Privacy Policy
Last updated: 24 September 2026
Close The Gap Web respects your privacy and is committed to handling your personal information responsibly, fairly and transparently.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, who we may share it with and the rights you have in relation to your information.
1. Who we are
Close The Gap Web is operated by:
Thomas Dobson trading as Close The Gap
United Kingdom
Close The Gap Web provides website design, website development and ongoing website-support services to small businesses.
For the purposes of UK data-protection law, Thomas Dobson is the data controller for personal information processed through Close The Gap Web.
Email: closethegap.official@gmail.com
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact us using the email address above.
2. What information we collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information including:
your name;
email address;
business name;
your existing website address, where provided;
information about your business and services;
information about the type of website or support you are interested in;
information you submit through our enquiry forms;
information contained in emails or other correspondence with us;
project information if you become a client;
payment, invoice and transaction records;
information required to provide ongoing website support; and
technical information generated when you visit our website, such as device, browser, IP address and website-usage information where applicable.
We do not intentionally ask visitors to provide special-category or sensitive personal information through the Close The Gap Web website.
3. How we collect your information
We primarily collect personal information directly from you when you:
submit an enquiry through our website;
email or otherwise contact us;
request information about our services;
ask us to provide a quotation or proposal;
become a Close The Gap Web client;
provide information required for a website project;
subscribe to an ongoing service such as Close The Gap Care; or
communicate with us during or after a project.
Certain technical information may also be collected automatically through Squarespace and other technologies used to operate our website.
4. How we use your information
We may use personal information to:
respond to enquiries;
discuss potential website projects;
understand your business and what you require from a website;
prepare quotations, proposals and project scopes;
provide website design and development services;
communicate with you about an active project;
provide ongoing website-support services;
manage our relationship with clients;
process payments and maintain financial records;
maintain records relating to projects and agreements;
provide customer service and respond to support requests;
maintain the security and operation of our website;
understand how visitors use our website where analytics are enabled;
improve our services and website;
comply with tax, accounting and other legal obligations; and
establish, exercise or defend legal claims where necessary.
We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the reason it was originally collected unless we have a lawful reason to do so.
5. Our lawful bases for processing
UK data-protection law requires us to have a lawful basis for processing personal information. The appropriate basis depends on why we are using the information.
Close The Gap Web will generally rely on the following:
Contract and steps before entering into a contract
We may need to process your information when you ask us about a project, request a quotation, instruct us to carry out work or enter into an agreement with us.
For example, we need your contact and business information to understand what you require and deliver the website you have asked us to build.
Legal obligation
We may process or retain information where required to comply with legal, tax, accounting or regulatory obligations.
Legitimate interests
We may process information where reasonably necessary to operate and protect Close The Gap Web, provided our interests do not override your rights and freedoms.
This may include:
managing customer relationships;
maintaining business records;
responding to enquiries;
protecting our website and systems;
preventing misuse or fraud; and
dealing with disputes.
Consent
Where required, we may ask for your consent before using your information.
This may include certain non-essential cookies, analytics technologies or future marketing communications.
Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it at any time.
6. Enquiry forms
When you submit an enquiry through the Close The Gap Web website, we may collect information such as:
your name;
email address;
business name;
whether you already have a website;
what you would like help with; and
any additional information you choose to provide.
We use this information to review your enquiry, understand what you need and contact you about your potential project.
Submitting an enquiry does not automatically subscribe you to marketing communications.
The ICO requires privacy information to be made available when personal information is collected, which is why our enquiry form links to this Privacy Policy.
7. Who we may share information with
We do not sell your personal information.
We may use trusted third-party providers where necessary to operate the business or provide our services.
These may include:
Squarespace, which hosts and provides technology used by our website;
Google, including Gmail and related services used for business communications;
website-domain providers;
payment and invoicing providers;
accounting or bookkeeping services;
analytics providers;
website or technology providers used to deliver a client project;
professional advisers where required; and
legal, regulatory or government authorities where disclosure is required by law.
Third parties may act as processors on our behalf or, in some circumstances, as independent data controllers.
We only share information where there is a legitimate reason to do so.
8. International data transfers
Some of the technology providers we use, including website, email and cloud-service providers, may process information outside the United Kingdom.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, the relevant service provider is expected to use an appropriate transfer mechanism or safeguard as required by UK data-protection law.
Where appropriate, further information about these safeguards can be requested by contacting:
closethegap.official@gmail.com
9. How long we keep your information
We only keep personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or where we have a legal or legitimate reason to retain it.
As a general guide:
Enquiries that do not become projects
Information relating to an enquiry will normally be retained for up to 12 months after the last meaningful communication.
Clients and website projects
Where you become a client, relevant project information, communications and agreements may normally be retained for up to six years after the client relationship or project ends, where appropriate for contractual, business or legal purposes.
Financial information
Invoices, transaction records and other financial information will be retained for the period required by applicable tax and accounting law.
Website and analytics data
Technical and analytics information will be retained according to our settings and the policies of the relevant service provider.
We may delete information earlier if it is no longer required.
The ICO requires organisations to explain either how long personal data is retained or the criteria used to determine retention.
10. Cookies and similar technologies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.
Some cookies are necessary for the website to function correctly, for example for security or essential website functionality.
Other cookies may be used for purposes such as analytics or understanding how visitors interact with the website.
Where consent is legally required for non-essential cookies or similar technologies, those technologies should not be activated until an appropriate choice has been made.
The ICO states that visitors should be told about cookies and that consent is generally required for cookies that are not strictly necessary.
You will be able to manage applicable cookie preferences through the cookie controls available on our website.
11. Analytics
We may use website analytics to understand information such as:
how many people visit our website;
which pages or sections are viewed;
how visitors arrive at our website;
general device or browser information; and
how visitors interact with the website.
We use this information to understand website performance and improve the visitor experience.
Where analytics technologies require consent under applicable UK rules, they will only be used in accordance with your cookie preferences.
12. Marketing communications
Submitting an enquiry or becoming a client does not automatically add you to a marketing mailing list.
If Close The Gap Web introduces email marketing or newsletters in the future, we will handle those communications in accordance with applicable UK data-protection and electronic-marketing requirements.
Where consent is required, we will ask for it.
Any marketing communication we send will provide an appropriate way to unsubscribe.
13. Your data-protection rights
Depending on the circumstances and the lawful basis on which your information is being processed, you may have rights including:
Right of access
You may request a copy of personal information we hold about you.
Right to rectification
You may ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
Right to erasure
In certain circumstances, you may ask us to delete your personal information.
Right to restrict processing
You may have the right to ask us to restrict how your information is used.
Right to object
You may object to certain types of processing, including processing based on legitimate interests in some circumstances.
Right to data portability
In certain circumstances, you may request that personal information you provided to us is transferred to you or another organisation.
Right to withdraw consent
Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time.
Your rights vary depending on the lawful basis and circumstances of the processing.
Your right to object to direct marketing
You have the right to object to your personal information being used for direct marketing.
If you ask us to stop using your personal information for direct marketing, we will do so.
To exercise any applicable privacy right, contact:
closethegap.official@gmail.com
We may need to verify your identity before responding to certain requests.
14. Automated decision-making
Close The Gap Web does not currently use automated decision-making or profiling to make decisions about individuals that produce legal or similarly significant effects.
15. Information security
We take reasonable organisational and technical steps to protect personal information against:
unauthorised access;
loss;
misuse;
alteration;
disclosure; or
destruction.
We also aim to limit access to personal information to the services and people that genuinely require it.
However, no internet-based service, email system or website can guarantee absolute security.
16. Links to other websites
Our website may contain links to external websites, platforms or services.
These organisations operate under their own privacy policies and practices.
Close The Gap Web is not responsible for how third-party websites collect or use personal information.
We recommend reviewing the privacy information provided by those organisations when using their services.
17. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when:
our services change;
we introduce new technology;
the way we process information changes; or
legal or regulatory requirements change.
The latest version will always be published on this website.
When material changes are made, the Last updated date at the top of this policy will also be changed.
18. Questions or concerns
If you have a question or concern about how your personal information is being handled, please contact us first:
Thomas Dobson trading as Close The Gap
Close The Gap Web
Email: closethegap.official@gmail.com
We will aim to resolve any privacy concern appropriately.
19. Complaints to the Information Commissioner’s Office
You also have the right to raise a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK regulator responsible for data protection.
Information about how to contact the ICO and make a complaint is available on the ICO website.