Privacy Policy

Updated January 2026

Introduction

Welcome to the Privacy Policy for DWS.Partners ("we", "us", or "our"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This policy informs you how we look after your personal data when you visit our website (regardless of where you visit it from) and tells you about your privacy rights and how the law protects you.

Who We Are

DWS Partners is the data controller and is responsible for your personal data.

Website: www.dwspartners.org
Contact Details: Darren Whelpton-Smith
Email: dws74@hotmail.com

The Data We Collect About You

We may collect, use, store, and transfer different kinds of personal data about you which we have grouped together as follows:

Identity Data: Includes first name, last name, username or similar identifier.
Contact Data: Includes email address and telephone numbers.
Professional Data: For Associate Partners (Consultants), this includes CVs, work history, skill sets, and professional certifications.
Usage Data: Includes information about how you use our website and services.

How We Collect Your Data

We use different methods to collect data from and about you including through:

Direct Interactions: You may give us your Identity, Contact, and Professional Data by filling in forms on our site or by corresponding with us by post, phone, email, or LinkedIn.
Third Parties: We may receive personal data about you from various third parties and public sources such as LinkedIn.

How We Use Your Personal Data

We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances:

To Connect Partners and Clients: As a networking platform, we use your data to match independent consultants with businesses seeking strategic expertise.
Performance of a Contract: Where we need to perform the contract we are about to enter into or have entered into with you (e.g., the Associate Partner Framework Agreement).
Legitimate Interests: Where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.

Disclosures of Your Personal Data

As a networking platform, we will share specific data between users:

Consultant Data to Clients: We will share Professional Data (CVs and expertise) of Associate Partners with potential Clients to facilitate introductions.
Client Data to Consultants: We will share project requirements and business contact information with relevant Partners.
Professional Advisers: Including lawyers, bankers, auditors, and insurers who provide consultancy, banking, legal, insurance, and accounting services.

Data Security

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used, or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered, or disclosed.

Data Retention

We will only retain your personal data for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, or reporting requirements

Your Legal Rights

Under certain circumstances, you have rights under UK data protection laws in relation to your personal data, including the right to:

Request access to your personal data.
Request correction of your personal data.
Request erasure of your personal data.
Object to processing of your personal data.
Request restriction of processing your personal data.
Request transfer of your personal data.
Right to withdraw consent.

If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out above, please contact Darren Whelpton-Smith at the email provided above.