Last updated: 28 June 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Nicki James Shepherd (“I”, “me”, “my”) collects, uses, and protects personal information through this website, nickijamesshepherd.com. I am the data controller responsible for your personal data and I am committed to handling it in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Who I am
This is the personal academic and professional website of Nicki James Shepherd. If you have any questions about this policy or about how your personal data is handled, you can get in touch using the contact form on this website or by email at nshepherd2@gmail.com.
What information I collect
I only collect personal data that you choose to provide, or that is necessary for the website to function. Depending on how you use this site, this may include:
- Contact details - if you complete the contact form, I collect your name, email address, and the content of your message so I can respond to you.
- Coursework submissions (Digital Drop Off) - if you are a student using the file submission tool, I collect your name, your course, year and module, the name of the coursework, and the file you upload. This information is used solely to receive, identify, and mark your work.
- Technical and usage data - like most websites, basic technical information (such as your IP address, browser type, and pages visited) may be logged automatically by the hosting platform and any analytics tools for security and performance purposes.
How I use your information
I use the personal data described above to:
- respond to enquiries you send through the contact form or by email;
- receive, store, and mark coursework submitted through the Digital Drop Off tool;
- maintain the security, integrity, and performance of the website; and
- comply with my legal and academic obligations.
Lawful basis for processing
Under the UK GDPR, I rely on the following lawful bases: consent (where you voluntarily submit information through a form), legitimate interests (for example, to respond to your enquiry, mark academic work, and keep the site secure), and legal obligation where applicable. You can withdraw consent at any time by contacting me.
How your information is stored and shared
Coursework files submitted through the Digital Drop Off tool are stored securely and are only accessible to authorised staff for the purpose of marking. A copy may be mirrored to a secure cloud storage account (Dropbox) used solely for academic record-keeping. I do not sell your personal data, and I do not share it with third parties for marketing purposes.
Some data may be processed by trusted service providers who help operate this website, such as the web host and cloud storage provider. These providers act on my instructions and are required to protect your data.
How long I keep your information
I keep personal data only for as long as is necessary for the purpose it was collected. Contact form messages are retained while needed to deal with your enquiry. Coursework submissions are retained in line with the relevant academic and institutional retention requirements, after which they are securely deleted.
Cookies
This website may use cookies and similar technologies to help the site function correctly, to remember your preferences, and to understand how the site is used. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, although some parts of the site may not work as intended if you do.
Your rights
Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to: access the personal data I hold about you; request that inaccurate data be corrected; request that your data be deleted; restrict or object to how your data is processed; and request a copy of your data in a portable format. To exercise any of these rights, please contact me using the details above.
Keeping your data secure
I take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and I cannot guarantee absolute security.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how your personal data has been handled, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection, at ico.org.uk. I would welcome the chance to address your concerns first, so please do contact me before approaching the ICO.
Changes to this policy
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised “last updated” date.
