The Purple Cow Network Privacy Policy
Effective date: 05/02/2026
This Privacy Policy explains how The Purple Cow Network (we, us, our) collects, uses, stores, and shares personal information when you use our website, apply for membership, attend events, or interact with our Services.
If you have questions about this policy, please contact us using the details shown on our website.
1. Who we are
The Purple Cow Network is a business networking community. We are the data controller for personal data we collect through our website and Services, unless we tell you otherwise.
2. What this policy covers
This policy applies to:
Visitors to our website
People who enquire about membership or services
Members and prospective members
People who attend our events
People listed in our member directory (where applicable)
People who contact us by email, phone, social media, forms, or messaging services
3. The personal data we collect
We may collect the following types of information.
A. Information you give us
Name
Business name and role
Email address
Phone number
Billing and payment information (payments are usually processed by a payment provider, so we typically do not store full card details)
Information you provide in forms, messages, or calls
Membership application details, including business sector and networking interests
Profile content for any member area or directory, such as a logo, description, and links
Event attendance details and preferences, including dietary requirements or accessibility needs if you choose to share them
B. Information we collect automatically
When you use our website we may collect:
IP address
Device and browser information
Pages visited and actions taken
Approximate location (based on IP)
Cookies and similar technologies (see Cookies section)
C. Information we receive from others
We may receive information from:
Payment providers confirming payment status
Event venues or event partners, where needed to manage attendance
Social media platforms, if you interact with us on those platforms
Referrals from existing members, where you have been introduced to us
4. How we use your personal data
We use personal data for the following purposes:
To respond to enquiries and manage membership applications
To provide membership services, including access to member areas and the directory
To manage event bookings, attendance lists, and event communications
To send service messages, such as confirmations, reminders, and important updates
To process payments, invoices, and renewals
To improve our website, Services, and member experience
To promote our events and community, including using photos or videos where appropriate
To prevent fraud, protect security, and investigate misuse of our Services
To comply with legal obligations, including tax and accounting requirements
5. Our lawful bases for processing
Under UK GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases depending on the activity:
Contract: when processing is needed to provide membership, event bookings, and related Services
Legitimate interests: to run and improve our network, manage communications, keep the Services secure, and promote the community in a proportionate way
Consent: where required, such as certain marketing communications and non essential cookies
Legal obligation: where we must keep records or respond to lawful requests
6. Marketing and communications
We may send messages about:
Events, networking opportunities, and member updates
New services or changes to the network
Community news
You can opt out of marketing at any time by using the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us.
We will still send service messages when needed, such as booking confirmations or important membership notices.
7. Member directory and networking data
If you are a member, you may have a listing in our directory. The directory may include information such as your name, business name, services, and contact details.
You can request updates to your listing and, where applicable, request removal. Some information may be retained where necessary for legitimate operational reasons, such as membership history or accounting.
You must not use directory information for spam or bulk marketing, and you must comply with data protection laws when contacting members.
8. Event photography and video
We may take photos or videos at events to promote the network and document our activities.
If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please tell a member of staff at the event. We will take reasonable steps to respect your request, but we cannot guarantee you will never appear incidentally in group shots.
9. Who we share your data with
We may share personal data with trusted third parties where necessary to run our Services, including:
Website hosting and IT providers
Email and communication platforms
Payment processors
Membership management tools or CRM systems
Event venues, where necessary to manage attendance and safety
Professional advisers, such as accountants or legal advisers
Regulators, law enforcement, or courts, where we are legally required to do so
We only share what is necessary and expect appropriate safeguards.
10. International transfers
Some of our service providers may store or process data outside the UK. Where this happens, we take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as UK approved contractual protections.
11. How long we keep your data
We keep personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this policy, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.
Typical examples:
Enquiry messages may be kept for a reasonable period for follow up and record keeping
Membership and payment records may be kept for longer to meet tax and legal requirements
Event attendance records may be kept to manage future events and member services
You can request more detail about retention by contacting us.
12. Your data protection rights
You have rights under UK GDPR, including:
The right to access your personal data
The right to correct inaccurate data
The right to request deletion in certain circumstances
The right to restrict processing in certain circumstances
The right to object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing
The right to data portability in certain cases
The right to withdraw consent where we rely on it
To exercise your rights, contact us using the details on our website.
13. Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the website and improve user experience.
Cookies may include:
Essential cookies needed for the site to function
Analytics cookies that help us understand how visitors use the site
Marketing cookies, where used, to measure the effectiveness of campaigns
Where required, we will ask for your consent before placing non essential cookies. You can also manage cookies through your browser settings.
14. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, or disclosure.
No online system is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. You should also take care to protect your own account details.
15. Links to other websites
Our website may include links to third party websites such as venues, social platforms, or partner services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. You should read the privacy policies of any third party sites you use.
16. Children
Our Services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.
17. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the latest version on our website and update the effective date.
18. Complaints
If you have concerns about how we handle your data, please contact us first so we can try to resolve it.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection.
19. Contact us
For privacy questions, data requests, or concerns, please contact us using the details shown on our website.
