Data Protection & Privacy Policy

1. About us

1.1. Seked Labs Ltd (company number 16806329) (referred to in this policy as “we”, “us”, or “our”) is a company registered in England and Wales. Our registered office is in Sheffield, United Kingdom.

1.2. We operate the website https://sekedlabs.co.uk and provide engineering consultancy, rapid prototyping, fabrication, instrumentation, and small-batch technical development services.

1.3. For general enquiries, email hello@sekedlabs.co.uk. For privacy or data protection enquiries, email privacy@sekedlabs.co.uk.

2. What we collect

2.1. Contact details such as your name, email address, phone number, company name, and role where provided.

2.2. Project and job information such as requested services, materials, quantities, deadlines, tolerances, technical notes, delivery details, and project requirements.

2.3. Files you upload or share with us, such as CAD models, drawings, PCB layouts, images, documents, ZIP archives, or links to services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer.

2.4. Internal records created while working with you, such as quotes, invoices, purchase records, delivery notes, project notes, support records, and lead-time communications.

2.5. Basic website and analytics information may be collected if analytics or cookies are enabled, such as page visits, device/browser information, and approximate location data. Where required, this will be handled through a cookie notice or consent mechanism.

3. How we use your data

3.1. To review your enquiry and provide a quote.

3.2. To carry out feasibility, design, prototyping, fabrication, testing, or consultancy work you request.

3.3. To contact you regarding clarifications, technical details, lead times, collection, delivery, invoicing, or support.

3.4. To maintain records for tax, invoicing, accounting, insurance, legal compliance, and business administration.

3.5. To protect our business, systems, files, equipment, and legal interests.

3.6. We do not sell your data.

3.7. We do not share your data with third parties for their own marketing.

3.8. We do not reuse, publish, or market your designs without your permission.

4. Lawful basis for processing

4.1. We process enquiry, quote, and project information where it is necessary to take steps before entering into a contract or to perform a contract with you.

4.2. We process invoices, accounting records, tax information, and certain business records where we have a legal obligation to do so.

4.3. We may process limited business contact details under legitimate interests, including responding to enquiries, managing customer relationships, following up on quotes, protecting our business, improving our services, and keeping appropriate project records.

4.4. Where we rely on consent, such as for optional marketing communications or using project images in a public case study, you can withdraw consent at any time.

5. File storage

5.1. Files sent to us via the quote form, email, or shared links are saved into our company file storage systems, such as Google Workspace / Google Drive, which are access-controlled and protected with multi-factor authentication.

5.2. For manufacturing, prototyping, or analysis purposes, we may create a temporary working copy of a file on a local workstation connected to fabrication or development equipment, such as laser cutters, CNC machines, 3D printers, electronics tools, or analysis software.

5.3. These working copies are used only for tasks such as toolpathing, slicing, production setup, analysis, testing, or project delivery.

5.4. Once the job is completed, local working copies are either deleted or archived back into the relevant project folder if needed for repeat work, support, or record-keeping.

5.5. Our company file storage is treated as the source of truth for customer and project files. Local copies are not retained long-term unless needed for support, repeat work, or legitimate business records.

5.6. Customers may request deletion of technical files after completion of the work. We may still retain basic order records, invoices, and project records where needed for accounting, legal, insurance, or business purposes.

6. Sharing and service providers

6.1. We may share limited information with trusted service providers where necessary to operate the business and deliver work.

6.2. This may include file storage and email providers, website hosting providers, payment providers, accounting or bookkeeping software, delivery or courier services, professional advisers, insurers, and subcontractors or partners involved in a project.

6.3. We only share the information necessary for the relevant purpose.

6.4. Where we use subcontractors or project partners, we will take reasonable steps to protect confidential customer information and technical files.

7. Confidentiality and intellectual property

7.1. Your designs, files, and project information remain your property unless otherwise agreed in writing.

7.2. We treat customer designs and job details as confidential and do not disclose them without your permission unless required for project delivery, legal compliance, or protection of our legitimate interests.

7.3. We may request to show non-sensitive parts, images, or project outcomes as portfolio work or case studies, but only with your explicit written approval.

8. How long we keep data

8.1. Quotes and enquiries are normally retained for up to 12 months unless they become active projects or need to be kept for business, legal, or insurance reasons.

8.2. Technical job files are normally retained for up to 24 months after completion, unless a longer period is agreed or needed for repeat work, support, legal, insurance, or business reasons.

8.3. Invoices, accounting records, and tax-related records are normally retained for 6 years.

8.4. Email correspondence and project records may be retained as long as needed for business records, customer relationship management, legal protection, or ongoing work.

8.5. We periodically review stored data to ensure it remains necessary.

9. Your rights under UK GDPR

9.1. You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

9.2. You may ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.

9.3. You may request deletion of data that is no longer required for business, legal, accounting, insurance, or contractual reasons.

9.4. You may object to specific processing or request restriction of processing in certain circumstances.

9.5. You may withdraw consent where we rely on consent for processing.

9.6. To exercise these rights, email privacy@sekedlabs.co.uk.

10. Security measures

10.1. Data is stored on access-controlled systems. Company accounts use multi-factor authentication where available and appropriate.

10.2. Internal documentation and technical files are kept in company-controlled systems such as Google Workspace. Public sharing is disabled by default where practical.

10.3. Manufacturing and development computers may hold temporary working copies only and are not used as the main long-term storage location.

10.4. We take reasonable steps to protect customer information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or disclosure.

11. Cookies and analytics

11.1. Our website uses essential storage to remember your cookie choice and may use analytics cookies with your permission to understand how visitors use the site.

11.2. Analytics cookies are not loaded unless you choose to accept them using the cookie banner.

11.3. If you reject analytics cookies, the website will still work.

11.4. You can find more information in our Cookie Policy.

12. Complaints

12.1. If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, please contact us first at privacy@sekedlabs.co.uk so we can try to resolve the issue.

12.2. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK data protection regulator.

13. Changes to this notice

13.1. We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our operations, services, systems, or legal obligations.

13.2. The latest version will always be available on this page.

14. Contact

14.1. For privacy or data protection questions, email privacy@sekedlabs.co.uk.

14.2. For general enquiries, email hello@sekedlabs.co.uk.