Privacy Policy

Version 1.0 · July 2026 · Next review: July 2027

This Privacy Policy explains what personal data Virtual Elevation collects, why we collect it, how we use it, and your rights. It applies to visitors to our website, workshop participants and clients, and anyone who communicates with us. It also explains, transparently, how we use artificial intelligence tools in our work, in line with UK GDPR.

1. Who we are

Virtual Elevation is an AI training and consultancy business based in the United Kingdom. We deliver AI literacy workshops, 1:1 AI onboarding, and AI operations consultancy, including AI audits and compliance, to individuals and organisations. Virtual Elevation is the data controller for personal data processed under this policy.

Email: hello@virtualelevation.co.uk
Website: virtualelevation.co.uk

2. What personal data we collect

Website visitors

Workshop participants and clients

Marketing contacts

We do not collect special category personal data (such as health information, ethnicity, or political opinions) unless you voluntarily provide it, and we do not use AI tools to process special category data.

3. How we collect your data

Directly from you: when you book a workshop, complete a booking form, email us, or subscribe to updates. From your organisation: where your employer arranges training or consultancy on your behalf. Automatically: minimal technical data via our website hosting.

4. Why we use your data: lawful bases

Contractual necessityRegistering you for a workshop, delivering services you've booked, processing payment, sending joining instructions
Legitimate interestsMaintaining client records, responding to enquiries, improving our services
ConsentSending marketing emails; any session recording (you will always be told in advance)
Legal obligationFinancial and tax record-keeping (HMRC)

Where we rely on legitimate interests, you have the right to object at any time.

5. How we use artificial intelligence

AI is our business, and we hold ourselves to the standards we teach. We use AI tools, including Claude (Anthropic), ChatGPT (OpenAI), Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and NotebookLM, to support research, drafting, content creation, and operations.

Our commitments:

6. Workshop delivery and recording

Workshops and sessions are delivered live via Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. Sessions are not recorded by default. If a session is to be recorded or AI transcription used, you will be told in advance in your joining instructions and verbally at the start, and you may opt out by advising the facilitator.

7. Sharing your data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. We share it only with service providers who help us operate:

Website hosting & domainVercel Inc. (US): hosting virtualelevation.co.uk; GoDaddy Inc. (US): domain registration and DNS
Email & productivityGoogle Workspace: email, calendar, documents
Ticketing & paymentsOur ticketing provider processes workshop bookings and payments under its own privacy policy
Video deliveryGoogle Meet (Google, US) and Microsoft Teams (Microsoft, US): live workshop and session delivery
AI toolsAnthropic, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft (US): research, drafting, operations; no personal data shared

Some providers are based in the United States. Where data is transferred outside the UK, appropriate safeguards apply, including the UK-US Data Bridge and Standard Contractual Clauses where applicable. We may disclose personal data where required by law.

8. How long we keep your data

Client and participant records7 years from end of engagement
Financial records7 years (HMRC requirement)
Feedback and attendance5 years
Marketing contactsUntil consent withdrawn or 3 years of inactivity
Enquiries3 years from last contact

When data is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymised.

9. Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the right to: be informed about how your data is used; access a copy of your data; have inaccurate data corrected; have your data erased where there is no compelling reason to keep it; restrict processing in certain circumstances; data portability; and object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing; for marketing, we will always stop immediately. We do not make automated decisions about individuals.

To exercise any right, email hello@virtualelevation.co.uk. We will respond within one month, free of charge.

10. Cookies

This website does not set marketing or analytics cookies. Essential technical processing by our hosting provider keeps the site running. Fonts are served by Google Fonts, which may log basic technical data when the font files load.

11. Security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including multi-factor authentication on our accounts, encrypted communications, and access controls. In the event of a personal data breach likely to result in risk to individuals, we will notify the ICO within 72 hours and affected individuals without undue delay.

12. Children

Our services are intended for adults and professionals. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy periodically. Material changes will be reflected in an updated version number and date on this page.

14. How to complain

If you have concerns about how we use your personal data, contact us first at hello@virtualelevation.co.uk. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): ico.org.uk | 0303 123 1113 | Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.