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10 reasons why you should apply to WAST [ARCHIVED]

If you have completed internship back home but have not yet completed a residency programme, and you’re serious about pursuing specialty training in the UK, then this is a scheme you need to know about.

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The rules, guidelines and criteria for working as a doctor in the UK change frequently. Please make sure you check the latest official guidance before taking action.

The WAST programme has been closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article is for historical information only and should not be used to make any plans for the future. Please check the official websites for any updates.

UPDATED: April 18, 2021

If you have completed internship back home but have not yet completed postgraduate specialty training, and you aim to pursue specialty training in the UK, then you should know about these two pre-specialty programmes that can bridge the gap:

The Widening Access to Specialty Training (WAST) programme is a 12-month long post that helps prepare and enable IMGs to apply for first-year specialty training posts in the UK, while at the same filling the shortage of doctors in understaffed areas of England. 

1. It fulfils the requirements for application to specialty training (ST1/CT1)

In order to start a first-year specialty training post in the UK you will need 12 months experience after internship. That’s the first requirement.

Second, you will also need a certificate confirming you have achieved the equivalent skills and knowledge of a UK-trained FY2 doctor. This is called the Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training or CREST (formerly known as the Alternative Certificate of Foundation Competences).

The WAST programme is 12-months long and aims to award you CREST provided your performance is satisfactory, so it meets both of the eligibility criteria for application to specialty training. 

2. It is suitable as a first job in the UK

WAST is equivalent to FY2. This is the level for doctors who have just completed FY1 or internship.

So if your only clinical experience back home is internship, or if you have less than 12 months experience post-internship, then WAST could be perfect for you.

If you already have more than 24 months postgraduate experience (including 12 months internship) you can still apply, however you may not be selected for the job as those with less experience are prioritised.

Related: The best first job in the UK for overseas doctors

To familiarise yourself with UK practice so you can thrive in WAST job, we recommend the Oxford Handbook for the Foundation Programme.I used it almost daily and found it extremely useful at work!

3. You can pursue any specialty after WAST

The WAST programme itself consists of:

  • Up to 12 months in acute hospital specialties with potentially 4-6 months in psychiatry
  • 2 week taster session in a GP practice and
  • Taster sessions in mental health setting if required

The guidance states that this is ideal for doctors who want to become a GP or Psychiatrist in England, but WAST doctors are not restricted to pursue only GP or Psychiatry for further training. You can pursue any specialty you choose including Radiology, Ophthalmology, and even Neurosurgery.

I wanted to be sure about this so I emailed the WAST recruitment office and this was indeed confirmed:

Although we hope WAST doctors will apply for GP and Psychiatry (as they have traditionally low fill rates), candidates will be able to apply for all CT1/ST1 specialties.

National Recruitment Coordinator
Health Education North West
January 3, 2019

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4. There are 2 start dates each year

Unlike Standalone FY2 which only starts in August, WAST has start dates in both February or August. This can be enticing if you want to minimise the “downtime” in your career.

Just be aware that most specialty training programmes start in August so if you start WAST in February, you will need to find another job to fill the vacant 6 months between February and August.

There are some specialties that have start dates in both February and August: GP, Psychiatry & Anaesthetics. So you can start WAST either in February or August and move straight into specialty training for these specialties only.

I have also confirmed this with the WAST recruitment office:

“If a candidate requires a Tier 2 visa and starts the WAST scheme in February 2020 then they will be eligible to apply for the limited number of ST1/CT1 specialties that start in February 2021 (GP, [Anaesthetics CT1] and Psychiatry definitely have posts for this start date).

If they completed the WAST scheme in February 2021 then because of the employment gap then they would not be eligible to apply for many CT1/ST1 posts (e.g. O&G, Anaesthetics, Surgery) starting in August 2021.

The benefit of starting in the August intake is that candidates can apply for all CT1/ST1 posts that start the following August.”

National Recruitment Coordinator
Health Education North West
January 8, 2019

5. The English requirements are the same as the GMC

If your medical school degree (including more than 75% of patient interaction) was not in English, then you need to pass either IELTS or OET.

WAST goes by the GMC English requirements. It accepts IELTS scores with an overall score of at least 7.5 and 7.0 in each section; and it also accepts OET with a grade of B in all sections. Excellent news for those struggling with the Academic IELTS writing component.

This differs from standalone FY2 because the UK Foundation Programme English requirements are higher compared to the GMC. For Standalone FY2, you need a score of at least 7.5 in all sections in the Academic IELTS, and a score of 400 in all sections in the OET.

Related: IELTS vs OET for PLAB, GMC and UK work visa

6. WAST jobs are in England only

Now, I’m not saying that England is better than Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, but if for any reason you aim to work specifically in England long-term then this is good news.

There is also some undeniable comfort knowing that you will be placed in a smaller geographic region. With standalone FY2 you could end up anywhere in the UK which can cause a lot of stress to someone who has never worked here before. At least with WAST, you can be certain that your job will be in one UK nation.

7. WAST offers a £5,000 relocation allowance

Since the WAST scheme is aimed at IMGs moving to the UK from overseas, the programme offers a pretty generous relocation allowance to help with moving expenses. This is not offered in Standalone FY2 or most non-training jobs.

According to the WAST applicant guidance, there will be an initial payment of £2,500 within a week of arrival, and two further payments of £1,250 a month.

There are conditions to this, however. If you leave within the first 3 months of the WAST programme they may withdraw one month’s salary. Also, if you are already in the UK you will not receive the relocation allowance.

Related: The cost of PLAB & GMC fees + tips on saving money

8. You can apply prior to taking any exams

Before you take IELTS, before you book your PLAB 1 test, in fact before you’ve even finished internship (depending on the month you finish), you can submit your application for WAST.

If you pass the interview and are deemed “appointable”, you will be placed on a waiting list, or as they call it a “talent pool”. You will then have 18 months to pass all the exams, obtain your full GMC registration, and finally start the job. If you are not registered within this time you will have to reapply.

This leads me to reason number 9.

9. You will have a job waiting for you

If you’re the type who doesn’t believe in risking it all for a dream and crave some level of certainty before moving to the UK, WAST may be able to offer you that. As alluded to above in reason 8, you can apply before you’ve even started the whole PLAB journey.

If successful with your application, at least you have the comfort of knowing that once you pass all the exams, there will be a paid position ready for you.

And since you are already paving the steps for your career in advance, why not start planning your successful application to UK specialty training? Join our IMG Masterclass where we guide you through planning for entry to specialty training at any stage, as early as now.

Check out the Masterclass here.

10. It provides training

As stated in the WAST applicant guidance, WAST doctors will “receive regular teaching and clinical exposure to help improve the skills and competences required for admission to specialty training.” This is great because in a non-training job you may not receive this kind of support to develop your career. 

There will also be some allowance for study budget of approximately £500 per 6-month placement or £1,000 for the whole year. This can be used towards courses and conferences to help develop your CV.

Related: 10 ways to prepare for your first job in the NHS as an IMG

Frequently asked questions

I’ve received a lot of questions since posting this article which I forwarded to the WAST office for an official answer. They have been very approachable and I share the answers with you here.  If you are applying to WAST this year, good luck!
 
Here is the information from the official website. 
 
If you have any other questions please email wast.recruitment@hee.nhs.uk

You’ll need to create an account on the Oriel website and submit your online application there. You will also need to upload your supporting documents through the Oriel website.

Please see this article where we give our WAST interview tips.

Applications are generally open twice a year: February and June.

The closing dates are strict and applications may close early if there are a lot of applicants so it’s best to prepare well in advance.

Yes, WAST is a paid position. The gross annual salary before tax is £31,422. This is the same salary as an FY2 doctor.

If the WAST position includes on call work at night or weekends, then additional pay will be given.

Doctors in the WAST scheme can supplement their income with locum work as long as it does not interfere with their regular work, violate any visa restrictions, or breach the limits imposed by the European Working Time Directive (EWTD).

According to the EWTD, doctors should not work more than an average of 48 hours per week. This average is taken over 6 months.

Read more about how much doctors earn here.

Technically no, WAST is essentially a non-training job. However, the WAST office does advertise that the post will have some protected teaching time and a study budget that can be used for attending courses and conferences. 

There is a formal limit for UK experience in the UK. You should not have more than 24 months UK experience at the time of application. 

There is no formal limit on overseas experience, however, the person specifications do state that ideally you should not have more than 24 months clinical experience in total whether overseas or in the UK. This includes internship.

If you have more than that, it doesn’t mean you can’t apply, but it does mean those with less experience are likely to be prioritised as they are most suitable for this level of work. 

Probably not.

Although there is no rule that specifically states that WAST doctors cannot apply for ST3, or that doctors eligible for ST3 cannot apply for WAST, there are items in the person specifications that work against this.

  1. WAST aims to provide the Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training which is required for CT1/ST1 posts. ST3 posts require a different certificate which will not be provided through WAST therefore WAST will not fulfill the eligibility requirements for ST3.
  2. If you managed to obtain an alternative certificate of core training prior to WAST, bear in mind that the WAST selection criteria favours doctors with less than 24 months clinical experience. Therefore those with extensive postgraduate experience are unlikely to be selected for WAST.
  3. It will look strange and possibly inappropriate to an ST3 selection panel that a doctor chose to work at FY2/WAST level immediately prior to working as registrar.  It goes against these clauses in the “Career Progression” section of ST3 person specifications that states that applicants must:
    • Have evidence that their career progression is consistent with their personal circumstances
    • Have evidence that their present level of achievement and performance is commensurate with the totality of their period of training

So while applying to ST3 via WAST may be a possible, it’s important to recognise why this may not be a good idea.

This is the response from the WAST office:

This will depend on the individual case. Although there is no formal experience limit, candidates with more than 24 months’ clinical experience who can demonstrate foundation competency should be applying to the CT1/ST1 training posts directly.

The WAST scheme is aimed at F2 level doctors/recent graduates who wish to demonstrate foundation competency rather than doctors who are already specialists.

IMGs should remember that even without WAST, you are eligible to apply in Round 1 of both GP and Psychiatry. You are also exempt from RLMT in Psychiatry without WAST because it is on the UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL).

If you have more than 12 months experience after intership overseas then all you would need to apply for GP ST1 or Psychatiry CT1 is the Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (CREST) which can also be signed by an overseas Consultant.

Please read the official response from the WAST office below:

No. We would be unable to conduct the interview via Skype as it involves an interaction with a simulated patient. All candidates must attend their interview in person.

Please see the response from the WAST office:

This will differ between rounds of recruitment but we expect that there will be between 50-100 vacancies across England per intake.

Yes. 

This is the response from the WAST office:

In the current application form (attached) doctors are asked to indicate which intake(s) they wish to be considered for.

We would only offer a post to a candidate if they requested that specific start date.

Yes you can start work with another employer before starting WAST. Here’s what the WAST office had to say:

If an applicant requests a later start date (e.g. August 2020) then they would, of course, be able to pursue a post with a different employer before starting the WAST scheme.

Have any further questions?

If after reading this article and the official website you still have more questions, it’s always best to ask the WAST office directly for an official answer. I have found the team to be extremely approachable and responsive, and they reply within a couple of days.

wast.recruitment@hee.nhs.uk

Summary

The WAST scheme has numerous benefits for IMGs and so far I wholeheartedly recommend applying to it. But don’t just take my word! Read through the official website and guidance very carefully to decide whether WAST is the right path for you.

Further Reading

Disclosure: There are some affiliate links in the article above. This means that at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you make a booking or purchase by clicking on the link. We only recommend products and services that we use ourselves or have proven success amongst IMGs.

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Looking for a step-by-step guide?

Subscribe to the Savvy IMG and grab your FREE 2-year roadmap to UK residency as an IMG.

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Subscribe to the Savvy IMG and grab your FREE 2-year roadmap to UK residency as an IMG.

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45 Responses

  1. Hi Nick, any advice on how to best prepare for the WAST recruitment interview? I studied the application guidnce and the Personal specs, I am still not sure about how to ace it, aside from studying cases for acute medicine, reviewing plab2 materials.

    appreciate ur support.

    Tony

  2. Thanks for these pieces of valuable information but I have a question. I am an IMG with about 4 years of experience after graduation in my country ( Egypt ) . So, do i have a chance in WAST ? Is this experience is considered much more than they need ? BTW I am setting for PLAP 1 in march and I have not completed any postgraduate degree.

    1. Hi, thanks for your question. As answered in the FAQ, there is no formal experience limit however the WAST office says the following:

      Ideally candidates will not have more than 24 months’ experience since graduation when applying for the WAST scheme. As the WAST scheme is an opportunity for doctors to demonstrate foundation competence (via the ‘Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training’), candidates who can already demonstrate these competences should be applying directly to the CT1/ST1 specialty training programme rather than an F2 level post. Please note that the ‘Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training’ can relate to posts held in the UK and overseas.

      This means those with less experience are prioritised as they are most suitable for this level of work.

      1. Hi Nick,

        I have applied and shortlisted for the WAST interview in May. I have done the PLAB exams and have got the full GMC registration. My question is how should I prepare for the interview? Do you have any advice on that?

        Thanks a lot for the super helpful post!

        Beat,
        Yamama

    1. Hi, there are currently no written guidelines about applying directly to ST3 after WAST. It’s best to check with the WAST office and the office that deals with applications for the specialty you want to apply to.

      Bear in mind, WAST helps applicants reach the requirements for ST1 not ST3. ST3 jobs have their own requirements which will not be fulfilled by doing WAST. You can check the requirements for ST3 jobs in the Eligibility and Career Progression section of the person specifications.

      If you already have the requirements for ST3 and you are only planning to use WAST to become RLMT exempt, it may not look good on your CV to work at FY2 level immediately prior to taking on a registrar job. Person specifications state that applicants must “have evidence that their present level of achievement and performance is commensurate with the totality of their period of training”. WAST also states you should ideally have no more than 24 months experience in the UK to apply. Please contact the WAST office and the office that deals with applications for the specialty you want to apply to for clarification.

  3. Hello Nick
    I have a query regarding the WAST which i hope you would be able to clear. I am awaiting my ielts results and planning to give plab 1 in march , for which i recently started studying. I have 5 years of experience after my undergraduate course in casualty general medical officer and as emergency junior mo in India. Will that Also when i tried to fill in the application for march interviews , i had the option of august 19 start date only . when should i start applying for the visa ? be an hindrance to apply for WAST

    1. Hi doctor, thanks for your question! You should be able to apply now and then only start when all you have passed your exams and gained full GMC registration and a Tier 2 visa. However for specific guidance on completing the form please direct your query to the WAST office. I have found them to be very approachable and respond comprehensively within a couple of days to any questions: wast.recruitment@hee.nhs.uk

  4. Very interesting article for the duration of east will the IMG Doctor be paid and how much is his monthly stipend

    1. Hi doctor, the WAST programme is 12 months long. It is paid at the same rate as an FY2 doctor. Please see the official guidance in the link at the end of the post for the information about pay.

      1. Hi Nick and Kim!
        I graduated in March 2020 and recently passed my PLAB1 and my PLAB 2 is in April. I have 6 months work experience at Apollo Hospitals(Multispeciaity hospital)after my graduation and stopped working there to focus completely on my PLAB1 exam preparation. My doubt is regarding the 12 month post graduate experience that is necessary in order to apply for CT-1 posts. Can I do a non-training job for another six months in uk and compensate for remaining months with the experience I have in India (Apollo Hospitals) in order to fulfill the 12 month post graduate experience. WAST is definitely a nice opportunity but I have to do it for 1 whole year. I’m just wondering if my experience in India will be useful so that I can save some time.
        Thanks in advance

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Our content, goods and services

When signing up for content, registering on our website or making a payment, we will use the information you provide in order to contact you regarding related content, products and services.

We will continue to send you marketing communications in relation to similar goods and services if you do not opt out from receiving them.

You can opt-out from receiving marketing communications at any time by emailing info@thesavvyimg.co.uk

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: Sharing relevant, timely and industry-specific information on related business services, in order to assist your organisation, grow.

Third party goods and services

In addition to receiving information about our products and services, you can opt in to receiving marketing communications from us in relation third party goods and services by email by ticking a box indicating that you would like to receive such communications.

Legal basis for processing: consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Consent: you give your consent to us sending you information about third party goods and services by signing up to receive such information in accordance with the steps described above.

Transfer and storage of your information

Information for marketing campaigns will be stored outside the European Economic Area on our third-party mailing list provider’s servers in the United States.

For further information about the safeguards used when your information is transferred outside the European Economic Area, see the section of this privacy policy below entitled Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area.

Use of tracking in emails

We use technologies such as tracking pixels (small graphic files) and tracked links in the emails we send to allow us to assess the level of engagement our emails receive by measuring information such as the delivery rates, open rates, click through rates and content engagement that our emails achieve.

Information obtained from third parties

This section sets out how we obtain or collect information about you from third parties.

Information received from third parties

We can often receive information about you from third parties. The third parties from which we receive information about you can include partner events within the marketing industry and other organisations that we have a professional affiliation with.

It is also possible that third parties with whom we have had no prior contact may provide us with information about you.

Information we obtain from third parties will generally be your name and contact details but will include any additional information about you which they provide to us.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract or to take steps at your request to enter into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: where a third party has passed on information about you to us (such as your name and email address) in order for us to provide services to you, we will process your information in order to take steps at your request to enter into a contract with you and perform a contract with you (as the case may be).

Legal basis for processing: consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Consent: where you have asked that a third party to share information about you with us and the purpose of sharing that information is not related to the performance of a contract or services by us to you, we will process your information on the basis of your consent, which you give by asking the third party in question to pass on your information to us.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: where a third party has shared information about you with us and you have not consented to the sharing of that information, we will have a legitimate interest in processing that information in certain circumstances.

For example, we would have a legitimate interest in processing your information to perform our obligations under a sub-contract with the third party, where the third party has the main contract with you. Our legitimate interest is the performance of our obligations under our sub-contract.

Similarly, third parties may pass on information about you to us if you have infringed or potentially infringed any of our legal rights. In this case, we will have a legitimate interest in processing that information to investigate and pursue any such potential infringement.

Information obtained by us from third parties

In certain circumstances (for example, to verify the information we hold about you or obtain missing information we require to provide you with a service) we will obtain information about you from certain publicly accessible sources, both EU and non-EU, such as Companies House, online customer databases, business directories, media publications, social media, and websites (including your own website if you have one.

In certain circumstances will also obtain information about you from private sources, both EU and non-EU, such as marketing data services.

We will continue to send you marketing communications in relation to similar goods and services if you do not opt out from receiving them.

You can opt-out from receiving marketing communications at any time by emailing hello@thesavvyimg.co.uk

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: Sharing relevant, timely and industry-specific information on related business services.

Where we receive information about you in error

If we receive information about you from a third party in error and/or we do not have a legal basis for processing that information, we will delete your information.

Disclosure and additional uses of your information

This section sets out the circumstances in which will disclose information about you to third parties and any additional purposes for which we use your information.

Disclosure of your information to service providers

We use a number of third parties to provide us with services which are necessary to run our business or to assist us with running our business

These include the following: Internet services, IT service providers and web developers.

Our third-party service providers are located both inside and outside of the European Economic Area.

Your information will be shared with these service providers where necessary to provide you with the service you have requested, whether that is accessing our website or ordering goods and services from us.

We do not display the identities of our service providers publicly by name for security and competitive reasons. If you would like further information about the identities of our service providers, however, please contact us directly by email and we will provide you with such information where you have a legitimate reason for requesting it (where we have shared your information with such service providers, for example).

Legal basis for processing: legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest relied on: where we share your information with these third parties in a context other than where is necessary to perform a contract (or take steps at your request to do so), we will share your information with such third parties in order to allow us to run and manage our business efficiently.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract and/or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: we may need to share information with our service providers to enable us to perform our obligations under that contract or to take the steps you have requested before we enter into a contract with you.

Disclosure and use of your information for legal reasons

Indicating possible criminal acts or threats to public security to a competent authority

If we suspect that criminal or potential criminal conduct has been occurred, we will in certain circumstances need to contact an appropriate authority, such as the police. This could be the case, for instance, if we suspect that we fraud or a cyber-crime has been committed or if we receive threats or malicious communications towards us or third parties.

We will generally only need to process your information for this purpose if you were involved or affected by such an incident in some way.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: preventing crime or suspected criminal activity (such as fraud).

In connection with the enforcement or potential enforcement our legal rights

We will use your information in connection with the enforcement or potential enforcement of our legal rights, including, for example, sharing information with debt collection agencies if you do not pay amounts owed to us when you are contractually obliged to do so. Our legal rights may be contractual (where we have entered into a contract with you) or non-contractual (such as legal rights that we have under copyright law or tort law).

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest: enforcing our legal rights and taking steps to enforce our legal rights.

In connection with a legal or potential legal dispute or proceedings

We may need to use your information if we are involved in a dispute with you or a third party for example, either to resolve the dispute or as part of any mediation, arbitration or court resolution or similar process.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest(s): resolving disputes and potential disputes.

How long we retain your information

This section sets out how long we retain your information. We have set out specific retention periods where possible. Where that has not been possible, we have set out the criteria we use to determine the retention period.

Retention periods

Server log information: we retain information on our server logs for 3 months.

Correspondence and enquiries: when you make an enquiry or correspond with us for any reason, whether by email or via our contact form or by phone, we will retain your information for as long as it takes to respond to and resolve your enquiry, and for 36 further month(s), after which point we will archive your information.

Newsletter: we retain the information you used to sign up for our newsletter for as long as you remain subscribed (i.e. you do not unsubscribe).

Membership: we retain the information you used to sign up for our memberships for as long as you remain subscribed (i.e. you do not unsubscribe).

Criteria for determining retention periods

In any other circumstances, we will retain your information for no longer than necessary, taking into account the following:

    • the purpose(s) and use of your information both now and in the future (such as whether it is necessary to continue to store that information in order to continue to perform our obligations under a contract with you or to contact you in the future);
    • whether we have any legal obligation to continue to process your information (such as any record-keeping obligations imposed by relevant law or regulation);
    • whether we have any legal basis to continue to process your information (such as your consent);
    • how valuable your information is (both now and in the future);
    • any relevant agreed industry practices on how long information should be retained;
    • the levels of risk, cost and liability involved with us continuing to hold the information;
    • how hard it is to ensure that the information can be kept up to date and accurate; and
    • any relevant surrounding circumstances (such as the nature and status of our relationship with you).

How we secure your information

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to secure your information and to protect it against unauthorised or unlawful use and accidental loss or destruction, including:

  • only sharing and providing access to your information to the minimum extent necessary, subject to confidentiality restrictions where appropriate, and on an anonymised basis wherever possible;
  • using secure servers to store your information;
  • verifying the identity of any individual who requests access to information prior to granting them access to information;
  • using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software to encrypt any payment transactions you make on or via our website;
  • only transferring your information via closed system or encrypted data transfers;

Transmission of information to us by email

Transmission of information over the internet is not entirely secure, and if you submit any information to us over the internet (whether by email, via our website or any other means), you do so entirely at your own risk.

We cannot be responsible for any costs, expenses, loss of profits, harm to reputation, damages, liabilities or any other form of loss or damage suffered by you as a result of your decision to transmit information to us by such means.

Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area

Your information may be transferred and stored outside the European Economic Area (EEA) in the circumstances set out earlier in this policy.

We will also transfer your information outside the EEA or to an international organisation in order to comply with legal obligations to which we are subject (compliance with a court order, for example). Where we are required to do so, we will ensure appropriate safeguards and protections are in place.

Your rights in relation to your information

Subject to certain limitations on certain rights, you have the following rights in relation to your information, which you can exercise by writing to the data controller using the details provided at the top of this policy.

  • to request access to your information and information related to our use and processing of your information;
  • to request the correction or deletion of your information;
  • to request that we restrict our use of your information;
  • to receive information which you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format (e.g. a CSV file) and the right to have that information transferred to another data controller (including a third-party data controller);
  • to object to the processing of your information for certain purposes (for further information, see the section below entitled Your right to object to the processing of your information for certain purposes); and
  • to withdraw your consent to our use of your information at any time where we rely on your consent to use or process that information. Please note that if you withdraw your consent, this will not affect the lawfulness of our use and processing of your information on the basis of your consent before the point in time when you withdraw your consent.

In accordance with Article 77 of the General Data Protection Regulation, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or of an alleged infringement of the General Data Protection Regulation.

Further information on your rights in relation to your personal data as an individual

You can find out further information about your rights, as well as information on any limitations which apply to those rights, by reading the underlying legislation contained in Articles 12 to 22 and 34 of the General Data Protection Regulation, which is available here:http://ec.europa.eu/justice/data-protection/reform/files/regulation_oj_en.pdf

Verifying your identity where you request access to your information

Where you request access to your information, we are required by law to use all reasonable measures to verify your identity before doing so.

These measures are designed to protect your information and to reduce the risk of identity fraud, identity theft or general unauthorised access to your information.

How we verify your identity

Where we possess appropriate information about you on file, we will attempt to verify your identity using that information.

If it is not possible to identity you from such information, or if we have insufficient information about you, we may require original or certified copies of certain documentation in order to be able to verify your identity before we are able to provide you with access to your information.

We will be able to confirm the precise information we require to verify your identity in your specific circumstances if and when you make such a request.

Your right to object

You have the following rights in relation to your information, which you may exercise in the same way as you may exercise by writing to the data controller using the details provided at the top of this policy.

  • to object to us using or processing your information where we use or process it in order
  • to carry out a task in the public interest or for our legitimate interests, including ‘profiling’ (i.e. analysing or predicting your behaviour based on your information) based on any of these purposes; and
  • to object to us using or processing your information for direct marketing purposes(including any profiling we engage in that is related to such direct marketing).

You may also exercise your right to object to us using or processing your information for direct marketing purposes by:

  • clicking the unsubscribe link contained at the bottom of any marketing email we send to you and following the instructions which appear in your browser following your clicking on that link;
  • sending an email to info@thesavvyimg.co.uk, asking that we stop sending you marketing communications or by including the words “OPT OUT”.

Sensitive Personal Information

‘Sensitive personal information’ is information about an individual that reveals their racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, genetic information, biometric information for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual, information concerning health or information concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

Our website does not allow you to register any ‘Sensitive Information’, however if we ask for this, you will be considered to have explicitly consented to us processing that sensitive personal information under Article 9(2)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation.

Changes to our Privacy Policy

We update and amend our Privacy Policy from time to time.

Minor changes to our Privacy Policy

Where we make minor changes to our Privacy Policy, we will update our Privacy Policy with a new effective date stated at the beginning of it. Our processing of your information will be governed by the practices set out in that new version of the Privacy Policy from its effective date onwards.

Major changes to our Privacy Policy or the purposes for which we process your information

Where we make major changes to our Privacy Policy or intend to use your information for a new purpose or a different purpose than the purposes for which we originally collected it, we will notify you by email (where possible) or by posting a notice on our website.

We will provide you with the information about the change in question and the purpose and any other relevant information before we use your information for that new purpose.

Wherever required, we will obtain your prior consent before using your information for a purpose that is different from the purposes for which we originally collected it.

Children’s Privacy

Because we care about the safety and privacy of children online, we comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA). COPPA and its accompanying regulations protect the privacy of children using the internet. We do not knowingly contact or collect information from persons under the age of 18. The website is not intended to solicit information of any kind from persons under the age of 18.

It is possible that we could receive information pertaining to persons under the age of 18 by the fraud or deception of a third party. If we are notified of this, as soon as we verify the information, we will, where required by law to do so, immediately obtain the appropriate parental consent to use that information or, if we are unable to obtain such parental consent, we will delete the information from our servers. If you would like to notify us of our receipt of information about persons under the age of 18, please do so by contacting us by using the details at the top of this policy.