Privacy notice
Last updated: [TODO: date of publication]
This notice explains what personal information I collect when you use this website or get in touch, what I do with it, and your rights under UK data protection law (the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018). I've kept it short and in plain English.
Who I am
t-ai-t consultancy is run by Mark Tait, a sole trader trading as t-ai-t consultancy. I'm the "controller" of your personal information, which means I decide how it's used and I'm responsible for looking after it.
Contact for anything about your data: brendan@t-ai-t.com (this mailbox comes straight to me).
[TODO: add your ICO registration number if you pay the data protection fee, or remove this line if the ICO's self-assessment says you're exempt: ico.org.uk/fee]
What I collect
- When you use the contact form or email me: your name, email address and whatever you write in your message. The form on this site sends your message to me through Formspree, a form-handling service.
- If you become a client: the information you share for your project, plus what I need for quotes, invoices and payments (for example your business name, address and payment records).
I don't ask for special category information (such as health details). Please don't send it unless a project genuinely needs it and we've talked about it first.
Cookies, analytics and tracking
This website doesn't use cookies, analytics, session recording or any other tracking, and it doesn't load third-party scripts or fonts. The company that hosts the website may keep basic technical logs (such as IP addresses) to keep the site secure and running. [TODO: name the hosting provider once chosen, e.g. Cloudflare Pages]
If I connect an automated enquiry system or the Brendan chat assistant, or add analytics, in future, I'll update this notice first and ask for consent where the law requires it.
How I use your information, and why I'm allowed to
| What I do | Lawful basis |
|---|---|
| Reply to your enquiry in writing and prepare a quote | Legitimate interests (answering people who contact me), or steps you've asked me to take before entering a contract |
| Quote for, carry out and deliver work you've asked for | Contract |
| Invoices, payments and business records | Legal obligation (tax and accounting rules) |
I don't sell your information, and I don't use it for marketing unless you've asked me to keep in touch.
Who I share it with
I only share your information with services I need to run the business, which handle it on my behalf:
- Formspree, which receives messages sent through the enquiry form and passes them to me by email. [TODO: confirm Formspree data retention settings]
- My email provider (Microsoft 365), where your emails to me are stored.
- Accounting software, for invoices and records. [TODO: confirm, e.g. Sage]
- AI tools I may use to do the work you've asked for, depending on the job: Claude, Grok, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini and Hermes.
Some of these providers may store data outside the UK. Where they do, I rely on the safeguards they provide under UK data protection law. I may also share information if the law requires it (for example with HMRC).
How long I keep it
- Enquiries that don't turn into work: up to 12 months, then deleted. [TODO: confirm this period]
- Client project files: for as long as we're working together, and then up to 12 months unless you ask me to delete them sooner. [TODO: confirm this period]
- Invoices and financial records: as long as HMRC requires (for sole traders, at least 5 years after the 31 January Self Assessment deadline for the tax year concerned).
Your rights
You can ask me to:
- give you a copy of the information I hold about you;
- correct anything that's wrong;
- delete your information (unless I have to keep it, for example for tax records);
- restrict or object to how I use it;
- give you your information in a portable format, where that applies.
Just email brendan@t-ai-t.com. There's no charge, and I'll reply within one month.
If you're unhappy with how I've handled your information, please tell me first so I can put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint, or use the other contact options listed on the ICO's website.
Changes to this notice
If I change how I use your information, I'll update this page and the date at the top.