Business Communications and 12 Month Engagement Policy

01How we communicate

Communication should be relevant, respectful, helpful and purposeful. Our aim is to help you understand your nomination, complete your journey through the awards and discover opportunities that support your professional and business goals.

We keep the messages needed to run the awards separate from optional promotional messages about other products, services and opportunities.

02Messages about your nomination

Where necessary and allowed by law, we may contact you to:

• Confirm your nomination
• Help you access your account and guest dashboard
• Ask for missing or corrected nomination details
• Remind you of nomination deadlines
• Help you complete your profile
• Update you on shortlisting and your progress
• Tell you about judging and public voting
• Give you event registration and attendance details
• Answer your questions
• Tell you about important changes to the awards

03Keeping these messages separate

These messages support an active nomination or a service you have asked for. We never use them to disguise unrelated promotional marketing.

04How we may contact you

Depending on the purpose, the law and your preferences, we may use business email, business or professional mobile telephone, SMS or messaging services, notifications on your guest dashboard, or other suitable business channels. Every message follows privacy and electronic marketing law.

05Optional business and professional opportunities

Where the law allows, we may invite you to explore:

• Business networking and VIP matchmaking
• Awards alumni activities
• Business conferences and exhibitions
• Sponsorship and partnership opportunities
• Speaking and professional recognition opportunities
• Professional development and mentoring
• Business support and advice
• Other relevant products and services offered by the Bournemouth Business Leaders Award and associated programmes

06Promotional messages and your preferences

Promotional messages are sent only with an appropriate lawful basis, under marketing rules and in line with your preferences.

07Your twelve months of recognition and engagement

We want to help you make the most of your recognition over the following 12 months. Depending on your interests and eligibility, this may include:

• Months 1 to 3, recognition and visibility: making good use of your nomination, recognition status, professional profile and approved publicity
• Months 4 to 6, connections and relationships: networking, business introductions, events and professional communities
• Months 7 to 9, collaboration and development: partnerships, professional development, business support and collaboration
• Months 10 to 12, growth, reflection and future recognition: reflecting on your achievements, sharing feedback, alumni activities and future awards

08An optional journey

This journey is optional, and is there to help you make the most of your recognition. Some services carry a charge, and we will always tell you about any charge first.

09Group companies, sales teams and partners

Our authorised teams and service partners may contact you where needed to run your nomination, answer your requests and deliver services you have booked. Promotional messages from us, our associated companies or independent partners must meet the law.

Accepting a nomination does not mean every partner or associated company may contact you for its own marketing. Where separate permission is needed, we will ask for it properly.

10Your choices and unsubscribing

You can manage your communication preferences on your guest dashboard, where available, or by contacting us. You can unsubscribe from promotional email and object to direct marketing at any time, and withdraw any consent you have given.

We keep records of objections so that unwanted promotional contact stops. Essential messages about your nomination may continue where they are necessary and lawful.

11How our team communicates

Our staff, sales representatives, consultants and authorised partners are expected to communicate professionally and respectfully, and to:

• Say clearly who they are and why they are in touch
• Keep their messages relevant to you
• Never make misleading claims or apply undue pressure
• Respect your reasonable contact preferences
• Give accurate information about optional services and their charges
• Never present a purchase as necessary for success in the judging
• Respect objections and requests to stop marketing

12You are in control

You can ask us to correct your business contact details and use your privacy rights at any time. Where available, your guest dashboard lets you manage your contact details, nominations and communication preferences.

13Severability and continuing enforceability

If any clause, provision, statement, term or part of this Business Communications and 12 Month Engagement Policy is found by a court of competent jurisdiction or another authorised regulatory or judicial authority to be invalid, unlawful, unenforceable or contrary to applicable law, that finding applies only to the clause, provision or part affected.

The remaining clauses, provisions and terms of this Business Communications and 12 Month Engagement Policy remain valid, binding and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and continue in full force and effect.

Where the law allows, any invalid or unenforceable provision will be interpreted or limited to the minimum extent necessary to make it lawful and enforceable, while keeping, as far as reasonably possible, its original purpose and commercial intent.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any individual provision does not automatically invalidate or affect the enforceability of this Business Communications and 12 Month Engagement Policy as a whole, provided the remaining provisions can continue to operate lawfully and independently.

Nothing in this clause excludes, restricts or overrides any statutory rights, consumer protections or other mandatory legal requirements under the laws of England and Wales.

14Our commitment

We aim to build long term professional relationships founded on recognition, trust, transparency and mutual value, so that every relevant contact with our awards community helps you move towards a meaningful professional or business goal.