Privacy at a Glance
Affordable Support Ltd is committed to protecting your personal information and handling it fairly, lawfully and securely.
This Privacy Policy explains how we use personal information when you visit our website, contact us, enquire about or use our services, participate in mediation, or interact with us in a professional or business capacity.
Who controls your personal information?
Affordable Support Ltd is the data controller where we decide why and how your personal information is used. In some HR consultancy engagements, we may instead process personal information on behalf of a business client. In those circumstances, the client will usually be the data controller and Affordable Support Ltd will act as a data processor.
What information might we collect?
Depending on your interaction with us, this may include:
• your name and contact details
• your employer, job title or business information
• information contained in enquiries and correspondence
• HR, employment or workplace information
• information relevant to a workplace, civil or commercial mediation
• appointment and booking information
• invoicing and payment information
• website and technical information
• where genuinely necessary, sensitive information such as health or other special category information.
Please do not include detailed medical or other highly sensitive personal information in an initial website enquiry unless it is genuinely necessary.
Why do we use your information?
We may use your information to:
• respond to enquiries
• assess whether we can provide a requested service
• provide HR, employment-support and mediation services
• manage appointments and client relationships
• issue invoices and maintain business records
• comply with legal and regulatory obligations
• protect our legitimate business and legal interests
• operate and secure our website
• send lawful marketing or business communications where appropriate.
We only process personal information where we have a lawful basis to do so.
Who might we share information with?
We do not sell personal information. Where necessary, information may be shared with carefully selected service providers such as website, email, scheduling, payment, IT or communications providers, as well as professional advisers, regulators or public authorities where legally required. Information connected with HR matters or mediation is handled subject to appropriate confidentiality and data protection requirements.
How long do we keep information?
We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and to meet any legal, contractual, insurance, professional or regulatory requirements. Different types of information are retained for different periods, as explained in the full Privacy Policy below.
What rights do you have?
Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights to:
• access your personal information
• correct inaccurate information
• request deletion
• restrict or object to processing
• receive certain information in a portable format
• withdraw consent where consent is relied upon
• object at any time to the use of your personal information for direct marketing.
You may also make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
How can you contact us?
For privacy or data protection enquiries, contact:
Affordable Support Ltd
Commerce House
Carlton Boulevard
Lincoln
LN2 4WJ
Email: enquiries@affordable-support.com
Telephone: 0333 772 3792
Please use “Data Protection” in the email subject line where possible.
The sections below provide full details about how Affordable Support Ltd collects, uses, stores and protects personal information.
About this Privacy Policy
Affordable Support Ltd respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share and protect personal information when you:
• visit or interact with our website
• contact us by telephone, email, website form, social media or other communication channel
• book an initial discussion or appointment
• enquire about or purchase our services
• receive HR, employment-support, mediation or related consultancy services from us
• participate in a workplace, civil or commercial mediation
• represent or work for an organisation with which we have or may develop a business relationship
• receive business-to-business communications from us; or
• otherwise interact with Affordable Support Ltd.
This Privacy Policy constitutes privacy information for the purposes of applicable UK data protection law.
Who We Are
Affordable Support Ltd is a private limited company registered in England and Wales under company number 17188925.
Affordable Support provides HR consultancy, employment and workplace support, workplace mediation, civil and commercial mediation and related professional services to businesses and individuals across the UK.
For personal information for which we determine the purposes and means of processing, Affordable Support Ltd is the data controller.
Contact details
Affordable Support Ltd
Commerce House
Carlton Boulevard
Lincoln
LN2 4WJ
Telephone: 0333 772 3792
Alternative telephone: 07377 963544
Email: enquiries@affordable-support.com
For data protection enquiries, please use the email address above and include “Data Protection” in the subject line where possible.
When We May Act as a Data Processor
Our role under data protection law depends on the particular service and circumstances.
In some HR consultancy engagements, a business client may provide us with personal information about its employees, workers, applicants, former employees or other individuals and instruct us how that information is to be processed.
Where the client determines why and how that personal information is processed and Affordable Support processes it only on the client’s documented instructions, the client is the data controller and Affordable Support acts as a data processor.
Where we independently determine the purposes and means of processing personal information, including certain business administration, professional, mediation, regulatory, conflict-checking, complaints or legal-risk purposes, we may act as a separate data controller.
Where we act as a processor, the relevant client’s privacy information should also explain how that client processes your personal information.
Personal Information We May Collect
The information we collect depends on the nature of your interaction with us.
Identity and contact information
This may include:
• name
• job title
• employer or business name
• postal or business address
• telephone number
• email address
• other contact information you provide.
Enquiry and service information
This may include:
• information contained in an enquiry
• information about the service you require
• appointment and booking information
• correspondence and communications
• notes of discussions or meetings
• documents supplied by you or on your behalf
• information relating to a workplace, employment, civil or commercial matter
• information required to assess whether we can accept an instruction
• information required for conflict, independence or suitability checks
• information required to provide, administer or conclude our services.
HR and employment-related information
Where relevant to an HR or workplace matter, we may receive information concerning:
• employment history
• job role and responsibilities
• attendance and absence
• performance
• conduct
• disciplinary or grievance matters
• redundancy or restructuring
• workplace investigations
• complaints or allegations
• correspondence between employees, managers or third parties
• witness information
• remuneration or employment-related financial informatio
• other information relevant to the particular workplace issue.
Mediation information
Where you participate in mediation, we may process:
• participant and representative details
• information about the dispute
• mediation correspondence
• documents provided for the purposes of mediation
• information provided during pre-mediation discussions
• administrative and scheduling information
• mediation agreements and related documentation
• information concerning any outcome or agreed next steps where it is appropriate to record them.
Mediation confidentiality is also governed by the relevant mediation agreement and the terms agreed with participants.
Financial and transaction information
Where relevant, we may process:
• invoicing information
• payment status
• transaction references
• billing addresses
• records required for accounting and tax purposes
• limited information provided by banking or payment-service providers.
We do not ordinarily receive or retain full payment-card details where payment is processed by a third-party payment provider.
Marketing and business contact information
This may include:
• professional name and job title
• employer or organisation
• business email address
• business telephone number
• professional interests
• communication preferences
• previous interactions with us
• information available through legitimate public or professional business sources.
Website and technical information
When you use our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, depending on your browser settings and cookie choices. This may include:
• IP address
• browser type and version
• device type
• operating system
• approximate location derived from technical information
• referring website or URL
• pages visited
• date and time of visits
• interactions with pages, links or buttons
• cookie identifiers
• other website usage or analytics information.
Further information is provided in our Cookies Policy.
Where We Obtain Personal Information
We may obtain personal information:
• directly from you
• from an organisation engaging us to provide HR or related services
• from another mediation participant
• from an employer, employee, worker, manager, witness or representative
• from solicitors, advisers or other professional representatives
• from documents or correspondence supplied in connection with a matter
• from publicly available business or professional sources
• from company websites
• from professional networking platforms
• from Companies House
• from business directories
• from professional, membership or networking directories
• from event or networking interactions
• from referral sources
• from service providers used to administer our website, bookings, communications or services.
Where we obtain personal information from another source rather than directly from you, we will provide appropriate privacy information where required by law.
Special Category Personal Information
Some HR, employment and mediation matters may involve information that receives additional protection under data protection law.
Special category information can include information concerning:
• health or disability
• racial or ethnic origin
• religious or philosophical beliefs
• political opinions
• trade union membership
• genetic information
• biometric information used for identification
• sex life
• sexual orientation.
Website enquiries
Our general website enquiry forms are not intended for the routine submission of special category information.
Please do not include detailed medical information, health records or other highly sensitive information in an initial website enquiry unless it is genuinely necessary.
We may ask you to provide sensitive information through a more appropriate communication method once we have assessed your enquiry.
During professional services
Because HR disputes, workplace matters and mediation can involve sensitive issues, special category information may sometimes be relevant and necessary.
Where Affordable Support acts as a controller, we will process special category information only where:
1. We have an appropriate lawful basis under Article 6 of the UK GDPR; and
2. An appropriate condition for processing under Article 9 of the UK GDPR is satisfied.
Depending on the circumstances, an applicable condition may include processing necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, explicit consent where that is appropriate and legally valid, or another condition permitted by UK law.
Where additional requirements under the Data Protection Act 2018 apply, we will comply with those requirements.
Where Affordable Support acts as a processor on behalf of a business client, the client is responsible for identifying the appropriate lawful basis and special-category condition, and we process the information in accordance with our contractual obligations and the client’s lawful instructions.
Criminal Offence Information
HR, workplace investigation, employment or mediation matters may occasionally involve information relating to alleged or actual criminal offences, criminal proceedings, convictions or related security measures.
We do not collect criminal offence information routinely.
Where Affordable Support acts as a controller and it is necessary to process criminal offence information, we will do so only where:
• an Article 6 lawful basis applies; and
• the processing is authorised by UK law, including an applicable condition under Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 2018 where required.
We apply particular care to the collection, security, disclosure and retention of this type of information.
Where the law requires an Appropriate Policy Document or other additional documentation, this will be maintained.
How and Why We Use Personal Information
We may use personal information for the following purposes.
Responding to enquiries and assessing potential instructions
We use information to:
• respond to questions
• understand the assistance requested
• assess whether we can provide the relevant service
• carry out preliminary suitability or conflict checks
• provide quotations or scope information
• take steps requested before entering into an agreement.
Depending on the circumstances, our lawful basis is:
• contract or steps taken at your request before entering into a contract
• legitimate interests, particularly where an enquiry is made on behalf of an organisation or involves another person.
Providing and administering our services
We use information to:
• provide HR consultancy and employment support
• carry out workplace-related assignments
• provide workplace, civil and commercial mediation
• manage appointments and communications
• prepare documentation
• administer client relationships
• maintain appropriate records
• fulfil our contractual obligations.
Depending on the circumstances, the lawful basis may be:
• contract
• legitimate interests
• legal obligation.
Where we act solely as a processor, processing is undertaken on the controller client’s documented instructions.
Business administration and financial records
We process information where necessary to:
• issue invoices
• record payments
• maintain accounting records
• manage contracts
• administer insurance
• manage professional and commercial risk
• comply with tax, accounting and other legal requirements.
The lawful bases are legal obligation, contract and, where appropriate, legitimate interests.
Complaints, disputes and legal matters
We may process information to:
• handle complaints
• investigate concerns about our services or use of personal information
• establish facts
• protect or exercise legal rights
• respond to legal proceedings
• defend legal claims
• comply with insurance requirements
• obtain professional advice.
Our lawful bases may include legitimate interests and legal obligation.
Where special category information is necessary for legal claims, the relevant Article 9 condition may also apply.
Website operation, security and administration
We may process technical information to:
• operate and maintain our website
• keep systems secure
• detect misuse or technical problems
• protect against fraud or cyber-security threats
• understand website performance
• improve the functionality of our services.
Depending on the processing involved, our lawful basis is legitimate interests, or consent where consent is required for cookies or similar technologies.
Marketing and business development
We may use contact information to communicate about Affordable Support’s services, professional updates, events, resources or other relevant business information.
Where an individual has actively opted in to marketing, we may rely on consent.
Where we conduct lawful business-to-business marketing to corporate organisations or professional business contacts, we may rely on our legitimate interests in promoting and developing our business, subject to applicable data protection law and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations.
Where consent is required under electronic marketing rules, we will seek consent before sending the relevant marketing.
You can opt out of direct marketing at any time.
Business-to-Business Contact and Publicly Available Information
Affordable Support may identify and contact organisations that may have a legitimate interest in HR, employment or mediation services.
For this purpose, we may obtain business contact information from sources such as:
• corporate websites
• Companies House
• professional networking platforms
• business directories
• Chamber of Commerce or networking directories
• professional membership directories
• publicly available business information
• referrals or networking activity.
Where the information identifies an individual, UK data protection law continues to apply.
Where appropriate, we rely on legitimate interests for this processing. Our legitimate interest is the proportionate promotion and development of relevant professional services to businesses that may reasonably have an interest in those services.
We consider the nature of the information, the context in which it is publicly available, the individual’s reasonable expectations and the potential impact on the individual.
Electronic marketing is also conducted in accordance with applicable PECR requirements.
You have an absolute right to object to the use of your personal information for direct marketing. If you ask us to stop, we will stop using your information for that purpose.
We may retain limited information on a suppression or do-not-contact list so that we can respect your preference in the future.
Marketing Consent
Where you choose to tick an optional marketing box or otherwise specifically request marketing communications, we rely on your consent where appropriate.
Marketing consent is:
• optional
• separate from receiving our services
• capable of being withdrawn at any time.
You can unsubscribe by using an unsubscribe facility in a marketing message, where provided, or by contacting:
enquiries@affordable-support.com
Withdrawing marketing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal and does not prevent us from sending necessary service, contractual or administrative communications.
Cookies, Analytics and Similar Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies.
Some technologies are necessary for the website to operate. Others may be used for functionality, analytics or marketing.
Where consent is legally required for a cookie or similar technology, we seek consent through our cookie-management controls before using it.
You can use the website cookie controls to accept, reject or manage non-essential cookies and technologies.
We may use third-party tools in connection with website analytics, advertising or business insights, including the LinkedIn Insight Tag, where enabled and permitted by your cookie choices.
Such technologies may process information including:
• IP address
• device and browser information
• page visits
• referring URLs
• timestamps
• online identifiers
• website interaction information.
Please see our Cookies Policy for further information about the technologies used, their purposes and how you can manage your preferences.
Appointment Booking
We may use third-party appointment scheduling services, including Calendly, to enable visitors and prospective clients to arrange discussions.
If you use an external booking service, information such as your:
• name
• email address
• appointment date and time
• organisation
• telephone number
• information you choose to enter into the booking form
may be processed by that provider in order to administer the booking.
Please avoid including detailed special category or highly confidential case information in an appointment-booking form unless specifically requested.
Third-party providers may also process information in accordance with their own privacy terms.
Communications Platforms
Depending on how you choose to communicate with us, we may use communication providers such as email services, telephone services, video-conferencing platforms or WhatsApp Business.
Where you choose to communicate through a third-party platform, that provider may process personal information in accordance with its own privacy arrangements.
For highly sensitive information, we may recommend an alternative communication method where appropriate.
Who We May Share Personal Information With
We do not sell personal information.
We may disclose personal information where necessary and proportionate to:
• website hosting and technical service providers
• email and communications providers
• appointment and scheduling providers
• payment, banking and invoicing providers
• IT, cyber-security and technical support providers
• cloud-storage or document-management providers
• analytics or marketing technology providers where lawfully enabled
• accountants, insurers and professional advisers
• solicitors or other professional advisers where appropriate
• professional or regulatory bodies where required or appropriate
• courts, tribunals, law-enforcement bodies or public authorities where disclosure is required or permitted by law
• parties involved in a transaction affecting our business, subject to appropriate confidentiality arrangements
• other recipients where you have authorised disclosure or where there is another lawful basis for doing so.
In an HR assignment, we may receive or share information with the relevant client organisation and individuals involved in the matter where necessary and lawful.
In mediation, information is handled subject to the mediation agreement, confidentiality arrangements and applicable law. Information provided privately by one participant will not ordinarily be disclosed to another participant without authority, subject to the terms of the mediation agreement and any applicable legal or safeguarding exception.
We require service providers processing personal information on our behalf to provide appropriate protection and to process information only as permitted by applicable contractual and legal requirements.
International Transfers
Some of the technology and service providers we use may process or make personal information accessible outside the United Kingdom, including in the United States or other countries.
This may occur, for example, in connection with appointment scheduling, cloud technology, communications, analytics or professional networking services.
Where a transfer constitutes a restricted transfer under UK data protection law, we take steps to ensure that an appropriate transfer mechanism is available.
Depending on the destination and provider, this may include:
• UK adequacy regulations, including an applicable UK adequacy arrangement
• the UK International Data Transfer Agreement
• the UK Addendum to approved standard contractual clauses
• another lawful safeguard or exception permitted by UK data protection law.
Where appropriate safeguards are relied upon, we will carry out any required assessment of the protection available for the transferred information.
You may contact us if you would like further information about the safeguards relevant to a particular transfer.
How Long We Keep Personal Information
We do not retain personal information indefinitely.
Retention depends on:
• why the information was collected
• the type and sensitivity of the information
• whether a client relationship was established
• contractual requirements
• professional and insurance requirements
• applicable statutory record-keeping obligations
• relevant limitation periods
• whether a complaint, dispute or legal claim is ongoing or reasonably anticipated
• whether continued retention is necessary and proportionate.
Our normal retention approach is as follows.
General enquiries that do not become client matters
Information will normally be retained for up to 12 months after the last substantive contact, unless there is a reason to retain it for longer or you ask us to delete it and no lawful reason requires continued retention.
Client and consultancy records
Core client and matter records may normally be retained for up to six years after the relevant engagement or matter closes, where this is appropriate for contractual, legal, insurance, professional or legitimate business purposes.
Not every item contained within a matter file will necessarily be retained for the full period.
Mediation records
We minimise the information retained following mediation.
Administrative records, signed agreements, financial information and information reasonably required for professional, complaints, insurance or legal purposes may be retained for an appropriate period, potentially up to six years where justified.
Private mediator working notes and material that is no longer necessary will normally be securely destroyed once the mediation and any immediate administrative follow-up have concluded, unless continued retention is reasonably required for a complaint, legal obligation, professional requirement or anticipated legal claim.
Financial and accounting records
Relevant invoices, transaction information and accounting records will generally be retained for at least six years where required for tax, accounting or other legal purposes.
Marketing information
Marketing information is retained while consent remains valid or while our lawful business interest continues, subject to regular review.
If you unsubscribe or object to marketing, we may retain the minimum information necessary on a suppression list to ensure that your preference continues to be respected.
Website and cookie information
Retention periods for cookies and related technologies vary according to the technology used and are addressed through our cookie controls and Cookies Policy.
Complaints
Records relating to complaints may be retained for a period appropriate to the nature of the complaint, ordinarily up to six years after closure where required for legal, insurance, regulatory or legitimate business purposes.
When information is no longer required, we will delete it, anonymise it or securely dispose of it as appropriate.
How We Protect Personal Information
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against:
• unauthorised or unlawful access;
• accidental loss
• alteration
• disclosure
• misuse
• destruction.
Measures are selected having regard to the nature and sensitivity of the information and the risks associated with its processing.
Access to personal information is limited to persons and service providers who require access for legitimate purposes.
While we take reasonable steps to protect personal information, no internet, email or electronic communication system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Please avoid sending unnecessary highly sensitive information through unsecured communication channels.
Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on the circumstances and the lawful basis for processing, you may have the following rights.
Right of access
You may ask whether we process your personal information and request a copy of personal information to which you are entitled.
Right to rectification
You may ask us to correct inaccurate personal information or complete information that is incomplete.
Right to erasure
In certain circumstances, you may ask us to delete personal information.
This right is not absolute and may not apply where we are required or permitted to retain information.
Right to restriction
In certain circumstances, you may ask us to restrict the way we process your personal information.
Right to object
You may object to processing based on legitimate interests in certain circumstances.
You have an absolute right to object to processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes.
Right to data portability
Where applicable, you may have the right to receive certain personal information in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format or ask for it to be transmitted to another controller.
Right to withdraw consent
Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw your consent at any time.
Withdrawal does not affect processing that was lawful before consent was withdrawn.
Rights relating to automated decision-making
You may have rights in relation to certain decisions made solely by automated means that produce legal or similarly significant effects.
Affordable Support does not currently use solely automated decision-making to make decisions about clients, prospective clients or mediation participants that produce legal or similarly significant effects.
Website analytics and marketing technologies may be used to understand website interaction, but they are not used by Affordable Support to make such significant automated decisions about you.
Exercising Your Rights
To exercise a data protection right, please contact:
Email: enquiries@affordable-support.com
Telephone: 0333 772 3792
Please state that your request concerns data protection.
We may need to ask for information reasonably necessary to confirm your identity or understand your request.
We will not ask for more identification information than is reasonably necessary.
Data protection rights are subject to legal conditions and exemptions, and not every right applies in every circumstance.
We will respond in accordance with the applicable statutory timescales.
Data Protection Complaints
If you are concerned about the way Affordable Support has collected, used, stored, disclosed or otherwise handled your personal information, you may make a data protection complaint directly to us.
You can complain:
By email: enquiries@affordable-support.com
Please use the subject line “Data Protection Complaint” where possible.
By post:
Affordable Support Ltd
Commerce House
Carlton Boulevard
Lincoln
LN2 4WJ
By telephone: 0333 772 3792
Please provide sufficient information for us to understand the concern and identify the information or processing involved.
We will:
• provide a clear route for you to raise a data protection complaint
• acknowledge receipt of a data protection complaint within 30 days
• take appropriate steps to investigate it
• keep you appropriately informed about progress
• provide an outcome without unjustifiable or excessive delay.
If another person makes a complaint on your behalf, we may need evidence that they are authorised to act for you.
Complaints to the Information Commissioner’s Office
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator.
The ICO will commonly expect you to have raised your concern with us first so that we have an opportunity to address it.
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Telephone helpline: 0303 123 1113
Your right to complain to the ICO is not affected by our internal complaints procedure.
If You Do Not Provide Personal Information
Where information is necessary for us to:
• respond to an enquiry
• assess a prospective instruction
• enter into an agreement
• provide a requested service
• conduct necessary checks
• comply with legal or professional requirements,
we may be unable to proceed if the necessary information is not provided.
Optional information and marketing consent are not conditions of receiving our services unless specifically stated and lawfully required.
Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites.
When you follow a link to another website, that organisation may collect and use personal information under its own privacy arrangements.
Affordable Support is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of independent third-party websites.
We recommend reviewing the relevant privacy information before providing personal information to another organisation.
Children
Our website and professional services are primarily directed to adults and organisations and are not designed as services for children.
We do not knowingly use the website to market directly to children.
If information relating to a child is relevant to a particular professional matter, we will consider the circumstances and applicable data protection requirements before processing that information.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may amend this Privacy Policy where:
• our services change
• the personal information we process changes
• our technology or service providers change
• data protection legislation or regulatory guidance changes
• an update is otherwise required to maintain accurate and transparent information.
The current version will be published on this page with the date on which it was last updated.
Where a change is material and it is appropriate to do so, we may take additional steps to bring the change to the attention of affected individuals.
Contact Us
For questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information or your data protection rights, please contact:
Affordable Support Ltd
Company number: 17188925
Commerce House
Carlton Boulevard
Lincoln
LN2 4WJ
Email: enquiries@affordable-support.com
Telephone: 0333 772 3792
Alternative telephone: 07377 96354
Last updated: 27 August 2026
Affordable Support is not a firm of solicitors and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). We provide guidance and support but do not carry out reserved legal activities.
Information on this website is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute professional advice.
