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Privacy Notice for GCS Advance


The Government Communication Service (GCS) is the professional body for people working in communication roles across government. Our aim is to deliver world-class communications that support Ministers’ priorities, improve people’s lives and enable the effective operation of our public service. We serve both politicians and the public.

GCS Advance is a complete overhaul of our L&D and talent offer, designed to equip learners with the skills they need. It’s a multi-layer programme, designed to support your development at every stage of their career – from when they first arrive to wherever they want their career to go across disciplines, organisations and leadership.

This notice sets out how we will use your personal data, and your rights. It is made under Articles 13 and/or 14 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).



YOUR DATA




Purpose

The purposes for which we are processing your personal data are:

  • to send you news, updates and surveys by email
  • to allow you to book onto learning events and online training
  • to allow you to view webinars
  • to ensure we can store a record of your learning and certifications from completed course
  • to provide public information on the website including contact details, organisational charts, and images
  • to analyse use of the website
  • to analyse the use of professional development activities
  • to evaluate career and professional development activities


The data

We will process the following personal data:

For individuals booking learning events or requesting newsletters: name, email, grade, organisation.

For individuals viewing webinars: name, email.

For website users: web activity, cookie Ids and IP addresses.

For individuals answering surveys for research purposes: name, email, grade, organisation, training and programme feedback, evaluation.


Legal basis of processing

The legal basis for processing your personal data is:

- data subject consent


Recipients

As your personal data will be stored on our IT infrastructure it will also be shared with our data processors who provide document management and storage services. Your personal data may also be shared with our email, event management, learning management, and survey service providers.


Retention

Your personal data will be kept by us for as long as necessary

To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the amount, nature and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorised use or disclosure of your personal data, the purposes for which we process your personal data and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.



YOUR RIGHTS



You have the right to withdraw consent to the processing of your personal data at any time.

You have the right to request information about how your personal data are processed, and to request a copy of that personal data.

You have the right to request that any inaccuracies in your personal data are rectified without delay.

You have the right to request that any incomplete personal data are completed, including by means of a supplementary statement.

You have the right to request that your personal data are erased if there is no longer a justification for them to be processed.

You have the right in certain circumstances (for example, where accuracy is contested) to request that the processing of your personal data is restricted.

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data where it is processed for direct marketing purposes.

You have the right to request a copy of any personal data you have provided, and for this to be provided in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format.



INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS



As your personal data is stored on our Corporate IT infrastructure, and shared with our data processors, it may be transferred and stored securely outside the UK. Where that is the case it will be subject to equivalent legal protection through an adequacy decision, reliance on Standard Contractual Clauses, or reliance on a UK International Data Transfer Agreement.

As your data will be shared with our email and event management, learning management, and survey service providers, it may be stored securely outside the UK. Where that is the case it will be subject to equivalent legal protection through Standard Contractual Clauses and/or a UK International Data Transfer Agreement.



COMPLAINTS



If you consider that your personal data has been misused or mishandled, you may make a complaint to the Information Commissioner, who is an independent regulator. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, or 0303 123 1113, or icocasework@ico.org.uk. Any complaint to the Information Commissioner is without prejudice to your right to seek redress through the courts.



CONTACT DETAILS



The data controller for your personal data is the Cabinet Office. The contact details for the data controller are: Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2AS, or 0207 276 1234, or you can use this webform.

The contact details for the data controller’s Data Protection Officer are: dpo@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

The Data Protection Officer provides independent advice and monitoring of Cabinet Office’s use of personal information.