Privacy Policy
Last updated: 1 October 2026
Starfind respects your privacy and is committed to handling personal information responsibly, transparently and securely.
This Privacy Policy explains how Starfind collects, uses, stores and shares personal information in connection with our recruitment services, website, business development activities and communications with candidates, clients and professional contacts.
1. Who we are
Starfind is an independent recruitment business specialising in infrastructure and energy.
For data protection purposes, the person responsible for Starfind's processing of personal information is:
Starfind
Email: b.hocking@starfind.co.uk
Website: https://www.starfind.co.uk/
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is used, please contact us using the email address above.
Starfind is currently operated as an independent business. If the legal structure or details of the business change, this Privacy Policy will be updated where appropriate.
2. The personal information we collect
The information we process depends on how you interact with Starfind.
Candidates and prospective candidates
We may collect information such as:
Name and contact details
CV and employment history
Current and previous job titles
Professional experience and responsibilities
Qualifications, certifications and technical skills
Industry and sector experience
Project experience
Location and willingness to travel or relocate
Salary or remuneration expectations
Notice period and availability
Career preferences and aspirations
Information about the types of roles or organisations you may be interested in
Information provided during conversations about potential opportunities
Interview-related information
References or other information relevant to a recruitment process, where appropriate
We will generally only collect information that is relevant to recruitment and the services we provide.
Clients and prospective clients
We may collect:
Name and contact details
Job title and professional role
Company and business information
Recruitment requirements
Vacancy and role information
Information about hiring requirements and organisational needs
Communications and correspondence with Starfind
Information relating to potential or existing recruitment services
Website visitors and people contacting Starfind
If you contact Starfind through our website, email, telephone, LinkedIn or another communication channel, we may collect information such as your name, contact details and the contents of your communication.
Our website may also collect limited technical information, such as IP address, browser type, device information and information relating to how the website is used, depending on the website functionality, cookies and analytics services in use.
3. How we obtain personal information
We may obtain personal information:
Directly from you when you contact us
When you submit a CV or other information to Starfind
During telephone, email, LinkedIn or other professional communications
From clients or other professional contacts
Through professional networking and referrals
From publicly available professional sources, where appropriate
From recruitment platforms, job boards or other professional sources
From information you have made available through professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn
From information provided during the recruitment process
Through our website and contact forms
Where we obtain personal information from a source other than the individual concerned, we will consider our transparency obligations and provide appropriate privacy information.
This is particularly relevant to recruitment activities where Starfind may identify professionals who appear to have relevant experience and contact them regarding a potential opportunity.
Where required, privacy information will be provided at the appropriate time. The ICO states that where personal information is obtained from another source, privacy information will generally need to be provided within a reasonable period and no later than one month, or at the latest when the first communication takes place if contact is made sooner.
4. How we use personal information
We may use personal information for the following purposes:
Recruitment:
Identifying professionals who may be suitable for current or future opportunities
Discussing potential career opportunities with candidates
Understanding a candidate's experience, skills, preferences and career objectives
Assessing suitability for particular roles
Introducing candidates to clients where there is a potential match
Managing communication between candidates and clients
Supporting interviews, offers and onboarding
Providing recruitment advice and market information
Maintaining appropriate records of recruitment activity
Client services:
Understanding a client's recruitment requirements
Discussing current and future hiring needs
Identifying and approaching suitable candidates
Providing recruitment services
Communicating regarding vacancies and recruitment processes
Managing the commercial relationship with clients
Business development and professional communication
Communicating with prospective clients and professional contacts about Starfind's recruitment services
Developing professional relationships
Following up on previous business conversations
Providing relevant information about Starfind's services
Where we use personal information for direct marketing or business development, we will do so in accordance with applicable data protection and electronic marketing requirements.
The ICO confirms that UK GDPR applies to the use of personal data for B2B marketing, even where the information is being used in a business context. PECR requirements can also vary depending on who is being contacted and the method of communication.
Website and administration
We may also use information to:
Respond to website enquiries
Operate and maintain our website
Manage our business systems
Maintain appropriate business records
Protect our website, systems and information
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
Establish, exercise or defend legal claims where necessary
5. Lawful bases for processing
We will only process personal information where we have a lawful basis for doing so.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
Legitimate interests
We may rely on legitimate interests where processing is necessary for the legitimate operation and development of Starfind's recruitment business and where those interests are not overridden by the individual's rights and interests.
Examples may include:
Identifying potentially suitable candidates for relevant recruitment opportunities
Contacting professionals about potentially relevant career opportunities
Communicating with prospective clients about recruitment services
Maintaining professional relationships
Managing and developing our recruitment business
Keeping appropriate records of recruitment activity
Where we rely on legitimate interests, we will consider whether the processing is necessary, whether there is a less intrusive way of achieving the same purpose, and whether the individual's interests and rights should take priority.
Consent
Where consent is the appropriate lawful basis, we will request it clearly.
Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.
Contract or steps prior to entering into a contract
We may process personal information where it is necessary to enter into or perform a contract, or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract.
Legal obligation
We may process personal information where necessary to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.
The lawful basis used will depend on the circumstances and purpose of the particular processing activity.
6. Candidate introductions
Starfind may introduce candidates to clients where we believe there is a genuine potential match between the candidate's experience and the client's requirements.
We will take reasonable steps to ensure that information provided to a client is relevant to the recruitment opportunity.
Where a candidate has engaged with Starfind regarding an opportunity, we will normally discuss the opportunity and the proposed introduction with them before providing identifiable candidate information to the client.
Where appropriate, an initial candidate profile may be presented anonymously or without directly identifying information.
7. Information obtained from public and professional sources
As part of our recruitment activities, Starfind may research professional information that individuals have made publicly available.
This may include information from:
Professional networking platforms
Company websites
Professional directories
Industry publications
Recruitment platforms and job boards
Other publicly accessible professional sources
Information obtained in this way may be used to identify individuals who appear to have relevant professional experience for a recruitment opportunity.
We will seek to use such information fairly, proportionately and only for appropriate recruitment or business purposes.
Where required by data protection law, we will provide appropriate privacy information when we first communicate with an individual or within the applicable timeframe.
The ICO's guidance specifically requires privacy information to identify the source of personal information where it has been obtained from another source, including a publicly accessible source.
8. Special category and sensitive information
Starfind does not generally seek to collect sensitive personal information unless it is relevant and there is a lawful basis for doing so.
Special category information can include information concerning health, racial or ethnic origin, religion, political opinions, trade union membership, genetic or biometric information, and sex life or sexual orientation.
We ask candidates and clients not to provide unnecessary sensitive information through the website or general correspondence.
Where such information is relevant to a recruitment process, we will only process it where there is an appropriate lawful basis and, where required, an additional condition for processing special category data.
9. Criminal offence information
Starfind does not generally require criminal offence information as part of its standard recruitment activities.
Where such information is relevant to a particular recruitment process, we will only process it where permitted by applicable data protection law and where an appropriate legal condition applies.
10. Sharing personal information
We may share personal information where necessary to provide recruitment services or operate Starfind.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include sharing information with:
Current or prospective employers
Clients and prospective clients
Professional advisers
IT, email, hosting and software providers
Recruitment and candidate-management systems
Business administration and accounting providers
Other service providers supporting our business
Government bodies, regulators or law enforcement authorities where legally required
We will only share information where there is an appropriate reason and lawful basis for doing so.
We do not sell personal information.
11. Service providers and data processors
Starfind may use third-party service providers to operate its business.
These may include providers of:
Email and communication services
Website hosting
Cloud storage
Recruitment or CRM software
Business administration software
Accounting services
Cybersecurity and technical services
Where a third party processes personal information on our behalf, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate contractual and security arrangements are in place.
12. International transfers
Some technology and service providers used by Starfind may process information outside the United Kingdom.
Where personal information is transferred outside the UK, we will take appropriate steps to ensure that the transfer is carried out in accordance with applicable UK data protection requirements and that appropriate safeguards are used where required.
13. How we protect personal information
Starfind takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:
Unauthorised access
Accidental loss
Misuse
Unauthorised disclosure
Alteration or destruction
Access to personal information will be limited to what is reasonably necessary for legitimate business and recruitment purposes.
No electronic storage or transmission system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we will take reasonable steps to protect information under our control.
14. How long we keep personal information
We will retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, taking into account:
The nature and sensitivity of the information
The purpose for which it was collected
Whether the information remains relevant to an ongoing recruitment or business relationship
Legal, accounting or regulatory requirements
The need to establish, exercise or defend legal claims
Whether there is an ongoing or reasonably foreseeable recruitment relationship
We will periodically review the information we hold and securely delete or anonymise information when it is no longer required.
Because recruitment relationships can develop over time and candidates may become relevant to future opportunities, information may sometimes be retained for a reasonable period after a particular recruitment process has ended.
15. Your data protection rights
Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights under UK data protection law including:
Right of access — to request a copy of personal information we hold about you.
Right to rectification — to ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
Right to erasure — to ask us to delete personal information in certain circumstances.
Right to restriction — to ask us to restrict how we use your information in certain circumstances.
Right to object — to object to certain processing, including processing based on legitimate interests and direct marketing.
Right to data portability — in certain circumstances, to receive personal information in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format.
Right to withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent.
Not all rights apply in every situation, and there may be legal circumstances where we are entitled or required to retain or process information.
If you wish to exercise a right, please contact us using the details at the end of this Privacy Policy.
We may need to verify your identity before responding to a request.
16. Direct marketing and your right to object
If Starfind contacts you about recruitment opportunities or its services, you can ask us to stop contacting you.
You have an absolute right to object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes.
If you tell us that you do not want to receive further recruitment or marketing communications, we will respect that request and take appropriate steps to prevent further communications for that purpose.
Where applicable, electronic marketing communications will also comply with the requirements of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).
17. Automated decision-making and profiling
Starfind does not currently make decisions about individuals based solely on automated processing or automated profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects.
Recruitment decisions and candidate assessments are not made solely by an automated system.
Where this changes, this Privacy Policy will be updated as appropriate.
18. Cookies and website technologies
The Starfind website may use cookies and similar technologies.
Some cookies may be necessary for the website to function correctly. Other cookies or technologies may be used to understand how visitors use the website, improve the website or provide other functionality.
The specific cookies used may change as the website develops.
Where applicable law requires consent for a particular cookie or technology, we will request consent before using it.
19. Third-party websites
The Starfind website may contain links to third-party websites, including professional networking platforms and other external services.
Starfind is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of third-party websites.
You should review the privacy policies of third-party websites before providing them with personal information.
20. Data breaches
If Starfind becomes aware of a personal data breach, we will assess the breach and take appropriate steps to contain, investigate and remedy it.
Where required by law, we will notify the Information Commissioner's Office and/or affected individuals.
21. Complaints
If you have concerns about the way Starfind has handled your personal information, please contact us first so that we can investigate and attempt to resolve the issue.
You also have the right to complain to the UK's data protection regulator:
Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Website: https://ico.org.uk/
22. Changes to this Privacy Policy
Starfind may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:
Changes to our business
Changes to our recruitment activities
Changes to the technology and systems we use
Changes to how we collect, use or store personal information
Changes to applicable legal or regulatory requirements
Where significant changes are made, we will take reasonable steps to bring them to people's attention where appropriate.
The latest version of this Privacy Policy will be published on the Starfind website.
23. Contact us
If you have a question about this Privacy Policy, how Starfind uses your personal information, or wish to exercise one of your data protection rights, please contact:
Starfind
Email: b.hocking@starfind.co.uk
Website: https://www.starfind.co.uk/
Last updated: 1 October 2026