Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

ProficientNow Ltd ("we", "us", "our") is a specialist recruitment company registered in England and Wales. For any privacy question you can contact us at info@proficientnow.co.uk or by post at 71–75 Shelton Street, London, WC2H 9JQ. We are the "data controller" for the personal information described in this policy.

2. Who this policy covers

This policy applies to everyone we hold information about, including:

• Candidates — people looking for work or registered with us;
• Clients — employers and their staff who use our recruitment services;
• Website visitors — anyone browsing our site or contacting us through it.

3. The information we collect

For candidates, this typically includes your name and contact details, CV and work history, qualifications, right-to-work and eligibility information, and details relevant to a role (such as salary expectations and references).

For clients, we collect business contact details and information needed to provide our services.

For website visitors, we collect limited technical and usage information through cookies and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy).

4. How we use your information and our lawful bases

We use candidate information to find and put forward suitable roles, to progress applications, and to provide our recruitment service. We use client information to manage our relationship and deliver our services. We use website data to operate and improve the site.

Under the UK GDPR we rely on the following lawful bases: our legitimate interests in running a recruitment business (balanced against your rights); the performance of a contract with you; your consent where required; and compliance with our legal obligations.

5. Recruitment-specific handling

As a recruitment business, we handle candidate and client information in line with the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003. We will not introduce a candidate to a client without a lawful basis to do so, and we take care to keep your information accurate and up to date.

6. Who we share it with

For candidates, we share relevant details with prospective employers as part of putting you forward for roles. We may also share information with trusted service providers who help us operate (for example IT and hosting providers), who act on our instructions.

We do not sell your personal information to anyone.

7. International transfers

We operate from the UK and also work through offices and partners in Europe, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Australia. Where your information is transferred outside the UK, we put appropriate safeguards in place (such as approved contractual clauses) so it remains protected to UK standards.

8. How long we keep it

We keep personal information only for as long as we need it. As a general rule we retain candidate records, including CVs, for up to three years from our last meaningful contact, and client and employer records for up to five years, unless a longer period is required by law. After that, information is securely deleted or anonymised.

9. Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to access your information; to have inaccurate information corrected; to ask us to erase it; to restrict or object to how we use it; and, in some cases, to receive it in a portable format. Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@proficientnow.co.uk. We will respond within the timescales set by law.

10. Keeping your information secure

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information against loss, misuse and unauthorised access, and we review these measures regularly.

11. Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies. Please see our Cookie Policy for details on what we use and how you can manage your preferences.

12. Complaints

If you have a concern about how we handle your information, please contact us first so we can put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection regulator, at ico.org.uk.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The version shown here is effective from the date at the top of this page and is reviewed at least annually.