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Ruth Sturkey
Privacy Notice
Last updated 23rd October 2026
Your privacy matters to me. This notice explains how I look after your personal information – whether you’re browsing my website, getting in touch, signing up to my newsletter or working with me as a coaching client.
Who I am
I’m Ruth Sturkey, a sole trader providing coaching to business owners, leaders and professionals, particularly in financial planning. I’m responsible (the “data controller”) for the personal information you share with me, and I’m registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), registration number ZB631903. You can contact me at ruth@ruthsturkey.com.
What I collect
When you visit my website:
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Technical and usage information, such as your IP address, browser and device type, the pages you visit and when – collected through cookies and analytics tools (see “Cookies” below)
When you get in touch or sign up to my newsletter:
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Your name, email address and phone number, and anything you choose to tell me in a message, form or comment
When an employer or sponsor arranges coaching for you:
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Your name, role and contact details, and any coaching objectives they share with me, from the organisation arranging and paying for your coaching
When you work with me as a coaching client:
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Contact and business details – name, firm, role, email and phone
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Billing and payment details – invoices and direct debit details (via my direct debit provider)
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Coaching notes, AI transcripts and summaries
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Session recordings – only with your specific agreement
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Health or wellbeing information – only where you choose to share it and agree to it being noted
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Any feedback you give me
Why I use it
The law asks me to explain the “lawful basis” for each use, so I’ve shown it in brackets.
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To reply to your enquiries and messages (my legitimate interest in running my business and responding to you)
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To send you my newsletter (your consent – you can unsubscribe at any time using the link in every email)
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To keep my website working well and understand how it’s used (my legitimate interest in running a secure, useful website)
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To deliver our coaching agreement (contract)
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To arrange and invoice coaching paid for by your employer or sponsor (my contract with them, and my legitimate interests)
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To keep financial records (legal obligation)
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To run and improve my coaching, for example through supervision and feedback (my legitimate interests)
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AI notes, recordings and health or wellbeing information (your consent, which you can withdraw at any time)
Giving me your information is voluntary, but if you choose not to, I may not be able to reply to you or provide coaching.
Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. Some are essential to make my website work. I also use analytics cookies to understand, in general terms, how visitors use the site so I can improve it – you can switch these off at any time in the cookie settings on my website. I only use any other optional cookies, such as marketing cookies, if you agree to them first.
AI and automated decisions
With your agreement, I use an AI note-taking tool in coaching sessions to help me keep accurate notes. The tools I use don’t use your information to train their AI models, and I don’t put information that identifies you into general AI tools. I don’t make any decisions about you using automated decision-making or profiling.
Who I share it with
I never sell your information. I share it only as needed with:
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the service providers who help me run my business – my website host, newsletter provider, website analytics, AI note-taker, video-conferencing platform, email and cloud storage, accounting software and direct debit provider
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your employer or sponsor, if they’re paying for your coaching – only what we’ve agreed together at the start, such as attendance and invoices, never my notes or what we discuss
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my coaching supervisor (without identifying you)
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my mentor coach and ICF assessors (recordings only, with your agreement)
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professional advisers or authorities, where the law requires
My service providers only use your information on my instructions. Some may store data outside the UK, for example in the US. I only use providers that have appropriate legal safeguards in place for this, such as UK-approved data transfer terms.
How long I keep it
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Enquiries from people who don’t become clients: 12 months
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Newsletter details: until you unsubscribe
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Website analytics data: in line with my analytics provider’s settings
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Invoices and financial records: 6 years, for tax purposes
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Coaching notes and AI summaries: 2 years after our coaching ends
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AI transcripts: deleted within 90 days
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Recordings: deleted once reviewed, and within 90 days at the latest
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Client contact details: while we work together and for 2 years afterwards, unless you ask me to delete them sooner
After that, I delete your information securely or anonymise it.
Keeping it safe
I use password-protected devices, two-factor authentication and reputable, secure providers. If something went wrong that put your information at risk, I’d tell you and, where required, the ICO.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you can ask me to:
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show you the information I hold about you
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correct or delete it
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stop or limit how I use it, or object to me using it
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send it to you, or to someone else, in a usable format
Where I rely on your consent, you can withdraw it at any time. Just email me at ruth@ruthsturkey.com – there’s no charge, and I’ll respond within one month.
Concerns and complaints
If you’re unhappy with how I’ve handled your information, please email me first. I’ll acknowledge your complaint within 30 days, look into it properly, keep you updated and let you know the outcome as soon as I can. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.
Changes to this notice
I may update this notice from time to time, for example if my practices or the law change. The date at the top shows when it was last updated.