Data Protection and Privacy Policy

GENERAL

a. This data protection and privacy policy (the “Policy”) has been produced by the Association of Manufacturers of Power Generating Systems (“AMPS”) to regulate the manner in which AMPS collects, uses and stores personal data and information submitted to it by users of its website (“you”) or (“your”).

b. This policy is to be read in conjunction with AMPS’ website terms and conditions, and in accessing and using the website you confirm that you have read and understand this Policy and that you consent to the collection and use of your personal information and details by AMPS in accordance with this Policy. If you wish at any time to withdraw your consent, please notify AMPS at the address set out below.

1. PRIVACY

AMPS is committed to protecting the privacy of those who use our website, and the confidentiality of any personal information or details submitted or provided to us by you.

2. DATA PROTECTION

As a company limited by guarantee and registered in England, AMPS is obliged to comply with European and UK data protection legislation in all its dealings with your personal information and data.

3. COOKIES

a. What is a cookie?

i. A cookie is a text file that is stored on your computer or mobile device by a website’s server. Only that server will be able to retrieve or read the contents of that cookie. Each cookie is unique to your web browser. It will contain anonymous information such as a unique identifier and the site name.

ii. If you would like to know exactly what cookies are being used by Google Analytics and how they operate, or if you would like to find out more about the EU Cookie Law, you can do so via the links below.

* ICO Cookie Regulations and the EU Cookie Law – http://ico.org.uk/for_organisations/privacy_and_electronic_communications/the_guide/cookies

Google Analytics – https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/cookie-usage

iii. Further information on cookies should be available in the help pages of your browser, and most browsers will recognise when a cookie is offered and allow users to control how and when they are accepted.

iv. You should be aware that if you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to experience all of the features of the AMPS website, and other websites that you choose to visit.

b. Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics to help analyse how users use the site. The tool uses “cookies,” which are text files placed on your computer, to collect standard Internet log information and visitor behaviour information in an anonymous form. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website, including IP address, is transmitted to Google. This information is then used to evaluate visitors’ use of the website and to compile statistical reports on website activity for AMPS. Google may transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

c. How does AMPS use cookies?

AMPS use cookies that are necessary to enable you to move around the site or to provide certain basic features. We use cookies to provide better functionality of the website. We also use cookies to help us to improve the performance of our website to provide you with a better user experience.

We will never (and will not allow any third party to) use the statistical analytics tool to track or to collect any Personally Identifiable Information. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. Neither we, nor Google will link, or seek to link, an IP address with the identity of a computer user. We will not associate any data gathered from this site with any Personally Identifiable Information from any source, unless you explicitly submit that information via a fill-in form on our website.

d. What are the specific cookies that AMPS uses?

Cookie NamePurpose
PHPSESSIDThis cookie is used to store the PHP session ID so that certain CMS tools can communicate with each other.
__utmaThis cookie keeps track of the number of times a visitor has been to the site pertaining to the cookie, when their first visit was, and when their last visit occurred.
__utmb& __utmcThe B and C cookies work together to calculate how long a visit takes. __utmb takes a timestamp of the exact moment in time when a visitor enters a site, while __utmc takes a timestamp of the exact moment in time when a visitor leaves a site. __utmb expires at the end of the session. __utmc waits 30 minutes, and then it expires. __utmc has no way of knowing when a user closes their browser or leaves a website, so it waits 30 minutes for another pageview to happen, and if it doesn’t, it expires.
__utmtThis cookie is a special type variable applied to events, transactions, items and user-defined variables.
__utmz_utmz keeps track of where the visitor came from, what search engine you used, what link you clicked on, what keyword you used, and where they were in the world when you accessed a website. It expires in 15,768,000 seconds – or, in 6 months. This cookie is how Google Analytics knows to whom and to what source / medium / keyword to assign the credit for a Goal Conversion or an Ecommerce Transaction. __utmz also lets you edit its length with a simple customization to the Google Analytics Tracking code.

By using AMPS’ website you agree we may place these types of cookies on your device.

e. Can I restrict or block cookies?

You can restrict or block web browser cookies, which are set on your device through your browser settings. You can be notified when cookies are sent to your browser, or you can refuse cookies completely. You can also delete existing cookies. The Help function of your browser will tell you how. You can visit www.aboutcookies.org for further information about disabling cookies.

For further information about cookies, visit the Interactive Advertising Bureau (www.iab.net), an industry body that develops standards and guidelines to support online business processes. It has produced a series of web pages that explain how cookies work and how they can be managed.

4. USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Personal information is any information that can be used to identify you.  However, the information we hold on you and how we use it, is based on our relationship with you, as a member or contact of AMPS.

The personal information we collect and use

In the course of carrying out any work undertaken on behalf of AMPS arising from membership contract with you as the Client, we collect personal information when you provide it to us, which includes names, addresses and other contact details and your bank account information, when applicable.

We collect information about you to manage your membership and correspond with you regarding works carried out for you including keeping you updated with our service offering. We will not share your information with any other third party.

We will hold your name, address and contact details for the period we are required to retain this information by applicable UK tax law (currently 6 years).

We rely on performance of a membership contract with you and legitimate interests as the lawful basis on which we collect and use your personal data.

How do we use it?

There are no secrets when it comes down to how we use your personal data. It’s all set out in our privacy policy so please do have a look.  In short, we’ll use a mixture of three lawful means under the regulation for processing your information depending on the relationship we have with you.

a)      

Fulfilling the Membership Contract

As a member of AMPS you’ve entered into a contract with us to deliver benefits and services, which form part of the membership package. To do this we need to process your information and communicate with you.  We’ll always act upon your choice of how you’d like to receive these communications (for example by email, post, or phone where appropriate) but these essential communications are required to fulfil our promise to you as a member. Examples include:

  • Renewal reminders
  • Direct debit processing
  • Invoicing
  • Association Magazine.
  • Notices of AMPS meetings and Annual General Meeting
  • Essential Newsletters relating to the aims, values and objectives of AMPS

b)      

Our Legitimate interests

The General Data Protection Regulation allows for direct marketing to be a legitimate interest in so long as we have balanced our interests against your new rights and freedoms under the regulation and what you’d reasonably expect based on our relationship with you, but we’re keen to point out that you have an absolute right to object to such marketing which we will always respect. You can this via the contacts provided in our privacy notice. Examples here include:

  • Newsletters sent via post to prospective/non-members, subscribers or those individuals who have expressed an interest in the objectives of the AMPS
  • Events flyers for upcoming events of interest
  • Promotional items relating to benefits of joining as an AMPS member

c)      

Your opt-in consent

There may be times where we do need your consent in order to process your information and communicate with you; particularly via electronic means such as email.

  • Newsletters sent via email to prospective/non-members, subscribers or those individuals who have expressed an interest in the objectives of AMPS
  • Events flyers sent via email for upcoming events and webinars of interest
  • Promotional items sent via email relating to benefits of joining as an AMPS member

d)    Your rights

Under the General Data Protection Regulation you have a number of important rights free of charge. In summary, those include rights to:

  • Fair processing of information and transparency over how we use personal information
  • Access to your personal information
  • Require us to correct an mistakes in your information which we hold
  • Require the erasure of personal information concerning you in certain situations
  • Otherwise restrict our processing of your personal information in certain circumstances

If you would like to exercise any of those rights, please call +44 (0) 208 253 4505 or write to AMPS at

Unit 19 Omega Business Village, Thurston Road, Northallerton, DL6 2NJ

or use our contact form here.

5. SECURITY

AMPS has put in place measures to ensure the security of information it collects and stores about you, and will use its reasonable endeavours to protect your personal data from unauthorised disclosure and/or access including through the use of network and database security measures, but it cannot guarantee the security of any data it collects and stores.

6. HYPERLINKS

Where AMPS’s website provides links to other websites, it is not responsible for the data protection policies of such other websites, and you should check the privacy policies of such other websites if you have any concerns about them.

7. RIGHT OF ACCESS

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you have the right at any time in writing to request access to any personal information or details which AMPS holds about you. AMPS will comply with your request, in accordance with its obligations under the Act, provided you have paid to AMPS the necessary access fee and AMPS is satisfied as to your identity. If after accessing such information you believe any of the personal data or information that AMPS holds about you is incorrect, please provide AMPS with your correct details and information by contacting AMPS as set out in Section 11 of this Policy.

8. LEGAL OBLIGATIONS

AMPS may have obligations under certain legislation to check the identity of users of its website and in such circumstances it may need to make enquiries and obtain information from you for that purpose. You confirm that all information you supply to AMPS will be accurate and you accept and agree that AMPS may pass on such information, as it considers necessary to comply with any legal/reporting obligations it has or may have from time to time.

9. CHANGES TO THE POLICY

AMPS may from time to time post changes to the Policy. In such circumstances, AMPS will post such changes on this page of its website and AMPS would invite you to review the Policy from time to time in order to keep abreast of any changes to it. 

We hope that we can resolve any query or concern you raise about our use of your information. You have a right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. In the UK, the supervisory authority is the Information Commissioner who may be contacted at https://ico.org.uk/concerns/

©AMPS 
Data Protection and Privacy Policy 
May 2018