Legal & Policies

Last updated: 1 August 2025

The General Business Standards Authority (“GBSA”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is an independent, not-for-profit public-interest standards body operating within the United Kingdom. Incorporated in England and Wales, GBSA aligns its governance and procedures with UK regulatory best practice and works in close co-operation with local authorities, sector regulators and government advisory panels.

Our registered office is No 1 Parkside Court, Greenhough Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7FE.

GBSA is the data controller for personal information collected via this website, through email correspondence, or during the accreditation process.

What we collect:
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• Identification details (name, business name, job title)
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• Contact details (email, telephone, business address)
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• Accreditation records (application forms, audit outcomes, compliance evidence)
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• Technical data (IP address, browser type, cookies – see Cookies Policy)

How long we keep data

We retain accreditation records for six years after expiration to evidence compliance history, unless a longer statutory period applies.

Your rights

You can access, correct, erase, restrict, or object to processing of your personal data at any time.
Email admin@gbsa.org.uk or write to our DPO at the registered office.

Complaints

If you have concerns about our data handling, please contact us first. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) — ico.org.uk.

This website uses essential cookies to remember your session and analytics cookies (Google Analytics) to measure site performance.

Managing cookies

Most browsers let you refuse or delete cookies via settings. Blocking essential cookies may affect site functionality. For detailed guidance see aboutcookies.org.

GBSA is committed to making this website accessible to WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
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• Text can be resized up to 200 % without loss of content.

• Pages are navigable via keyboard and screen-reader compatible.

• Colour contrast ratios meet or exceed 4.5:1.

If you encounter any accessibility issues, email admin@gbsa.org.uk and we will respond within 5 working days.

We operate a formal complaints procedure for:
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1. Alleged breaches of GBSA standards by accredited businesses

2. Concerns about unaccredited businesses misrepresenting GBSA approval

3. Service-level or conduct issues relating to GBSA itself

Full details and the online reporting form are available on our Complaints Procedures page.
Urgent matters: admin@gbsa.org.uk (acknowledgement within 24 hrs).

By using gbsa.org.uk you accept these terms.
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1. Content accuracy – Information is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice.

2. Intellectual property – All text and graphics are © GBSA unless otherwise stated. Re-use requires prior written permission.

3. Linking – You may link to our pages provided the link is fair and not misleading. We reserve the right to withdraw linking permission.

4. Liability – GBSA accepts no responsibility for loss or damage arising from reliance on website content.

5. External links – We are not responsible for the content of external sites.

6. Governing law – These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

GBSA has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking.
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We are developing supplier-due-diligence processes and will publish a detailed statement in Q4 2025 in accordance with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

End of Legal & Policies