Privacy policy

This privacy policy sets out how BIG, the skills-sharing network for STEM uses and protects any information that you give us when you join as a member, and use this website.

BIG is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

We may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. This policy is effective from 20 May 2018.

What we collect

As you are a member of BIG we will collect the following information:

• name, job title and organisation
• contact information including email address
• demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests
• other information relevant to your membership of BIG or events that BIG runs

What we do with the information we gather

We use this information in order to conduct our legitimate business with you as your membership provider:

• operate your membership and contact you about BIG and its activities
• run events that you apply to attend
• keep records of our members
• improve our services
• customise the website according to your interests

We never share your information with other parties without your permission.

Where we store your data

The BIG website is hosted by Wild Apricot in the US. They use servers in the US that are provided by Amazon Web Services. We also use Google Forms and G-Suite. 

Wild Apricot privacy policy

Amazon Web Services privacy policy

Google Privacy & Terms 

Controlling your personal information

You may request details of personal information which we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 1998. A small fee will be payable. If you would like a copy of the information held on you please email us at admin@big.uk.com.

Lapsed (expired) members

If you choose not to renew your membership once it expires, you become a 'lapsed member'. As a lapsed member you may still receive occasional notifications from this website of activities run by BIG. After a period of time (not exceeding 12 months) your details will be archived on BIG's membership database which is held on this website. If you wish your details to be removed permanently, please contact us. 

At this point, your email address (only) will be transferred to our email list of 'lapsed members' held by Mailchimp, from which you may receive occasional notifications from BIG of events and bursary opportunities. If you do not wish to receive these emails please 'unsubscribe' and your data will be removed. 

We never share this data with third parties.

How we use cookies

A cookie is a small file which is placed on your computer's hard drive. Cookies helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual.

We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about webpage traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes. We use Google Analytics for our web statistics. Google Analytics privacy policy.

You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.

How to manage cookies - ICO website.

Cookies used on big.uk.com

Cookie name	Set by	Expires	Used for
__utma	Google Analyics	2 years from set/update	Used in web statistics to distinguish users and sessions.
__utmb	Google Analyics	30 mins from set/update	Used in web statistics to determine new sessions/visits.
__utmc	Google Analyics	End of browser session	Used in web statistics in conjunction with the __utmb cookie to determine whether the user is in a new session/visit.
__utmt	Google Analyics	10 minutes	Used in web statistics to control the request rate.
__utmz	Google Analyics	6 months from set/update	Used in web statistics. It stores the traffic source or campaign that explains how the user reached the site.
_ga	Google Analyics	2 years	Used in web statistics to distinguish users.
uvts	BIG website	1 year	Used for the admin support features of the website to make the helpdesk feature work.
cookieconsent_status	BIG website	Never	Indicates that you've seen the cookie message and stops you seeing it again.