PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: 24/1/2026

This privacy policy explains how Rural Business Matters (a sole trader, Keepers House, Phoines Lodge, Newtonmore, Scotland, PH20 1BE) collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you use our website (www.ruralbusinessmatters.co.uk), sign up for newsletters/resources, or engage our services like coaching or social media support.

Contact Us
Sue Emery
Email: hello@ruralbusinessmatters.co.uk

We're committed to protecting your privacy under UK GDPR.

What Information We Collect & Why (Lawful Bases)
We collect:

  • Communication Data (name, email): From forms/newsletters (legitimate interests: respond to enquiries; consent: marketing).

  • Customer Data (contact details, session notes): For coaching/social media services (contract performance).

  • Technical Data (IP address, browser info): Via Google Analytics/Meta Pixel (legitimate interests: improve site/services).

No special category or criminal data collected.

How We Use Your Information

  • Deliver ebooks/content/newsletters (consent/contract).

  • Provide coaching/social media services (contract).

  • Site analytics/improvements (legitimate interests).


    We don't sell data or share for third-party marketing.

How We Store Your Data
Securely via:

  • MailerLite (email marketing – processor under contract, EEA-based).

  • Gmail (communications – Google processor, UK safeguards).
    Retention: Newsletters until unsubscribe + 6 months; coaching clients 6 years post-service (legal claims); technical data 26 months.

Your Data Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have rights to:

  • Access (SAR), rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection.

  • Withdraw consent (marketing).
    We'll respond within 1 month. Email hello@ruralbusinessmatters.co.uk. Complaints? ICO at ico.org.uk.

Cookies
Essential (site function – exempt). Analytics (Google – opt-out via browser/tools). See cookie banner for details.

Third-Party Services
Processors (MailerLite, Google, Zoom for coaching) are bound by contracts per Article 28. No non-UK transfers without safeguards (e.g., EU SCCs).

Changes
We'll notify you of material updates via email/site.