At Happydance Academy, your privacy matters. This policy explains exactly how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you visit our site, enrol in a course, or interact with us in any way. We operate in full compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR).

By using Happydance Academy, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Who we are: Happydance Academy is operated by Phuse Technology Limited, trading as Happydance, registered in the United Kingdom. Our appointed Data Protection Officer (DPO) can be reached at [email protected].

What personal information we collect

When you interact with Happydance Academy, we may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

  • Identification data: Your name, email address, phone number, and company details provided during registration or enrolment.
  • Course and account data: Your learning progress, course completions, assignment submissions, and HRCI certification records.
  • Payment data: Billing information collected securely at the point of purchase (we do not store full card details).
  • Website data: Cookies, IP addresses, browser type, device information, and analytics data gathered during your visit.
  • Communication data: Emails, support enquiries, and any other correspondence you send to us.
  • Marketing preferences: Your opt-in status if you choose to receive updates, offers, or educational content from us.

Methods of data collection

We collect your personal data through the following means:

  • Account registration: When you create a learner account or enrol in a course on Happydance Academy.
  • Course purchases: When you complete a transaction, your billing and contact details are collected via our secure payment processor.
  • Contact forms and emails: When you reach out to us with an enquiry or support request.
  • Cookies and tracking technologies: Automatically when you browse our site (see the Cookies section below for full details).
  • Marketing opt-ins: When you voluntarily subscribe to our newsletter or download a free resource such as the Employer Brand Scorecard.

Purposes and legal bases for processing personal data

We process your personal data only for legitimate purposes, based on the following legal grounds under GDPR:


Purpose

Legal Basis

Delivering courses and managing your learner account

Contract performance

Processing payments and issuing HRCI certificates

Contract performance

Responding to support enquiries

Legitimate interests

Improving our website and course content

Legitimate interests

Sending marketing communications

Consent (opt-in only)

Placing non-essential cookies and analytics tracking

Consent


We will never sell your personal data to third parties, and we will not use it for purposes beyond those listed above without notifying you first.

Cookies and tracking technologies

Happydance Academy uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and understand how our site is used. Cookies fall into two categories:

  • Essential cookies: Required for the site to function, including keeping you logged in to your learner account. These do not require your consent.
  • Non-essential cookies: Analytical and marketing cookies, such as Google Analytics tracking, which are only placed on your device after you provide explicit consent.


You can manage, update, or withdraw your cookie consent at any time through our cookie settings banner. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before your withdrawal.

Data sharing practices

We do not sell or share your personal data with third parties for their own commercial purposes. We may share data only in the following limited circumstances:

  • Service providers: Trusted platforms that support the delivery of our courses and website, including our learning management system (Thinkific) and payment processors. These providers are bound by strict data processing agreements.
  • HRCI certification: Where applicable, course completion data is shared with the HR Certification Institute to issue your continuing education credits.
  • Legal obligations: Where we are required to disclose data by law, court order, or regulatory authority.
  • International transfers: If your data is transferred outside the UK or EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including standard contractual clauses (SCCs) approved by the EU Commission and technical measures such as encryption and data minimisation.

How long we keep your data

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law:

  • Learner account and course data: Retained for the duration of your account and up to 7 years thereafter for tax and compliance purposes.
  • Marketing data: Retained until you withdraw your consent or unsubscribe.
  • Website analytics data: Typically retained for 26 months, unless deleted earlier at your request.
  • Support communications: Retained for up to 3 years to assist with any follow-up queries.


Once the applicable retention period expires, your data is securely deleted or anonymised.

How we protect your information

We take the security of your personal data seriously. Our technical and organisational measures include:

  • Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS) across the Academy platform.
  • Secure, access-controlled storage of personal and payment data.
  • Regular review of our data handling practices and third-party supplier agreements.
  • No use of fully automated decision-making or profiling that would significantly affect you.


While we take every reasonable precaution, no online platform can guarantee absolute security. If you have concerns about the security of your data, please contact us immediately at [email protected].

Your rights regarding your data

Under UK and EU GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

  • Right to access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to rectification: Ask us to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Right to erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request deletion of your data, subject to any legal obligations we must fulfil.
  • Right to restriction: Ask us to pause processing of your data in certain circumstances.
  • Right to object: Object to processing based on our legitimate interests.
  • Right to data portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
  • Right to withdraw consent: Withdraw marketing or cookie consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.

If you are unsatisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Contact details for privacy enquiries and data protection requests

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your data rights, or wish to raise a concern about how we handle your personal data, please get in touch:

Happydance Academy (Phuse Technology Limited) 2 Brookfield Lane, Aughton, Liverpool, L39 6SP United Kingdom

Email: [email protected]

Data Protection Officer: contactable at the email address above

We are committed to addressing all privacy enquiries promptly and transparently. This policy is reviewed at least annually; the most recent update was made in April 2024.