PRIVACY STATEMENT

AK Web Studio
Last Updated: September 2026

1. Introduction

AK Web Studio ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Statement explains how we collect, use, disclose, and otherwise process personal information in connection with our website (akwebstudio.co.uk) and the services we provide.

We are a data controller under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK Data Protection Act 2018. This statement is designed to help you understand our privacy practices and the rights you have regarding your personal information.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information about you in several ways:

Information You Provide Directly:

Contact forms: name, email address, phone number, message content
Inquiry submissions: business details, project requirements, budget information
Account creation: login credentials, profile information
Communication: emails, messages, support tickets, feedback

Information Collected Automatically:

Device information: browser type, operating system, device type, IP address
Usage data: pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referral source
Cookies and tracking technologies: unique identifiers, user preferences, analytics data
Location data: general geographic location (city/country level)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Providing services: responding to enquiries, delivering web design and development services, managing projects
Communication: sending confirmations, updates, newsletters, promotional materials (with consent)
Customer support: resolving issues, providing technical assistance, answering questions
Website improvement: analysing usage patterns, optimising performance, enhancing user experience
Marketing: creating targeted advertising, conducting market research, measuring campaign effectiveness
Legal compliance: fulfilling legal obligations, resolving disputes, protecting our rights
Fraud prevention: detecting and preventing fraudulent activity, protecting against abuse

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

Consent: when you have given explicit consent to process your data
Contract: when processing is necessary to provide services you have requested
Legal obligation: when required to comply with UK or EU law
Legitimate interests: when we have a legitimate business need balanced against your rights
Vital interests: when necessary to protect your vital interests or those of others

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfil the purposes outlined in this statement. Retention periods vary depending on the type of information:

Contact form submissions: 12 months (or as required for customer service)
Project records: duration of project plus 7 years (for accounting purposes)
Website analytics: 26 months
Email communications: 7 years or as required by law
Cookies: as specified in our Cookie Policy

6. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your information with:

Service providers: hosting providers, payment processors, email service providers, analytics platforms
Legal authorities: when required by law or to protect our legal rights
Business partners: with your consent, for co-marketing purposes
Successors: in the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

7. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right of access: you can request a copy of your personal data we hold
Right to rectification: you can ask us to correct inaccurate information
Right to erasure: you can request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
Right to restrict processing: you can limit how we process your data
Right to data portability: you can obtain your data in a structured, machine-readable format
Right to object: you can object to certain types of processing
Right to withdraw consent: you can withdraw consent for processing at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided at the end of this statement.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit
Secure hosting infrastructure with firewalls and intrusion detection
Limited access to personal information (staff training and confidentiality agreements)
Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
Secure password management and authentication procedures

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. For detailed information about the cookies we use, their purposes, and how to manage your preferences, please visit our Cookie Policy.

10. Third-Party Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services. This Privacy Statement does not apply to third-party websites, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy statements of any third-party websites you visit.

11. Changes to This Privacy Statement

We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated statement on our website with a new "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our website following the posting of revised changes means that you accept and agree to the changes.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Statement, our privacy practices, or would like to exercise your rights, please contact us:

AK Web Studio
Email: info@akwebstudio.co.uk
Phone: +447871597131
Website: akwebstudio.co.uk

If you believe we have violated your rights under UK GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.org.uk