Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

We are The Studio Market Research Company. We recruit and schedule participants for market research in the UK (England & Wales law). We are registered with the ICO.

2. What data we collect

  • Contact details: name, email, phone, address.
  • Demographics and profile: age, region, job status, consumer habits.
  • Screener responses and participation details (date, topic, incentive).
  • Session recordings if applicable (told in advance).
  • Website analytics/cookies (if used).

Sensitive data

We generally avoid sensitive data. If a study needs it (e.g. health or political views), we will ask for your explicit consent and limit use to that study.

3. Why we use your data (lawful bases)

3. Why we use your data (lawful bases)

  • Consent: to keep you on our panel, send invites, and run a study you agree to.
  • Contract: to schedule you and pay your incentive.
  • Legitimate interests: to manage our panel and improve services (balanced against your rights).
  • Legal obligation: to keep required finance records and respond to rights requests.

4. How we use data

  • Match and invite you to suitable studies.
  • Schedule, run, and manage sessions.
  • Pay incentives (bank transfer or voucher).
  • Report findings to clients in anonymised or aggregated form.
  • Operate and secure our website and systems.

5. Who we share data with

  • Clients and moderators: limited details needed to run the session.
  • Service providers: email, survey, video tools, payment processors, cloud hosting.
  • Legal/regulatory: if required by law (e.g. ICO).

We do not sell your data for marketing.

6. International transfers

If any provider stores data outside the UK, we use appropriate safeguards (e.g. UK-approved SCCs).

7. Retention

  • Panel profile: kept while you remain active or until you ask us to delete it.
  • Screener and project data: typically 12–36 months, then deleted or anonymised.
  • Payment records: up to 7 years (finance rules).
  • Website logs/analytics: kept for limited periods in aggregate form.

8. Your rights

  • Access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection.
  • Withdraw consent at any time.
  • Complain to the ICO (ico.org.uk / 0303 123 1113).

To exercise rights: contact [privacy email] or write to us at [address]. We may verify your identity. We aim to respond within one month.

9. Security

  • Encrypted systems and secure access controls.
  • Staff training and confidentiality.
  • Processor contracts with data protection terms.
  • Breach response plan (we will notify you/ICO when required).

10. Children

  • 16+ may register and take part.
  • Under‑16s only with parental consent and adult supervision for relevant studies.

11. Cookies

  • If we use cookies/analytics, we’ll provide a cookie notice and choices on our site.

12. Changes

We may update this policy. The latest version will be on our website with a new date.

Contact

  • Email: [privacy@[domain]]
  • Phone: [number]
  • Address: [The Studio Market Research Company, full postal address]
  • ICO registration number: [insert]