This privacy notice tells you what to expect us to do with your personal information when you contact us or use one of our services.
We will tell you:
- Why we are able to process your information
- What purpose are we processing it for
- Whether you have to provide it to us
- How long we store it for
- Whether there are other recipients of your personal information
- Whether we intend to transfer it to another country
- Whether we do automated decision-making or profiling
Contact details
Medicines Discovery Catapult is the controller for the personal information we process unless otherwise stated.
You can contact MDC’s Data Protection Representative via phone, email, and post:
Phone number: 01625 704 050.
Compliance email address: compliance@md.catapult.org.uk
Postal address:
Medicines Discovery Catapult
Block 35, Mereside,
Alderley Park,
Alderley Edge,
SK10 4ZF
For general and partnership enquiries, please use our ‘Speak to Us’ page.
What information do we collect?
The personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for one of the following reasons:
You have made an enquiry to us
Our purpose for collecting this information is so we can track your enquiry and send it to the right person for follow-up.
The legal basis we rely on for processing your personal data is your consent under article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.
We use HubSpot forms for people who want to register a business enquiry on our website.
Our website and the plugins are administrated by the digital agency Pixel Kicks with no access to the data we collect.
We collect this data to help us understand more about the people contacting us or requesting access to our resources. We use this data to manage, provide an audit trail, and monitor the success of our relationships with individuals, organisations, and the wider industry.
All enquiries are logged on our CRM system – HubSpot. This is to allow us to manage enquiries effectively and report on our performance for ourselves, and for our parent organisations. If we have had no contact with a company or person for more than 2 years, the data will be removed. You can also send us a request to remove your company or personal data.
Tissue sample enquiries
We partner with other organisations to fulfil requests for tissue samples. In the first instance, we’ll share the details you submit with Tissue Solutions, you can read their Privacy Statement on their website. In order to source the correct samples, they forward your request to other organisations, however, this is done anonymously. If they are unable to help, we will then send your request to our partner biobanks for fulfilment – these enquiries will be anonymised by us.
You wish to attend, or have attended, an event
Our purpose for collecting this information is so we can facilitate our events and provide access to them.
The legal basis we rely on for processing your personal data is your consent under article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.
HubSpot manages event registrations.
You wish to attend or have attended, a webinar (online event)
Our purpose for collecting this information is so we can facilitate our events and provide access to them.
The legal basis we rely on for processing your personal data is your consent under article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.
Webinar signup forms use HubSpot to collect the data and then share it with our webinar platform, Zoom, through official, secure integrations.
Read more about Zoom’s compliance with GDPR
You subscribe to our email newsletter
We collect this information to send you our monthly newsletter and track your subscription status.
The legal basis we rely on for processing your personal data is your consent under article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.
We use a third-party service, HubSpot, to collect the data of people wanting to join our email list. We collect this data to keep interested people up to date with our work and partnership opportunities. We send subscribers our monthly newsletter and occasional alerts when we have significant announcements and collaboration opportunities. Every email we send will include a link to unsubscribe.
We gather statistics around email openings and clicks using industry standard technologies to help us monitor and improve our communications.
You are a journalist or media contact
Our purpose for collecting this information is to share relevant news stories with journalists and publications that are looking for stories.
The legal basis we rely on for processing your personal data is your consent under article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.
We hold lists of journalists we believe will be interested in hearing from us in order to distribute press releases, briefings, features, statements, invitations, reports and information about our work. The personal information we collect might include name, email address, postal address, telephone numbers, social media handle, job title, publication name and records of engagement, collaborations and media coverage.
Media lists are built and managed using the Meltwater database and journalists have the option to be removed if they wish.
You can read the Meltwater Privacy Policy on their website
We may occasionally use a third party, such as a PR agency, who will approach media contacts on behalf of Medicines Discovery Catapult.
You have applied for a job or secondment with us
What will we do with the information you provide to us?
- All the information you provide to the Medicines Discovery Catapult during the process will only be used to progress your application.
- The information you provide will be held securely by us, whether the information is in electronic or physical format. We will use the contact details you provide to us to contact you to progress your application. We will use the other information you provide to assess your suitability for the role you have applied for.
What information do we ask for, and why?
- We do not collect more information than we need to fulfil our stated purposes and will not retain it for longer than is necessary.
- The information we ask for is used to assess your suitability for employment.
Application stage
On submission of your CV via the ‘apply for this job’ tab, this will include your personal details, including name and contact details. We will also look at previous experience and education to assess suitability for shortlisting for interview. The hiring managers and HR shortlist applications for interview. Electronic job applications will be retained within the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) of the HR system.
HR will have access to all of this information held within the ATS.
Assessments
We might ask you to complete a personality profile questionnaire through a third-party Thomas International, and to attend an interview. Information will be generated by you and by us. For example, you might complete an online behavioural questionnaire, or we might take interview notes. This former will be held by Thomas International, and Medicines Discovery Catapult and the latter will be held by the Medicines Discovery Catapult.
If you are unsuccessful following assessment for the position you have applied for, your details will be retained on file for a period of 12 months following the end of the recruitment campaign.
Offer of Employment
If we make a conditional offer of employment, we will ask you for information so that we can carry out pre-employment checks. You must successfully complete pre-employment checks to progress to a final offer. We are required to confirm the identity of our staff, their right to work in the UK and seek references.
You will therefore be required to provide:
- Proof of your identity – you will be asked to attend our office with original documents, we will take copies.
- Proof of your qualifications – you will be asked to attend our office with original documents, we will take copies.
- References – contact details of 2 references.
If we make a final offer, we will also ask you for the following:
- Bank details – to process salary payments
- Emergency contact details – so we know who to contact in case you have an emergency at work
Recruitment Agencies
For some vacancies, we may advertise through a number of recruitment agencies. Information collected by a recruitment agency and will be retained for an agreed period of time following the end of our agreement.
You should read the privacy policies of any recruitment agency you intend to apply with before you engage with them.
How long is the information retained for?
- If you are successful after applying for a specific vacancy, the information you provide during the application process will be retained by us as part of your employee file for the duration of your employment plus the recommended time following the end of your employment. This includes your fitness to work, records of any security checks and references.
- If you are unsuccessful at any stage of the process, the information you have provided until that point will be retained for 12 months in the ATS from the closure of the recruitment campaign.
- Information generated throughout the assessment process, for example interview notes, is retained by us for 12 months in the ATS following the closure of the recruitment campaign.
Speculative Applications
- If you send in a speculative application, we will retain your CV in the ATS for a period of 6 months.
How we make decisions about recruitment?
- Final recruitment decisions are made by hiring managers and HR. All of the information gathered during the application process is taken into account.
- You are able to ask about decisions made about your application by speaking to your contact within our recruitment team or by emailing recruitment@md.catapult.org.uk.
If you have any queries about the process or how we handle your information, please contact us at recruitment@md.catapult.org.uk.
Thomas International
Thomas International provide online behavioural testing for us. If we ask you to complete one of these tests, you will receive a link to the test. Your answers will be provided to Medicines Discovery Catapult and held by both parties.
Read Thomas International’s privacy policy
Your data protection rights
Under data protection law, you have rights we need to make you aware of. The rights available to you depend on our reason for processing your information.
Your right of access
You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information. This right always applies. There are some exemptions, which means you may not always receive all the information we process.
Your right to rectification
You have the right to ask us to rectify information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete. This right always applies.
Your right to erasure
You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to restriction of processing
You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your information in certain circumstances.
Your right to object to processing
You have the right to object to processing if we are able to process your information because the process forms part of our public tasks, or is in our legitimate interests.
Your right to data portability
This only applies to the information you have given us. You have the right to ask that we transfer the information you gave us from one organisation to another or give it to you. The right only applies if we are processing information based on your consent or in talks about entering into a contract and the processing is automated.
Your right to complain
We work to high standards when it comes to processing your personal information. If you have queries or concerns, please contact us at compliance@md.catapult.org.uk.
If you remain dissatisfied, you can make a complaint about the way we process your personal information to the ICO as the UK supervisory authority.
You can read more about your rights on the ICO website.
You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. We have one month to respond to you.
Sharing your information
We will not share your information with any third parties for the purposes of direct marketing.
We use data processors who are third parties who provide elements of services for us. We have contracts in place with our data processors. This means that they cannot do anything with your personal information unless we have instructed them to do it. They will not share your personal information with any organisation apart from us. They will hold it securely and retain it for the period we instruct.
Our parent organisation, Innovate UK, has appointed independent organisations Kantar and Frontier Economics to gather feedback on our impact on the sector. They do this through phone interviews with key contacts from organisations who have engaged with us. We share the details of companies and individuals with Kantar and Frontier Economics for this purpose.
Read Frontier Economics’ Privacy Policy
Links to other websites
Where we provide links to websites of other organisations, this privacy notice does not cover how that organisation processes personal information. We encourage you to read the privacy notices on the other websites you visit.
Subject Access Requests
At your request, Medicines Discovery Catapult can confirm what information we hold about you and how it is processed. We take our responsibilities for data privacy very seriously and will ensure we take all reasonable steps to correctly identify anyone submitting a subject access request to our business, per our Data Subject Access Request Procedure. Should you wish a copy of this Procedure please contact MDC’s Data Protection Representative on the contact details above.
Your right to complain
We work to high standards when it comes to processing your personal information. If you have any questions or concerns, please email compliance@md.catapult.org.uk.
If you remain dissatisfied, you can make a complaint about the way we process your personal information to the ICO.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We keep our privacy notice under regular review to ensure it is up-to-date and accurate. The last update was in July 2024.
Contacting us
Phone
When you call our main phone number, we collect Calling Line Identification (CLI) information. We use the information to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of handling your calls.
We use Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt and protect email traffic in line with the government. If your email service does not support TLS, you should be aware that any emails we send or receive may not be protected in transit.
We will also monitor any emails sent to us, including file attachments, for viruses or malicious software. Please be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that any email you send is within the bounds of the law.
Visitors to our website
When a user visits; www.md.catapult.org.uk, we use a third-party service, Google Analytics, to collect standard log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to determine the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. This information is processed in a way which does not identify the user. We do not make and do not allow Google to make any attempt to discover the identities of those visiting our website.
Use of cookies
Our website uses cookies, as almost all websites do, to help provide you with the best experience we can. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you browse websites.
Specifically with regard to Google Analytics Advertising Features; Remarketing with Google Analytics, Google Display Network Impression Reporting, Google Analytics Demographics and Interest Reporting (Google Signal), Integrated services that require Google Analytics to collect data for advertising purposes, including the collection of data via advertising cookies and identifiers
Read more about Google’s approach to complying with data protection laws, and you can also read more about Google Analytics’ currently available opt-outs for the web by clicking here. We do not place non-essential cookies on your device without your explicit consent. Cookie consent is managed through a consent management platform provided by CookieBot.
Identifiable visitor tracking
When someone visits www.md.catapult.org.uk a third-party service, HubSpot, places a first-party cookie on their device. Details of cookies can be found in the cookie policy. If a user completes a contact form, HubSpot can use the information to avoid duplicating contacts. We may use this information to personalise the visitor’s experience on the website and via email (if they consent to receive them). Only MDC have access to this data, and we do not share or make it available to any third party.
Read more about HubSpot compliance with GDPR
An up-to-date list of HubSpot Cookies can be found on this link.
When someone visits the MDC website, a third-party service, ZoomInfo, places first-party cookies on their device. Details of cookies can be found in the cookie policy. We may use this information to track and personalise the visitor’s experience (if consent is given to receive it).
Read more about ZoomInfo’s compliance with GDPR
You can read more about how we use cookies in our Cookie Policy.
Purpose and legal basis for processing
The purpose for implementing all the above is to maintain and monitor the performance of our website and to constantly look to improve the site and the services it offers to our users. The legal basis we rely on to process your personal data is article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, which allows us to process personal data when its necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests.
What are your rights?
As we are processing your personal data for our legitimate interests as stated above, you have the right to object to our processing of your personal data. There are legitimate reasons why we may refuse your objection, which depend on why we are processing it.
Visitors to our office and laboratories
Our purpose for collecting this information is to:
- meet our obligations under health and safety legislation
- ensure our office and laboratories are secure
The legal basis we rely on for processing your personal data is a legal obligation under article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR.
We use a third-party service, ProxyClick, to collect the personally identifiable data of people who want to visit our office and laboratories. We collect this data in order to fulfil our health and safety and security obligations. We use this data, so our office management team know who is visiting us, and so we have a record of who visited us and the times and dates they did so.
Read ProxyClick’s Privacy statement