PRIVACY POLICY
The Creatives Bench Recruitment Agency
Effective Date: 16 May 2026
1. Introduction
The Creatives Bench ("we", "us", or "our") is a specialist recruitment agency connecting creative professionals with leading employers. We are committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of all individuals who interact with us — including job seekers, candidates, clients, and visitors to our website. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including (where applicable) the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK GDPR, and the Information Technology Act, 2000 (India). By engaging with our services, submitting your details to us, or visiting our website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.
2. Who We Are
Data Controller: The Creatives Bench. Nature of Business: Creative industry recruitment agency. Contact Email: hello@thecreativesbench.com. For any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact us at the above address.
3. Personal Data We Collect
We collect personal data in order to provide our recruitment services effectively. The categories of data we may collect include:
3.1 Candidates & Job Seekers
Full name, contact details (email address, phone number, postal address)
Curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé, including work history, skills, and qualifications
Portfolio links, creative samples, and professional profiles (e.g. LinkedIn, Behance)
Salary expectations, availability, and preferred working arrangements
References and referee contact information
Right to work documentation and identity verification where required
Sensitive data such as disability status or adjustments needed — only with your explicit consent
Communications you send us, including notes from interviews or telephone conversations
3.2 Client Contacts
Name, job title, and business contact details
Information about your organisation's recruitment needs and hiring preferences
Records of business communications and correspondence
3.3 Website Visitors
IP address, browser type, and device information
Pages visited, time spent on site, and referring URLs
Data submitted via contact forms or newsletter sign-ups
Cookie data (see Section 10 — Cookies)
4. How We Collect Your Data
We collect personal data through the following means:
Directly from you — when you register with us, submit a CV, complete a form, or contact us
Third-party job boards and platforms — such as LinkedIn, Indeed, or industry-specific boards
Referrals — from other candidates or professional contacts
Publicly available sources — including professional networking sites and publicly accessible portfolios
Our website — via cookies, contact forms, and analytics tools
Client organisations — when they refer candidates to us or share contact information
5. How We Use Your Data & Legal Basis
We only process your personal data where we have a lawful basis to do so. Our purposes and legal bases include:
5.1 Providing Recruitment Services
Purpose: Matching candidates with suitable roles; presenting candidate profiles to clients; managing the hiring process. Legal Basis: Legitimate interests (to operate our business as a recruitment agency); performance of a contract; or your consent where applicable.
5.2 Communication
Purpose: Contacting you about relevant roles, updates to your application, or changes to our services. Legal Basis: Legitimate interests or consent.
5.3 Legal & Compliance Obligations
Purpose: Verifying the right to work; meeting statutory requirements; responding to legal requests. Legal Basis: Legal obligation.
5.4 Marketing
Purpose: Sending you information about industry news, events, or services we think may be of interest. Legal Basis: Consent. You may opt out at any time by contacting us or clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email.
5.5 Improving Our Services
Purpose: Analysing how our website and services are used to improve user experience. Legal Basis: Legitimate interests.
6. Sharing Your Data
We do not sell your personal data. We may share it with:
Prospective employers and client organisations — with your knowledge and agreement, as part of the recruitment process
Technology and service providers — such as applicant tracking systems (ATS), email platforms, and cloud storage providers, who process data on our behalf under data processing agreements
Background check and verification providers — where required and with your consent
Professional advisors — including legal and financial advisors, under confidentiality obligations
Regulatory authorities and law enforcement — where required by law or to protect our legal rights
All third parties are required to maintain the confidentiality and security of your data and are prohibited from using it for any purpose other than as instructed by us.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes set out in this policy, and in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements. Our general retention periods are:
Active candidates: For the duration of your engagement with us plus up to 2 years following last contact
Placed candidates: Up to 7 years following placement (for legal and contractual purposes)
Unsuccessful applications: Up to 12 months, unless you consent to longer retention for future opportunities
Client data: Duration of the business relationship plus up to 7 years
Website analytics data: Typically up to 26 months
You may request deletion of your data at any time (subject to any overriding legal obligations). See Section 9 — Your Rights.
8. Data Security
We take the security of your personal data seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or disclosure. These measures include:
Encrypted storage of personal data
Restricted access controls — only authorised staff may access personal data
Regular security assessments and staff training
Secure transmission protocols (SSL/TLS) for data transferred via our website
Data processing agreements with all third-party service providers
No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you suspect a data breach, please contact us immediately.
9. Your Rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the following rights in relation to your personal data:
Right of access — to obtain a copy of the personal data we hold about you
Right to rectification — to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
Right to erasure — to request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten"), subject to legal obligations
Right to restriction — to request that we limit how we use your data
Right to data portability — to receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
Right to object — to object to our processing of your data based on legitimate interests
Right to withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent, to withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@thecreativesbench.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days. There is no charge for making a request, though we reserve the right to charge a reasonable fee for requests that are manifestly unfounded or excessive.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a relevant supervisory authority.
10. Cookies
Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to improve your browsing experience and help us understand how visitors use our site. The types of cookies we use include:
Essential cookies — required for the website to function properly
Analytics cookies — to collect anonymised data on how visitors use the site (e.g. Google Analytics)
Preference cookies — to remember your settings and choices
Marketing cookies — to serve relevant advertisements (only used with your consent)
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website. By continuing to use our website, you consent to our use of cookies as described above.
11. International Data Transfers
As a recruitment agency that may work with clients and candidates internationally, your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your home country. Where such transfers occur, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, including:
Adequacy decisions by the relevant regulatory authority
Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the relevant authority
Your explicit consent where required
12. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, job boards, or social media platforms. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external sites, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
13. Children's Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete such data.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this document. For significant changes, we will take reasonable steps to notify you — for example, by email or by displaying a notice on our website.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.
15. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal data, please contact us:
The Creatives Bench | Email: privacy@thecreativesbench.com | Website: www.thecreativesbench.com
This Privacy Policy was drafted for The Creatives Bench and should be reviewed by a qualified legal professional to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction before publication.
