Policies

PRIVACY INFORMATION NOTICE – GENERAL

Data protection privacy notice (recruitment)

This notice explains what personal data (information) we will hold about you, how we collect it, and how we will use and may share information about you during the application process. We are required to notify you of this information, under data protection legislation. Please ensure that you read this notice (sometimes referred to as a ‘privacy notice’) and any other similar notice we may provide to you from time to time when we collect or process personal information about you.

Who collects the information

Associated Architects (‘Company’) is a ‘data controller’ and gathers and uses certain information about you.

Data protection principles

We will comply with the data protection principles when gathering and using personal information, as set out in our Data Protection (Employment) Policy.

About the information we collect and hold

What information

We may collect the following information up to and including the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process:

Your name and contact details (ie address, home and mobile phone numbers, email address);
Details of your qualifications, experience, employment history (including job titles, salary and working hours) and interests;
Your racial or ethnic origin, sex and sexual orientation, religious or similar beliefs;
Information regarding your criminal record;
Details of your referees.

We may collect the following information after the shortlisting stage, and before making a final decision to recruit:

Information about your previous academic and/or employment history, including details of any conduct, grievance or performance issues, appraisals, time and attendance, from references obtained about you from previous employers and/or education providers;
Information regarding your academic and professional qualifications;
Information regarding your criminal record, in criminal records certificates (CRCs) and enhanced criminal records certificates (ECRCs);
Your nationality and immigration status and information from related documents, such as your passport or other identification and immigration information;
A copy of your driving licence.

You are required (by law or in order to enter into your contract of employment) to provide the categories of information marked ‘☐’ above to us to enable us to verify your right to work and suitability for the position.

How we collect the information

We may collect this information from you, your referees (details of whom you will have provided), your education provider, the relevant professional body, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and the Home Office.

Why we collect the information and how we use it

We will typically collect and use this information for the following purposes (other purposes that may also apply are explained in our Data Protection Policy:

to take steps to enter into a contract;
for compliance with a legal obligation;
for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest
for the purposes of our legitimate interests or those of a relevant third party (such as a benefits provider), but only if these are not overridden by your interests, rights or freedoms
because it is necessary for carrying out obligations or exercising rights in employment law; and
for reasons of substantial public interest (preventing or detecting unlawful acts).

We seek to ensure that our information collection and processing is always proportionate. We will notify you of any changes to information we collect or to the purposes for which we collect and process it.

How we may share the information

We may also need to share some of the above categories of personal information with other parties, such as HR consultants and professional advisers. Usually, information will be anonymised, but this may not always be possible. The recipient of the information will be bound by confidentiality obligations. We may also be required to share some personal information with our regulators or as required to comply with the law.

Sensitive personal information

Further details on how we handle sensitive personal information and information relating to criminal convictions and offences are set out in our Data Protection Policy

Where information may be held

Information may be held at our offices and those of third-party agencies, service providers, representatives and agents as described above.

How long we keep your information

We keep the personal information that we obtain about you during the recruitment process for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it is processed. How long we keep your information will depend on whether your application is successful, and you become employed by us, the nature of the information concerned and the purposes for which it is processed.

We will keep recruitment information (including interview notes) for no longer than is reasonable, taking into account the limitation periods for potential claims such as race or sex discrimination (as extended to take account of early conciliation), after which they will be destroyed. If there is a clear business reason for keeping recruitment records for longer than the recruitment period, we may do so but will first consider whether the records can be pseudonymised, and the longer period for which they will be kept.

If your application is successful, we will keep only the recruitment information that is necessary in relation to your employment. For further information, see our Data Protection Privacy Notice (Employment).

Further details on our approach to information retention and destruction are available in our Data Protection Retention Policy or Data Protection Policy, which provide the details.

Your right to object to us processing your information

Where our processing of your information is based solely on our legitimate interests (or those of a third party), you have the right to object to that processing if you give us specific reasons why you are objecting, which are based on your particular situation. If you object, we can no longer process your information unless we can demonstrate legitimate grounds for the processing, which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing is for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

Please contact our data protection manager (Director, James Hall) (‘DPM’), who can be contacted by telephone 0121 233 6600 or email mail@associated-architects.co.uk, if you wish to object in this way.

Your rights to correct and access your information and to ask for it to be erased

Please contact our DPM who can be contacted by telephone 0121 233 6600 or email mail@associated-architects.co.uk if (in accordance with applicable law) you would like to correct or request access to information that we hold relating to you or if you have any questions about this notice. You also have the right to ask our DPM for some but not all of the information we hold and process to be erased (the ‘right to be forgotten’) in certain circumstances. Our DPM will provide you with further information about the right to be forgotten, if you ask for it.

Keeping your personal information secure

We have appropriate security measures in place to prevent personal information from being accidentally lost, or used or accessed in an unauthorised way. We limit access to your personal information to those who have a genuine business need to know it. Those processing your information will do so only in an authorised manner and are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

We also have procedures in place to deal with any suspected data security breach. We will notify you and any applicable regulator of a suspected data security breach where we are legally required to do so.

How to complain

We hope that our DPM can resolve any query or concern you raise about our use of your information. If not, contact the Information Commissioner at https://ico.org.uk/concerns/ or telephone: 0303 123 1113 for further information about your rights and how to make a formal complaint.

2 January 2024

MODERN SLAVERY

POLICY

Policy Statement

Associated Architects is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all its forms within our business operations and supply chains. Although we are below the legal threshold to require a policy under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, we have adopted this policy which outlines our commitment to ensuring that slavery and human trafficking are not present in any part of our business.

Associated Architects acknowledges its responsibility to take proactive steps to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking. We are committed to:

Conducting regular assessments to identify and assess potential risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains.

Taking necessary steps to mitigate and manage these risks effectively.

Raising awareness and providing training to our employees to recognise and respond to signs of modern slavery.

Collaborating with our suppliers, contractors, and business partners to promote ethical practices.

Encouraging transparency and accountability throughout our supply chains.

Responsibilities

The Board of Directors is responsible for:

Approving and reviewing this Modern Slavery Policy annually.

Ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to effectively implement and monitor this policy.

Ensuring that employees are aware of this policy and receive relevant training.

Overseeing risk assessments and taking appropriate action to address identified risks.

Implementing and enforcing the policy throughout the organisation.

Encouraging reporting of any concerns related to modern slavery or human trafficking.

Employees are responsible for:

Familiarising themselves with this policy.

Reporting any concerns related to modern slavery or human trafficking promptly.

Due Diligence and Risk Assessment

Associated Architects will conduct regular risk assessments to identify areas within our operations and supply chains that may be vulnerable to modern slavery or human trafficking.

We will assess the nature and extent of our exposure to potential risks and take appropriate actions to mitigate these risks, including reviewing and auditing our suppliers’ compliance with ethical standards.

Training

We will provide training to our employees to ensure that they are aware of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking and are equipped to report any suspicions or concerns.

Reporting Mechanisms

We encourage employees, suppliers, and other stakeholders to report any concerns related to modern slavery or human trafficking within our business or supply chains. Reports can be made to any Director.

Review and Continuous Improvement

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors to ensure its effectiveness and relevance. Necessary updates and improvements will be made as required.

Conclusion

Associated Architects is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in our operations and supply chains. We are dedicated to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking and will take appropriate measures to achieve this goal.

Warren Jukes – Managing Director

Associated Architects

April 2024

Carbon Reduction Report 2024

The Carbon Reduction Report is lead by the Green Team Working Group, which is made up of representatives at all levels from across the practice’s teams and offices.

The Team are dedicated to developing the Practice’s sustainability ethos, whether that be in the buildings we design or the way in which the Practice operates.

This report, published annually, details the initiatives we have undertaken towards achieving Carbon Neutral Status, Net Zero emissions and the objectives set out in our Environmental Policy.

Click on the link to the right to download the full report PDF.