Privacy policy

This policy explains, in plain English, what personal data SME Brief ("we", "us") collects, why we collect it, how long we keep it, and the rights you have over it under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. We keep what we collect to a minimum, and we never sell it.

What we collect

• Newsletter: if you subscribe, we store the email address you give us so we can send you the newsletter, and we keep it until you unsubscribe. Nothing more.
• Analytics: we use Google Tag Manager to load analytics (such as Google Analytics) so we can see which articles are read. These analytics cookies are set only after you accept them via our cookie banner - until then they stay switched off by default through Google Consent Mode.
• Advertising: where we display advertising - for example through Google AdSense - Google and its partners may use cookies to serve ads based on prior visits to this and other sites. These advertising cookies are set only after you accept them; Google's advertising policies explain the detail and your opt-outs.
• Server logs: our hosting keeps standard request logs (IP address, browser type, timestamp) for a short period, for security and diagnostics.

Why we're allowed to (lawful basis)

In plain terms: we rely on your consent for the newsletter and for any non-essential cookies, and on our legitimate interests in running a secure, working website for basic server logging and aggregate analytics. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Cookies

Essential cookies keep the site working. Non-essential cookies (advertising and analytics) are only set after you accept them via our cookie banner. Until you accept, they stay switched off by default (Google Consent Mode), and you can change your choice whenever you like.

Change your cookie choice

Your rights

Under UK GDPR you can ask us for a copy of your data, to correct it, to delete it, or to stop or limit how we use it - and you can withdraw consent at any time. Email privacy@smebrief.co.uk and we'll respond within a month. If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

Third parties

We share data only with the services that run the site - our email provider, our analytics, and Google for advertising. We don't sell your personal data, and we don't share it for anyone else's marketing.

Who controls this data?

SME Brief is published by Etopia. For privacy queries, contact privacy@smebrief.co.uk.

Changes

We'll update this page when our practices change, and revise the date above.