Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2026

Be Cited ("we", "us") is a strategic communications consultancy based in the UK. This policy explains what personal data we collect through this website, how we use it, and the choices you have.

Data controller

Be Cited is a trading name of Melanie Defries. Melanie Defries is the data controller for personal data collected through this website, and can be contacted at hello@becited.co.uk.

What we collect

When you submit the contact form, we collect the information you provide, which may include:

• Your name and email address
• Your company or organisation, if given
• The service you've indicated interest in
• Any message or context you choose to share
• Your answer to the optional survey question on the contact form

Our lawful basis

We process enquiry data on the basis of legitimate interests, responding to your enquiry and assessing whether we're a good fit to work together, and, if you go on to engage us, to perform that contract. Where you answer the optional survey question on the contact form, we rely on your consent to do so.

How we use it

We use this information only to respond to your enquiry, arrange and prepare for a discovery call, and, where relevant, to deliver the services you've engaged us for. We do not use your details for unrelated marketing without your separate consent, and we do not sell or share your data with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

Where it's stored

Form submissions are processed through Netlify Forms and stored in our Google Workspace email account. Both providers may process data outside the UK/EEA as part of their standard infrastructure. Where this happens, they rely on recognised safeguards, such as the UK International Data Transfer Addendum or equivalent standard contractual clauses, to keep your data protected to UK standards. Details of each provider's own safeguards are available on their respective websites.

How long we keep it

If we do not go on to work together, we keep your enquiry data for up to 12 months from your last contact with us, then delete it. If we do work together, we keep engagement-related data for the duration of that engagement plus a further 6 years, in line with standard UK record-keeping practice, then delete or anonymise it. You can ask us to delete your data sooner, see Your rights below.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data, and to object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise any of these rights, email hello@becited.co.uk.

Cookies

This website does not use tracking or advertising cookies. Any strictly necessary cookies set by our hosting provider (Netlify) are used only to operate the site and process form submissions.

Contact

Questions about this policy or how your data is handled can be sent to hello@becited.co.uk.