.

When you nominate a business, we may collect:

• Your name

• The name of the business you are nominating

• The business’s website and email address

• Your relationship to the business (customer/client, family/friend, self-nomination, or employee)

• We may also collect additional information during follow-up communications or through our nominee questionnaire.

We use the collected information to:

• Process and validate nominations

• Contact nominated businesses and invite them to complete a questionnaire

• Assess nominees based on values and contribution

• Improve our services and award selection process

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

We retain nomination and questionnaire data for a maximum of 24 months after the close of each award cycle, unless otherwise required for legal or administrative reasons. Data may be anonymised and retained for analytical purposes.

We may use trusted third-party services to process forms, payments, and communications (e.g., Google Forms, Typeform, Stripe, Mailchimp). Your information will be subject to their respective privacy policies.

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies for analytics and functionality. By using our site, you consent to our use of cookies. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

You have the right to:

• Access the data we hold about you

• Correct any inaccurate or outdated information

• Request deletion of your personal data

To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@apexguildawards.com
We aim to respond to all data access, correction, or deletion requests within 30 days.

By submitting a nomination or questionnaire, you consent to Apex Guild Awards potentially using anonymised excerpts or testimonials for promotional purposes.

We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally. The latest version will always be posted on our website with an updated effective date.

This policy is governed by the laws of the United Kingdom.

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard your personal data against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, or alteration. While we strive to protect your data, no online transmission is 100% secure.

Our services are not intended for individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If you believe a minor has submitted personal information, please contact us immediately.

Some of our third-party service providers may store or process your data outside the UK. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may not have equivalent data protection laws.

In the unlikely event of a data breach, we will notify affected individuals and the appropriate regulatory bodies in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

We process personal data under the legal bases of:

• Legitimate interest (to evaluate nominees and improve services)

• Contractual obligation (for purchases)

• Consent (for data submitted through nominations and questionnaires)

We rely on legitimate interest to evaluate entries and operate our services.

You may withdraw your consent for data use at any time by contacting us. Withdrawal of consent may affect your ability to participate in certain aspects of the awards.

If you submit personal information about another individual (e.g., a business you nominate), you confirm that you have the legal right to provide that information and that the individual has been informed where required by law.

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling to evaluate nominations or award outcomes. All decisions are made fairly based on submitted information and independent research.

We may share limited, relevant information (e.g., business name, industry sector) with trusted award sponsors or partners solely for the purpose of coordinating recognition or promotional opportunities. No personal data will be shared without consent.

Anonymised information provided in nominations or questionnaires may be used in future case studies or reports to highlight trends, impacts, or success stories. These will never include identifying information without explicit consent.

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such external sites. Please review their respective privacy policies before submitting personal information.

For any privacy-related concerns, including data access, correction, or withdrawal of consent, please contact our Data Protection Officer at: hello@apexguildawards.com

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data rights have been violated.