Guidance: Business Support Service: privacy notice

If you contact the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) through the Business Support Service, you may be providing personal information. It’s important to understand how that data is used, stored, and protected, and what rights you have in relation to it. This post sets out the key points so you can engage with confidence and clarity.

How the DBT uses your personal data

1. Why data is collected
– To respond to your enquiry or request for support.
– To provide the most accurate guidance, referrals, or next steps tailored to your situation.
– To handle administrative tasks such as recording your interaction, tracking progress, and ensuring continuity of service.

2. What data may be collected
– Contact details: name, organisation (if applicable), email address, phone number.
– Details about your enquiry: the nature of the issue, your business sector, locations, and any relevant identifiers (for example, company registration numbers, grant references, or contract numbers, if provided).
– Correspondence history: records of emails, messages, phone calls, and the outcomes of those interactions.
– Additional information you voluntarily provide to help resolve your query or to better understand your needs.

3. How data is used
– To respond to your enquiry and deliver appropriate guidance or support.
– To validate your identity where necessary and prevent fraud or misuse.
– To improve the Business Support Service, including ensuring responses are accurate and consistent.
– To monitor service performance, quality, and user satisfaction.
– To fulfil any legal or statutory obligations, such as reporting requirements or auditing.

4. How data is shared
– Within DBT and with partner organisations or contractors who support the provision of the Business Support Service, where appropriate and necessary to deliver the requested assistance.
– With external organisations only when there is a legitimate basis to do so (e.g., when required by law, for fraud prevention, or to obtain specialist advice).
– When required, your information may be shared with other government departments or agencies to resolve your enquiry more effectively.

5. How data is stored and protected
– Personal data is stored securely in accordance with DBT information governance policies and applicable data protection laws.
– Access to personal data is restricted to authorised personnel who need it to perform their duties.
– Data retention schedules determine how long information is kept and when it is securely deleted.
– Where data is processed outside the UK, safeguards are in place to protect your information in line with legal requirements.

Your rights in relation to your data

1. Right to be informed
– You have the right to be told how your data is used, stored, and shared by the DBT, in clear and transparent terms. This is typically provided at the point of data collection and through privacy notices.

2. Right of access
– You can request a copy of the personal data the DBT holds about you, along with information about how it is being used and who it has been shared with.

3. Right to rectification
– If you believe your data is inaccurate or incomplete, you can request corrections.

4. Right to erasure (the right to be forgotten)
– In certain circumstances, you can request that your personal data be deleted, subject to applicable legal or statutory obligations.

5. Right to restrict processing
– You can request that processing of your data be limited in certain circumstances, while a request or dispute is resolved.

6. Right to data portability
– You may have the right to obtain your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and transfer it to another organisation where appropriate.

7. Right to object
– You can object to processing of your data for certain purposes, such as direct marketing or where processing is based on legitimate interests, subject to exemptions.

8. Rights in relation to automated decision-making
– If any aspects of your enquiry are handled by automated processes, you have protections and rights to request human review where applicable.

How to exercise your rights or raise concerns

– Privacy notices: Look for the DBT privacy notice or the Business Support Service terms and conditions, which provide details on data processing practices and rights.
– Contact for data rights requests: You can typically submit access, correction, deletion, or objection requests through the formal channels listed in the privacy notices or on the DBT website. Include enough information to identify your request and the data involved.
– If you are dissatisfied: You may raise a complaint with the DBT’s data protection officer or the designated privacy contact. If you remain unsatisfied, you can escalate to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Tips for safeguarding your information

– Share only what is necessary: When contacting the Business Support Service, provide essential details needed to address your enquiry.
– Use secure channels: If possible, use official contact forms or secure portals rather than unsecured methods.
– Keep records: Save copies of your correspondence and any privacy notices you’ve reviewed for future reference.

A collaborative approach to data protection

The DBT recognises that your data is personal and valuable. The aim is to handle it with care, comply with legal duties, and maintain your trust. If you ever have questions about how your information is being used when you reach out to the Business Support Service, don’t hesitate to seek clarity from the DBT’s privacy team or the designated data protection contact within the department.

In summary, contacting the Business Support Service means your data is used to provide accurate, efficient support, handled with appropriate safeguards, and subject to your rights under data protection law. Being informed helps you engage more effectively and ensures your preferences regarding your personal information are respected.

May 18, 2026 at 11:44AM
指南：商业支持服务：隐私通知
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-support-service-privacy-notice
当你联系商业支持服务时，商业、能源与工业战略部（DBT）将如何使用你的个人数据，以及你的权利。

阅读更多中文内容： 了解商业支持服务中的个人数据使用与权利：DBT 如何处理您的信息