Who are we?
We are Definitive Consulting Ltd/ DC Initiatives LLP. We provide executive search and recruitment services to professional services firms worldwide that are looking to recruit personnel for their businesses. We also provide market Research, Talent Mapping, Salary Surveys, Assessment and Coaching services.
What does this Policy cover?
This Privacy Policy explains our use of personal data processed through the website, if you choose to contact us, and our use of business contact details. It also explains how we use candidate personal data and the personal data of our clients.
What personal data do we collect and why do we use it?
The table below explains who we collect personal data about, what that personal data is and the purpose we process it for.
The last column sets out the ‘lawful Basis’ we rely on for processing that personal data which is a requirement of data protection rules. Essentially, companies may only process personal data if they can identify a lawful basis from a list set out in the legislation.
Individual |
Personal Data |
Source and Purpose |
Lawful Basis for Processing |
Candidates |
CVs, identification documents, educational records, work history, employment record and references, correspondence and other personal data provided by you as part of the recruitment or engagement process. We rarely process special category information such as racial, disability, trade union or health information where you have made this available to us. |
We mainly collect this information directly from you during the recruitment, engagement and onboarding stages. Sometimes we collect information from third parties such as an agent acting on your behalf such as an interim manager or from a third party recommendation or a person giving a reference. We do use some publicly available sources to find information about potential candidates, specifically social media, including LinkedIn, articles, marketing literature and company websites. |
The processing is necessary for our legitimate interests of assessing suitability for potential roles, to find potential candidates. If you choose to give us special category data (listed in the second column), we obtain your express consent to process that. |
References/referees |
Contact details and correspondence. |
Reference contact details may be given to us by candidates as part of a recruitment process. Other personal data about referees is given to us by you directly. |
Our legitimate interests as a business in obtaining references on candidates |
Individuals who contact us with general queries |
Contact details provided and correspondence |
This information is given to us by you. It is used to respond to the query and keep a record of it. |
Our legitimate interests as a business in responding to and keeping a record of correspondence. |
Clients and potential clients |
Contact details provided and correspondence. Contracts. |
This information is given to us by you or from publicly available information (for example on your website). It is used for us to fulfil contracts and engage in business discussions. |
Our legitimate interests as a business in responding to and keeping a record of correspondence. Some information is also necessary for us to perform our contract – for example certain contact details. |
Coaching clients (i.e., where we are providing coaching services to you) |
Contact details, correspondence, assessments, information provided, analysis and recommendations and opinions. Special category information such as health, disability or ethnicity or racial information is only processed if provided by you. |
This information is given to us by you. Sometimes we collect information from third parties, such as your current employer or a psychometric assessment provider. Occasionally we undertake feedback sessions as part of coaching which may involve the provision of information about you from other people known to or nominated by you. We use the information to provide our coaching services to you or your employer. |
Our legitimate interests as a business in providing coaching services. Some information may also be necessary specifically for us to perform the contract. We only process special category data with your express consent. |
Assessment Candidates |
Contact details, correspondence, assessment information provided, analysis and recommendations and opinions. Special category information such as health, disability or ethnicity or racial information is only processed if provided by you. |
We collect most information directly from you during the assessment process. Sometimes we collect information from third parties such as your employer, or a person giving a reference. We use some publicly available sources to find information about assessment subjects, specifically LinkedIn and company websites. We use the information to perform assessment services engaged either by you directly or by your employer. |
Our legitimate interests as a business in providing management assessment services. We only process special category data with your express consent. |
Suppliers and contractors |
Contact details and provided correspondence. |
This information is given to us by you or from publicly available information (for example on your website). It is used for us to fulfil contracts and engage in business discussions |
Our legitimate interests as a business in responding to and keeping a record of correspondence. Some information is also necessary for us to perform our contract – for example certain contact details. |
Website visitors |
Information from cookies. For more details see our Cookie Notice: |
This information is collected via the cookies when you use our website. It is used for security and validation purposes where you submit our web contact form. We do not use any information website visitor analytics or marketing purposes. |
We only install non-essential cookies with your consent. For more details see our Cookie Notice- https://www.definitive-consult... |
Candidates
Personal Data
CVs, identification documents, educational records, work history, employment record and references, correspondence and other personal data provided by you as part of the recruitment or engagement process.
We rarely process special category information such as racial, disability, trade union or health information where you have made this available to us.
Source and Purpose
We mainly collect this information directly from you during the recruitment, engagement and onboarding stages.
Sometimes we collect information from third parties such as an agent acting on your behalf such as an interim manager or from a third party recommendation or a person giving a reference.
We do use some publicly available sources to find information about potential candidates, specifically social media, including LinkedIn, articles, marketing literature and company websites.
Lawful Basis for Processing
The processing is necessary for our legitimate interests of assessing suitability for potential roles, to find potential candidates.
If you choose to give us special category data (listed in the second column), we obtain your express consent to process that.
References/referees
Personal Data
Contact details and correspondence.
Source and Purpose
Reference contact details may be given to us by candidates as part of a recruitment process.
Other personal data about referees is given to us by you directly.
Lawful Basis for Processing
Our legitimate interests as a business in obtaining references on candidates
Individuals who contact us with general queries
Personal Data
Contact details provided and correspondence
Source and Purpose
This information is given to us by you.
It is used to respond to the query and keep a record of it.
Lawful Basis for Processing
Our legitimate interests as a business in responding to and keeping a record of correspondence.
Clients and potential clients
Personal Data
Contact details provided and correspondence. Contracts.
Source and Purpose
This information is given to us by you or from publicly available information (for example on your website).
It is used for us to fulfil contracts and engage in business discussions.
Lawful Basis for Processing
Our legitimate interests as a business in responding to and keeping a record of correspondence. Some information is also necessary for us to perform our contract – for example certain contact details.
Coaching clients (i.e., where we are providing coaching services to you)
Personal Data
Contact details, correspondence, assessments, information provided, analysis and recommendations and opinions.
Special category information such as health, disability or ethnicity or racial information is only processed if provided by you.
Source and Purpose
This information is given to us by you.
Sometimes we collect information from third parties, such as your current employer or a psychometric assessment provider.
Occasionally we undertake feedback sessions as part of coaching which may involve the provision of information about you from other people known to or nominated by you.
We use the information to provide our coaching services to you or your employer.
Lawful Basis for Processing
Our legitimate interests as a business in providing coaching services. Some information may also be necessary specifically for us to perform the contract.
We only process special category data with your express consent.
Assessment Candidates
Personal Data
Contact details, correspondence, assessment information provided, analysis and recommendations and opinions.
Special category information such as health, disability or ethnicity or racial information is only processed if provided by you.
Source and Purpose
We collect most information directly from you during the assessment process.
Sometimes we collect information from third parties such as your employer, or a person giving a reference.
We use some publicly available sources to find information about assessment subjects, specifically LinkedIn and company websites.
We use the information to perform assessment services engaged either by you directly or by your employer.
Lawful Basis for Processing
Our legitimate interests as a business in providing management assessment services.
We only process special category data with your express consent.
Suppliers and contractors
Personal Data
Contact details and provided correspondence.
Source and Purpose
This information is given to us by you or from publicly available information (for example on your website).
It is used for us to fulfil contracts and engage in business discussions
Lawful Basis for Processing
Our legitimate interests as a business in responding to and keeping a record of correspondence. Some information is also necessary for us to perform our contract – for example certain contact details.
Website visitors
Personal Data
Information from cookies. For more details see our Cookie Notice:
Source and Purpose
This information is collected via the cookies when you use our website. It is used for security and validation purposes where you submit our web contact form. We do not use any information website visitor analytics or marketing purposes.
Lawful Basis for Processing
We only install non-essential cookies with your consent. For more details see our Cookie Notice- https://www.definitive-consult...
Where we have indicated in the table above that we rely on legitimate interests for processing of personal data, we carry out a ‘balancing’ test to ensure that our processing is necessary and that your fundamental rights of privacy are not outweighed by our legitimate interests before we go ahead with such processing.
Where we collect candidate information through publicly available sources as set out above, we may do this with the aid of software programs such as company websites, LinkedIn and Pirical. These programs are given parameters on the requirements of a role and search through publicly available sources to find such candidates. These programs are designed to only output information on candidates that meet the search criteria. The parameters of this program are restricted to only searching for candidate information (Job Title, and role bio) from public sites where there is a reasonable expectation that such information may be collected and further processed by job recruiters for the purpose of sourcing candidates for different job roles.
How long do we keep your personal data for?
We keep your information only for as long as is necessary for the relevant purpose. For example, if we have a contract with you, this will be for 6.5 years after expiry in order to assist us with any contractual claims. We use a number of criteria for determining the retention period including obligations under law, our need to defend or bring contractual claims within the statutory limitation period and consideration of the original purpose we collected it for.
Who do we share your personal data with?
Data may be shared in the following circumstances:
Where you are a candidate:
- We share your personal data with the client who has a position to fill in order to determine with the client whether you are a good fit for an available position; Our clients are professional services firms worldwide.
- We may also conduct checks in order to verify information you have provided and where we do this we share your information with third party background vetting agencies;
- With professional advisors;
- In the event of a sale of the company or its assets;
- With suppliers but only subject to robust contractual protections;
- Other companies in our group, currently Definitive Consulting PTY Limited, Definitive Consulting (HK) Limited, Definitive Consulting (SG) PTE, Definitive Consulting FZ LLE and DC Initiatives LLP.
What happens if you do not provide us with the information we request or ask that we stop processing your information?
If you do not provide the personal data necessary, we may not be able to respond to your query or consider your application or request or match you with available role opportunities or to provide the relevant services to you.
Do we make automated decisions concerning you?
We do not carry out this type of processing activity.
Do we transfer your data outside the UK and Europe?
We may sometimes transfer your personal data to countries outside the UK and European Economic Area, for example, to our group companies, or if we are either using a supplier or working with a client based elsewhere. You can find the list of European member states here. The privacy laws in countries outside the UK and European Economic Area may be different from those in your home country.
At present, we transfer personal data to the following countries outside of the UK and European Economic Area: Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates.
Where we transfer data to a country that has not been deemed to provide adequate data protection standards, we always have security measures and approved model clauses or other adequate safeguards in place to protect your personal data. Please contact us if you would like more details about our safeguards for data transfers.
What rights do you have in relation to the data we hold on you?
By law, you have a number of rights when it comes to your personal data. Further information and advice about your rights can be obtained from the data protection regulator in your country. In the UK this is the Information Commissioner.
We usually act on requests and provide information free of charge, but may charge a reasonable fee to cover our administrative costs of providing the information for:
- baseless or excessive/repeated requests, or
- further copies of the same information.
Alternatively, we may be entitled to refuse to act on the request in some circumstances.
Please consider your request responsibly before submitting it. We’ll respond as soon as we can. Generally, this will be within one month from when we receive your request but, if the request is going to take longer to deal with, we’ll come back to you and let you know.
Rights |
What does this mean? |
1. The right to be informed |
You have the right to be provided with clear, transparent and easily understandable information about how we use your information and your rights. This is why we’re providing you with the information in this Privacy Policy. If you have any additional questions, for example regarding transfers and locations of data or our legitimate interests basis, do please get in touch. |
2. The right of access |
You have the right to obtain access to your information (if we are processing it), and certain other information (similar to that provided in this Privacy Policy). This is so you’re aware and can check that we’re using your information in accordance with data protection law. |
3. The right to rectification |
You are entitled to have your information corrected if its inaccurate or incomplete. |
4. The right to erasure |
This is also known as the right to be forgotten’ and, in simple terms, enables you to request the deletion or removal of your information where there is no compelling reason for us to keep using it. This is not a general right, there are exceptions. |
5. The right to restrict processing |
You have rights to ‘block’ or suppress further use of your information. When processing is restricted, we can still store your information, but may not use it further. We keep lists of people who have asked for further use of their information to be ‘blocked’ to make sure the restriction is respected in future. |
6. The right to data portability |
You have rights to obtain and reuse your personal data for your own purposes across different services. This is not a normal scenario for companies of our nature but if you have any questions you can contact us. |
7. The right to object to processing |
You have the right to object to certain types of processing, including processing for direct marketing or where we are relying on our legitimate interests for processing (e.g. if you no longer want to be contacted with potential role opportunities. |
8. The right to lodge a complaint |
You have the right to lodge a complaint about the way we handle or process your personal data with your national data protection regulator. |
9. The right to withdraw consent |
If you have given your consent to anything we do with your personal data, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time (although if you do so, it does not mean that anything we have done with your personal data with your consent up to that point is unlawful). This includes your right to withdraw consent to us using your personal data for marketing purposes. |
1. The right to be informed
What does this mean?
You have the right to be provided with clear, transparent and easily understandable information about how we use your information and your rights. This is why we’re providing you with the information in this Privacy Policy. If you have any additional questions, for example regarding transfers and locations of data or our legitimate interests basis, do please get in touch.
2. The right of access
What does this mean?
You have the right to obtain access to your information (if we are processing it), and certain other information (similar to that provided in this Privacy Policy).
This is so you’re aware and can check that we’re using your information in accordance with data protection law.
3. The right to rectification
What does this mean?
You are entitled to have your information corrected if its inaccurate or incomplete.
4. The right to erasure
What does this mean?
This is also known as the right to be forgotten’ and, in simple terms, enables you to request the deletion or removal of your information where there is no compelling reason for us to keep using it. This is not a general right, there are exceptions.
5. The right to restrict processing
What does this mean?
You have rights to ‘block’ or suppress further use of your information. When processing is restricted, we can still store your information, but may not use it further. We keep lists of people who have asked for further use of their information to be ‘blocked’ to make sure the restriction is respected in future.
6. The right to data portability
What does this mean?
You have rights to obtain and reuse your personal data for your own purposes across different services. This is not a normal scenario for companies of our nature but if you have any questions you can contact us.
7. The right to object to processing
What does this mean?
You have the right to object to certain types of processing, including processing for direct marketing or where we are relying on our legitimate interests for processing (e.g. if you no longer want to be contacted with potential role opportunities.
8. The right to lodge a complaint
What does this mean?
You have the right to lodge a complaint about the way we handle or process your personal data with your national data protection regulator.
9. The right to withdraw consent
What does this mean?
If you have given your consent to anything we do with your personal data, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time (although if you do so, it does not mean that anything we have done with your personal data with your consent up to that point is unlawful). This includes your right to withdraw consent to us using your personal data for marketing purposes.
Updating this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in personal data protection legislation and best practices. When we make changes to this Privacy Policy, we will change the "last updated" date above and will notify you of any significant changes to this Privacy Policy.
How can you contact us?
If you are unhappy with how we’ve handled your information or have further questions on the processing of your personal data, please contact us.
You can write to us: Definitive Consulting, 85 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7NG
Email us: gdpr@definitive-consulting.com
Or call us: +44 (0) 20 7079 0765