Ashridge Privacy Policy

Ashridge Privacy Policy

The Ashridge (Bonar Law Memorial) Trust ("Ashridge") is committed to protecting your privacy when you visit our Websites, so we want you to know what information we collect when you visit one of our sites, how we use that information and how you can update it. Ashridge reserves the right to append or otherwise modify this Privacy Statement at any time, so please re-visit this page occasionally to check for updates.

What This Policy Covers
This policy covers Ashridge's treatment of personally identifiable information that Ashridge collects when you are on the Ashridge site and when you use Ashridge's services. This policy also covers Ashridge's treatment of personally identifiable information that Ashridge shares with other parts of the organisation.

Information We Collect
We collect various types of information from our visitors so we can adjust our site to meet visitors' needs and expectations. Some of this information is collected automatically through cookies and other information is collected when you register for any of our services or subscribe to Ashridge E-Newsletters.

When you register as a user we may collect the information necessary to provide the services required. Such information would at the very least include your name and an email address. We will also collect information from you if you complete any other forms on our site, register to leave feedback or interact with the website or if you contact us with comments or specific requests.

Why We Use "Cookies"
We use cookies once you register with Ashridge to allow us to personalise our service to you. When you visit the Ashridge websites, cookies enable us to measure which pages you view and how your computer views them. By measuring general use of our websites we aim to improve the user experience and make the websites more useful to you. "Cookies" are small pieces of code which reside on your computer and store your login details for the Ashridge website pages that require you to register, such as the Alumni site, My Ashridge or the Virtual Learning Resource Centre (VLRC). We do this so you are not required to re-enter your contact information as you move from one part of the site to another. If you do not want a cookie you can always set your browser to deny it.

Information Collected Automatically
The types of information your browser or Internet session automatically sends us each time you visit one of our sites, includes:

• Your browser, for example, Internet Explorer, Firefox; Safari; Opera
• Your Internet Service Provider, for example, Tiscali, BT, AOL, NTL, Virgin, Bulldog etc;
• Your computer's operating system, eg, Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, Linux;
• Your navigation path, that is, the URL of where you came to our site from, which of our pages you visited, and your IP address...

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”).  Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States . Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage.  Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.  You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.  By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

This information lets us see how users are finding our sites and it tells us which pages are visited the most often so we can make our websites more useful. This information in no way enables us to identify you personally.

Information You Provide to Us
In addition to the information automatically collected by your browser, we also collect information that you provide us when you register on the Ashridge website, when you book an event, order books or merchandise from us or request information regarding one of our programmes.

Registering with Ashridge
The Ashridge website includes various areas that require registration, such as our VLRC, LRC, Online AIMS, Alumni and My Ashridge. The amount of information required for registration depends on the particular area, but will include at least the user's firstname, surname and email address; and may include their business and/or home address, job title, organisation, area of interest, phone numbers and so on. Contact information is used to contact our visitors and/or identify users when returning to the Ashridge website. Unique identifiers are used to verify the user's identity prior to granting visitor access to some of the services available online.

Ashridge web authentication and log-in
Ashridge's online services requiring a log-in (such as VLRC, AIMS, e-Sharing, Alumni), operate a single sign-on policy. This allows an individual to re-use same log-in details across a variety of authenticated online services provided by Ashridge. In many cases these log-in details are created by Ashridge with random passwords. However, there are instances when users are allowed to self-register and hence provide a password of their choice. Though our self-registration service enforces users to register high strength passwords, it is strongly recommended that you provide us with a separate password and NOT the ones used with your banking or other highly sensitive personal online accounts elsewhere.

Contact information submitted on the Ashridge website
If a user completes an Enquiry Form on the Ashridge website or subscribes to receive pring or online publications, such as 360º, the Ashridge Journal, Network, Ashridge News or the Corporate Brochure, the contact information will be added to a secure Ashridge database. That information is then used to send further updates of the publications in question. By requesting information you will not automatically be subscribed to receive Ashridge publications (beyond the particular publication requested). All electronic communications sent have an Unsubscribe option at the bottom of the email or E-Newsletter. All print publications are sent with a contact form which can be used to update your contact information or to unsubscribe from that publication. If you would like to update any details or unsubscribe from Ashridge publications, please contact Pat Wartnaby by email at: pat.wartnaby@ashridge.org.uk. If you would like to see what information holds about you, please contact Pat at the above email address.

Communicating with you
Ashridge guarantees that all the information you provide either electronically or physically will not be passed to any third parties other than those that are working for or with Ashridge in the delivery of programmes, consulting and research. Ashridge does not sell or otherwise distribute mailing lists to third parties. Mailing companies will sometimes be employed by Ashridge to physically send print publications to the Ashridge mailing list. However, Ashridge has assurances from those companies that the data is only used to send the Ashridge publications and is destroyed afterwards.

Information to improve our site
We also collect information automatically about your visit to our site. This information is used to help us analyse browsing preferences so that we can regularly improve our website.

Transferring information overseas
The Data Protection Act 1998 prohibits us from sending your personal details to a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) without your informed consent. Ashridge works in partnership with some organisations and individuals that operate outside the EEA. We may consider it to be of benefit to individuals, based in the same geographical location, if their details are passed on to an appropriate Ashridge contact in their area for marketing purposes. At present, the European Commission does not consider certain countries outside the EEA to provide adequate levels of protection for the rights and freedoms of data subjects in relation to the processing of Personal Data, for the purposes of satisfying the eighth Data Protection principle. Nevertheless, Ashridge hereby declares that it is satisfied that the appropriate technological and organisational safeguards are in place in the overseas establishments that we work with and that these are equal to or greater than those required under the Data Protection Act 1998. If you are based outside the European Economic Area please use the opt-in box on the registration form to indicate your consent to the transfer of your personal data to an appropriate Ashridge contact in your area.

Traffic Analysis Information
Crystal software is used to analyse traffic to this site. Crystal does not create individual profiles for visitors, unless the connection is with our VLRC site. Unlike some tracking services Crystal does not have a database of individual profiles for each Crystal . Crystal only collects aggregate data which Ashridge uses to improve the user experiences.

Your Rights Our Obligations
Ashridge does not sell or rent any personal data submitted by visitors to our site to any third parties. Ashridge respects the privacy of users visiting our organisation sites and will abide by all applicable laws concerning the release of personal information. On an occasion we may use certain directory information that we have collected to send you information about products and services, or updates and other information we think may be of interest to you. Occasionally we may share this information with our educational partners to bring similar information to your attention. If you tell us that you do not wish to have this information used as a basis for further contact with you, we will respect your wishes. Please contact Ashridge to request your name and address be removed from our lists. If you do not want to receive our e-mail marketing, please submit a request to have your e-mail address removed by sending an email to: pat.wartnaby@ashridge.org.uk and put 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in the subject line of the email.

Other than directory information, data you provide to us as you use the Ashridge website will be held in strict confidence by the organisation and will be used for purposes stated. Ashridge may share aggregate information about our users with advertisers, business partners, sponsors and other third parties. However, the individual information you provide us within the Ashridge website will be known only to you and the organisation. We will not share your personal data with anyone else, except as may be required by law.

How To Update Your Information
Our site provides you with the option of changing and modifying information you have previously provided to us. You may contact Ashridge direct to have your information changed on +44 (0)1442 843491.

Our Security Measures
Ashridge websites have security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control. We employ outside services which use the industry standard when accepting your credit card information. We also use the industry standard when ordering, as well as whenever we ask you to login to any of the online services, such as our Virtual Learning Resource Centre.

Links From Our Site To Other Sites
Some areas of the Ashridge website and the VLRC may contain links to other external sites. When you access these external websites, the providers of the sites will have access to certain information about you. Ashridge is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of any websites which we do not directly control.

For More Information
If you have questions about our information practices, please contact us.