This notice provides details of what information we collect from you, what we do with it, and who it might be shared with, when you apply to access one of the business support funds (Funds).

Identity and contact details of the controller and the data protection officer

Falkirk Council is the data controller. You can contact the data protection officer at:

Data Protection Officer
The Foundry
4 Central Boulevard, Central Park
Larbert
FK5 4RS

Frequently asked questions

  1. Table of contents

Why do we collect this information?

The information is being collected for the following purpose:

  1. To allow us to determine whether your business is eligible to receive funding from the Funds and to administer that funding to your business.

The legal basis each purpose is set out below:

Legal basis Purpose
Consent  
Performance of a contract 1
Legal obligation  
Vital interests  
Task carried out in the public interest  
Legitimate interests  

What information do we collect about you?

We collect the information needed to process your application. This depends on the particular fund to which you are applying. We will need your name and contact details (postal address, email address and/or phone numbers). We may also need your national insurance number, your bank account details, information to verify your identity, and evidence of active trading in support of your application.

We also keep copies of your communications with us and our responses.

If you provide anyone else's details in your application, please make sure that you have told them that you have given their information to us and that we will only use this information to process and administer your application.


Where do we collect information from?

We collect information from you in your application, and from any follow-up communication with you.


Who might we share your information with?

We are legally obliged to safeguard public funds so we are required to verify and check your details internally for fraud prevention. We may share this information with other public bodies (and also receive information from these other bodies) for fraud checking purposes. We are also legally obliged to share certain data with other public bodies, such as HMRC and will do so where the law requires this. We will also generally comply with requests for specific information from other regulatory and law enforcement bodies where this is necessary and appropriate. Your information may also be analysed internally to help us improve our services.

Your information will be shared with the Scottish Government for the purposes of determining your application and administering it. Where the Fund is funded, or part-funded by the European Commission, we may need to share your information with it.

We may also share your information internally with the Council's Business Gateway team so that they can offer support in the future. We need to share information with the Business Gateway Team where you are applying for the Business Adaptation and Business Resilience Funds, as your business must be, or become a member of Business Gateway to qualify for these Funds.


Will we send your information outwith the UK?

We do not transfer your information outwith the UK.


How long do we keep hold of your information?

We keep your information as long as required by law or by our business requirements. We have a Business Classification Scheme in place which sets out the types of records we hold, and how long we hold them - you can access the relevant part of the scheme below.

Economic Development

What are my rights in relation to the information held about me?

You have the following rights:

  • To see any information held about you by making a subject access request.
  • To withdraw consent at any time, where the legal basis for processing is consent.
  • To data portability, where the legal basis for processing is (i) consent or (ii) performance of a contract.
  • To request rectification or erasure of your information, where data protection legislation allows this.

Do I have a right to complain about the way information has been used?

If you have a concern about the way we are collecting or using your personal data, please let us know and we will try to resolve this. If you are still concerned, you can contact the Information Commissioner:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House, Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
or if you prefer to use a national rate number:

Do I have to provide my personal data to you?

You do not have to provide information to us, but we may then not be able to process your application.


Do you use any automated processes to make decisions about me?

We do not use automated decision making processes.


This notice was last updated in December 2020.