Privacy policy
Last updated 31 July 2026. This is written in plain English rather than legalese — if any of it needs clarifying, email privacy@smesolar.co.uk and we'll explain it properly.
What we collect
The information you give us when you subscribe to the Brief: your name, email, and (optionally) postcode. We also log basic technical data (IP address, user agent) when you submit, used to prevent abuse.
Separately, we collect anonymous usage statistics — which pages are viewed, roughly where visitors come from, and which device type they use. That happens cookielessly by default; if you accept cookies it also happens through Google Analytics. We don't use any of it to identify you personally, and we never link it to your subscription.
How we use it
We use your email to send the monthly Brief. We use your postcode (if given) to occasionally segment content — e.g. flagging a regional grant. We do not sell, share, resell, or hand your details to installers or anyone else. Ever.
How long we keep it
We retain your details for as long as you're subscribed. When you unsubscribe, we delete identifying data within 30 days; we keep aggregate statistics (when you joined, when you left) for our own reporting only.
Your rights (UK GDPR)
You can ask us to access, correct, or delete the data we hold about you at any time. Email privacy@smesolar.co.uk and we'll action it within 30 days.
Cookies and analytics
By default we use privacy-friendly, cookieless analytics (Vercel Web Analytics) to count page views and understand which guides are useful. It sets no cookies and doesn't track you across other sites.
Two further services run only if you accept: Google Analytics, which we use to measure our audience and see which guides are worth writing more of, and Google AdSense, which serves display advertising to help fund the site. Both set cookies. On your first visit you'll see a banner letting you accept or reject non-essential cookies, and neither script is even requested until you opt in — so if you reject, no data goes to Google at all.
You can change or withdraw your choice at any time via the Cookie settings link in the footer. For the full list of individual cookies, what each does and how long it lasts, see our cookie policy.
Who's responsible
SME Solar is a trading name. The data controller is Gareth Isherwood, an independent publisher based in the United Kingdom, contactable at privacy@smesolar.co.uk. A postal address is available on request. If you think we've mishandled your data you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.