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British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS)

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Privacy notice for Apply for BICS (British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme) service

Who we are

The Apply for BICS service is operated by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST).

BIST is the data controller for any personal data collected through this service. This means that we are responsible for deciding how your personal data is used and ensuring it is handled lawfully and securely.

The Apply for BICS service allows organisations to submit evidence about their manufacturing sites and the products produced there, which will allow caseworkers to determine the extent of their eligibility for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Once an application has been submitted and has passed initial automated checks, it will be passed on to the BICS caseworking team.

What data we collect

The service is designed to minimise the amount of personal data it collects.

We collect IP addresses when you use the service. This is for bug tracking, telemetry and security purposes, and helps us protect the service and investigate technical issues. We do not use IP addresses to track individuals across the internet.

Names and email addresses

We collect the names and email addresses of the person making the application on behalf of a company. In addition, we collect the names and email addresses of individuals proposed by the applicant as being authorised to approve the application on behalf of the company, for example a company director or registered officer.

Applicants may also be contacted for research purposes, but participation in research is optional. You can ask not to be contacted for research again.

Session data

We do not store session data during the application journey. All state for the application is in the URL.

Analytics information

We collect analytics information to help us understand how people use the service and identify opportunities for improvement.

This may include information such as:

  • pages visited
  • device and browser information
  • how users navigate through the service
  • page performance information
  • error information

Analytics cookies are only used if you choose to accept them.

We also collect limited server-side analytics and operational information to help us monitor and improve the service. To reduce the collection of identifiable information, postcode and site name information is redacted before being recorded.

Why we collect your data

We use your data to:

  • allow you to use the Apply for BICS service
  • maintain your progress during your session
  • understand how the service is being used
  • improve the service and fix issues
  • contact you about the progress of your BICS application

We will not use your information for any unrelated purpose.

Our lawful basis for processing

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful bases we rely on are:

Consent

Where you provide your name and email address, we process it based on your consent.

You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us using the details below.

Public task

We process analytics and operational information where necessary to operate, monitor and improve the service as part of BIST's public task.

How long we keep your data

Names and email addresses

We will keep your name and email address on our systems for as long as the BICS scheme is in operation.

Session data

Session information is automatically deleted when your session expires.

Analytics data

Analytics and operational monitoring information are retained only for as long as necessary to support the operation, security and improvement of the service, in accordance with departmental retention policies. BIST's standard data retention period is for up to 10 years from the date on which it is provided or subsequently updated.

Who we share your data with

We share personal data only where necessary to operate the service.

Your name and email address may be processed by GOV.UK Notify for the purpose of sending you emails on the progress of your application.

We do not sell your personal data, and we do not share it with other organisations for marketing purposes.

International transfers

Some analytics and technology providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal data is transferred internationally, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with UK data protection law.

Cookies

This service uses cookies to:

  • remember your preferences
  • maintain your session while using the service
  • help us understand how the service is used and how it can be improved

You can find further information about the cookies we use and how to manage your preferences in our cookies policy .

How we protect your data

We take the security of your information seriously.

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect the information we collect and process, including:

  • secure hosting and infrastructure
  • encryption where appropriate
  • access controls that restrict access to authorised personnel only
  • security monitoring and auditing
  • regular maintenance and patching of systems

Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have rights including:

  • the right to be informed about how your personal data is used
  • the right to access your personal data
  • the right to have inaccurate personal data corrected
  • the right to request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances
  • the right to object to processing in certain circumstances
  • the right to restrict processing in certain circumstances

For further information about your rights, visit the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) website.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this privacy notice or how your personal data is used, contact:

Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST)

Website: Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we have used your personal data, please contact us first using the details above.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Information Commissioner's Office

Website: Information Commissioner's Office

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Changes to this privacy notice

We may update this privacy notice from time to time to reflect changes to the service, legal requirements or how we process personal data.

If we make significant changes, we will update this page to reflect the latest version.

Last updated: September 2026