· @Len Foster
This policy explains how I collect, use and protect your personal information when you visit thereferraledge.com, make an enquiry, or book speaking, training or mentoring with me. I have tried to keep it clear and plain.
Last updated: 8 November 2026
1. Who I am
I am Len G Foster, and I am responsible for the personal information described in this policy (the “data controller”). You can contact me at connect@thereferraledge.com.
2. The information I collect
- Enquiries. When you use the contact form on my website: your name, email address, how you would like me to contact you, your phone number and best time to call if you ask me to phone you, and what you tell me about your event or the help you need.
- Proposals and bookings. Your organisation’s name, the contact details of the people I deal with, and details of the keynote, training or mentoring, such as date, location and audience.
- Invoices and payments. The details I need to invoice you and record payment, such as your organisation’s name, billing contact and address, and what was paid. My website does not take payments.
- Mentoring. What an individual shares with me in mentoring, the goals agreed at the start, and the notes I make to prepare and follow up.
- Emails and messages. Our correspondence, including anything you send me.
- Testimonials. Your name, role and words, if you agree to let me use them publicly.
- Website data. Your IP address, browser and device type, the pages you visit and how you use the site, collected through cookies and similar technology.
I keep a record of enquiries, proposals and follow-up so that I can respond properly and keep track of conversations.
A request: when you describe a situation, please use roles (“my site manager”, “a subcontractor”) rather than the names of other people. You do not need to tell me anything about your health or other sensitive matters. If you choose to, I will treat it as sensitive and use it only to help you.
If your employer or an event organiser books me, I may also receive participants’ names and work email addresses from them. I use these only to deliver the event or the mentoring.
3. How I use your information
| Why I use your information | Legal basis (UK GDPR) |
|---|---|
| Replying to your enquiry and working out whether speaking, training or mentoring is right for you | Taking steps at your request before a contract (contract); my legitimate interest in answering business enquiries |
| Preparing proposals, and delivering your keynote, training or mentoring | Contract |
| Invoicing you, and keeping accounts and tax records | Contract; legal obligation |
| Keeping a record of enquiries, proposals and follow-up | Legitimate interests; contract |
| Keeping notes so I can deliver and follow up your mentoring | Contract; my legitimate interest in providing a good service |
| Using your testimonial publicly | Consent. You can withdraw consent for future use at any time |
| Understanding how my website is used so I can improve it | My legitimate interest in understanding how my website is used |
| Protecting against fraud, complying with the law and defending legal claims | Legal obligation; legitimate interests |
4. Confidentiality in mentoring and training
What an individual tells me in mentoring is confidential to them. I do not record sessions without everyone’s agreement. My notes are private, are kept securely, and are seen only by me. I will not share what they tell me with anyone, including their employer, unless they ask me to.
An employer who pays for mentoring receives only the goals agreed at the start, attendance and a short summary of progress, as set out in my Terms and Conditions. The only exceptions are where the law requires me to disclose something, or where I believe there is a serious risk of harm to the individual or someone else, including a serious safety risk on site, which is rare.
In training and speaking, I keep confidential what you tell me about your business, projects and people, and I use it only to prepare and deliver the service.
5. Who I share your information with
I do not sell or rent your personal information. I share it only with organisations and people who help me run my business, and only as far as they need it to do their job:
- Google for email, calendar, video calls and website analytics (Google Analytics).
- YouTube (Google) if you play a video embedded on my website.
- My PR manager, who receives a copy of enquiries about workshops, keynotes and other speaking to help me respond.
- My website hosting and email providers, who store the enquiries you send through my website and deliver my emails.
- Professional advisers, such as my accountant, where needed.
I may also disclose information where the law requires it, or to protect my legal rights.
6. Transfers outside the UK
Some of these providers, such as Google, may process information in the United States or other countries. Where this happens, I rely on safeguards approved under UK law, such as the UK–US data bridge or standard contractual terms, to protect your information.
7. How long I keep your information
| What | How long |
|---|---|
| Enquiries that do not lead to a booking | Up to 12 months |
| Proposals, booking, invoice and payment records | 6 years (accounting and tax records) |
| Mentoring notes | Up to 2 years after the final session |
| Testimonials | Until you ask me to remove them |
| Website analytics data | Up to 14 months |
I may keep information longer if the law requires it. When I no longer need it, I delete or anonymise it.
8. Your rights
You have the right to:
- ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you;
- ask me to correct anything that is wrong or incomplete;
- ask me to delete your information, or to restrict how I use it;
- object to my use of your information;
- ask for your information in a portable format;
- withdraw your consent at any time, where I rely on it (for example, for a testimonial).
To use any of these rights, email connect@thereferraledge.com. I will reply within one month. If you are unhappy with how I have handled your information, you also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113. I would appreciate the chance to put things right first.
9. Keeping your information secure
I use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information against loss, misuse and unauthorised access. No internet transmission is completely secure, but I take care to protect yours.
10. Cookies and website analytics
My website uses essential cookies that it needs in order to work. It also uses Google Analytics, which sets cookies to show me how the site is used, so that I can improve it. Some pages have embedded YouTube videos, and YouTube (Google) may set its own cookies when you play one. I do not use advertising or marketing cookies of my own. You can stop analytics cookies by changing your browser settings or by installing Google’s opt-out browser add-on for Google Analytics. Blocking essential cookies may affect how the site works.
11. Children
My services are for adults and are not directed at anyone under 18. I do not knowingly collect information from children. If you think I have, please contact me and I will delete it.
12. Changes to this policy
I may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it was last changed.
13. Contact
If you have any questions about this policy or about your information, please email connect@thereferraledge.com.