BUYER CONNECT LIMITED
Covering Surgery International and The Surgeon Show
Version: 2.1
Effective date: November 2026
1. INTRODUCTION
Buyer Connect Limited is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.
This Group Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose and otherwise process personal information in connection with our websites, publications, newsletters, events, marketing communications and related business activities.
This Policy applies to the following brands and services operated by Buyer Connect Limited:
The Policy applies to subscribers, readers, website visitors, delegates, prospective delegates, speakers, applicants, sponsors, exhibitors, advertisers, suppliers and other individuals who interact with us.
Both brands operate under Buyer Connect Limited, which maintains a shared system for managing relevant personal information and communication preferences.
Individuals may select different categories of communications according to their interests and applicable preferences.
2. DATA CONTROLLER DETAILS
The data controller responsible for your personal information is:
Buyer Connect Limited
Company Registration Number: 13063673
The Threshing Barn
Manor Farm Barns
Coates Lane
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP13 5UX
United Kingdom
Email: contact@surgery.international
Buyer Connect Limited determines the purposes and means of processing personal information across its brands.
3. PERSONAL DATA WE COLLECT
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect and process the following categories of personal information:
We aim to collect only information that is reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it is processed.
4. SPECIAL CATEGORY PERSONAL DATA
Certain information voluntarily provided by individuals may constitute special category personal data under UK data protection legislation.
This may include information relating to:
We may collect such information where reasonably necessary to facilitate event attendance, provide accessibility arrangements or fulfil other appropriate requests.
Where information constitutes special category personal data, we will process it only where we have an appropriate lawful basis under Article 6 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and an applicable condition under Article 9.
This may include obtaining explicit consent where appropriate.
Access to such information will be restricted to individuals and service providers who reasonably require it for the relevant purpose.
5. HOW WE COLLECT PERSONAL INFORMATION
Buyer Connect Limited collects personal information through a range of direct and indirect sources in connection with Surgery International and The Surgeon Show.
Information provided directly by individuals
We may collect personal information when individuals:
Publicly available professional information
We may collect relevant professional contact information from publicly accessible sources, including:
Information collected may include names, professional email addresses, job titles, organisations and industry classifications, such as healthcare providers, private healthcare organisations, suppliers and technology vendors.
Where we collect information from publicly available sources, we will assess the lawful basis and relevant requirements for its collection and subsequent use.
Public availability of professional information does not, by itself, constitute consent to receive marketing communications.
Automated collection and processing
We may use automated systems and integrations to receive, transfer, organise and categorise information submitted through website forms, event registrations and other interactions.
Such systems may be used to maintain contact records, assign industry categories, manage communication preferences and support appropriate commercial follow-up.
Information obtained from third parties
We may also receive personal information from employers registering employees for events, event delivery partners, registration providers and other organisations where appropriate.
Where we obtain personal information indirectly, we will provide relevant privacy information within the periods required by law, subject to applicable exceptions.
Use of collected information
Depending on the circumstances and applicable lawful basis, information may be used to:
6. PURPOSES OF PROCESSING
We may process personal information for the following purposes.
Surgery International
The Surgeon Show
Group-wide activities
7. LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING
Buyer Connect Limited relies on different lawful bases depending on the nature and purpose of the processing.
Contractual necessity
Where processing is necessary to deliver requested services, administer bookings, fulfil contractual obligations or take steps at an individual's request before entering into a contract.
Consent
Where an individual has provided valid consent for a particular purpose.
This may include certain marketing subscriptions, non-essential tracking technologies and special category information where explicit consent is appropriate.
Individuals may withdraw consent at any time.
Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing undertaken before consent was withdrawn.
Legitimate interests
We may rely on legitimate interests where processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, or those of a third party, provided those interests are not overridden by an individual's rights and freedoms.
These interests may include:
Where relying on legitimate interests, we will assess the purpose and necessity of the processing, the individual's reasonable expectations and the potential impact on their rights and freedoms.
Legal obligations
Where processing is required to comply with applicable laws or regulations.
Vital interests
Where processing is necessary to protect someone's life in circumstances permitted by applicable law.
Where special category information is processed, an appropriate additional condition under Article 9 of the UK GDPR will also apply.
8. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AND NEWSLETTERS
Buyer Connect Limited operates multiple communication services across Surgery International and The Surgeon Show.
These may include:
Consent and legitimate interests
We may send marketing communications where individuals have provided appropriate consent or where another lawful basis applies and the communications are permitted by applicable electronic marketing legislation.
For relevant business-to-business communications, we may rely on legitimate interests where the applicable requirements of UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) are satisfied.
The use of legitimate interests does not remove our obligation to respect marketing objections, comply with electronic marketing rules or provide appropriate privacy information.
In particular, different rules may apply to corporate subscribers, sole traders and certain partnerships.
Where consent is required, we will obtain appropriate consent before sending marketing communications.
Group communication preferences
Buyer Connect Limited operates a shared communication preference system across Surgery International and The Surgeon Show.
Individuals may select the categories of marketing communications they wish to receive.
Where an individual has subscribed to multiple communication categories, opting out of one category will not automatically affect their subscriptions to other categories.
For example, an individual who subscribes to both Surgery International newsletters and The Surgeon Show updates may choose to unsubscribe from one while continuing to receive the other.
Subscribing to one communication category will not, by itself, be treated as consent to receive all other marketing communications operated by Buyer Connect Limited.
Where consent is required, it will be obtained for the relevant communications.
Where another lawful basis is used, we will respect any applicable objections or restrictions.
Global unsubscribe
Individuals may choose to unsubscribe globally from all marketing communications operated by Buyer Connect Limited.
A global unsubscribe will prevent further direct marketing communications from both Surgery International and The Surgeon Show.
We will maintain appropriate records of communication preferences, consent where applicable, and objections to direct marketing to ensure these choices are respected.
Editorial newsletters and sponsored content
Surgery International newsletters may include editorial content alongside advertisements, sponsored material and commercial promotions.
Such communications will be distributed in accordance with applicable data protection and direct marketing requirements.
Unsubscribing and changing preferences
Recipients can object to direct marketing at any time.
Our marketing communications will provide an appropriate means of unsubscribing or opting out.
Where available, recipients may adjust their communication preferences by category.
We may retain limited suppression information to ensure unsubscribe requests and marketing objections continue to be respected.
Unsubscribing from marketing communications will not prevent essential administrative or service-related communications concerning an event, booking or service requested by the individual.
9. EVENT REGISTRATION AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS
We may use external providers to administer events, registrations, ticketing and related services.
These may include Cvent and Eventbrite.
We may also use third-party providers for:
Where these organisations process information on our behalf, appropriate contractual and data protection arrangements will apply.
Where third-party organisations independently determine their own purposes for processing personal information, their respective privacy information may also apply.
Where payment services are provided by an external payment provider, payment card details may be processed directly by that provider rather than being stored by us.
10. SHARING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
We may share personal information where reasonably necessary with:
We may also share information where appropriate in connection with a lawful business reorganisation or transfer.
We do not sell personal information.
We require service providers acting as processors to handle personal information in accordance with appropriate contractual data protection obligations.
11. SPONSORS, EXHIBITORS AND ADVERTISERS
Surgery International and The Surgeon Show may work with sponsors, exhibitors, advertisers and other commercial partners.
Event badge scanning and lead capture
At The Surgeon Show and associated events, exhibitors and sponsors may use badge-scanning or lead-capture technology to facilitate professional networking and commercial enquiries.
Where an attendee voluntarily permits their badge to be scanned, the information shared with the relevant exhibitor or sponsor may include:
Additional professional information may be shared where appropriate, provided attendees are informed of the information involved.
Where this involves disclosure of personal information, we will provide appropriate information about the data shared and the purposes of the disclosure.
Once personal information has been shared, the receiving organisation may act as an independent data controller and will be responsible for processing that information in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Allowing a badge to be scanned does not automatically constitute unrestricted consent to receive future marketing communications.
Exhibitors and sponsors remain responsible for establishing an appropriate lawful basis and complying with applicable electronic marketing requirements.
Advertising and sponsored content
We may publish static advertisements, sponsored content and promotional materials supplied by commercial partners.
These may appear on our websites, within newsletters, digital publications or other communications.
Our current partner-supplied advertising arrangements generally involve artwork and destination links rather than partner-supplied advertising scripts or tracking pixels.
Such advertising is not selected through individual behavioural advertising profiles.
We do not provide advertisers with identifiable information about individual readers or subscribers solely because their advertisements appear within our content.
If advertising technology or data-sharing arrangements change, we will assess the relevant data protection requirements and update our privacy information as necessary.
Reporting to commercial partners
We may provide partners with aggregated or anonymised information relating to publication readership, campaign performance, attendance or engagement, where individual recipients cannot reasonably be identified.
12. PHOTOGRAPHY, FILMING AND RECORDING
Photography, video recording and audio recording may take place at The Surgeon Show and associated events.
Recordings may be used for:
Where appropriate, attendees will be informed that photography or filming is taking place.
Individuals concerned about appearing in recordings may contact the event team or email contact@surgery.international.
We will consider reasonable objections in accordance with applicable data protection law.
Separate arrangements may apply to speakers, interviews, testimonials and individuals who are the principal subject of recorded material.
13. DATA RETENTION
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or subsequently lawfully processed.
Different categories of information may be subject to different retention periods.
When determining retention periods, we consider:
Marketing and newsletter information
Marketing information may be retained while an individual remains subscribed or while another appropriate lawful basis continues to apply.
Where an individual unsubscribes or objects to marketing, we may retain the minimum information necessary to maintain a suppression record.
Event and registration information
Event registration and attendance information may be retained where reasonably necessary for event administration, reporting, future event planning and other legitimate business purposes.
Financial information
Financial and transaction records may be retained for the periods required by applicable accounting, taxation and other legal obligations.
Information no longer required
We will periodically review personal information and delete, securely destroy or anonymise it when it is no longer required.
Retention periods will be reviewed and documented in accordance with our internal data management procedures.
14. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS
Some of our technology providers and other service providers may process personal information outside the United Kingdom.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take appropriate steps to ensure compliance with applicable data protection legislation.
These may include transfers to countries covered by UK adequacy regulations or the use of approved contractual safeguards and supplementary measures where necessary.
Individuals may request further information about relevant safeguards by contacting contact@surgery.international.
15. DATA SECURITY
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised access or disclosure.
These measures may include:
Although appropriate safeguards are maintained, no electronic transmission or storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
16. YOUR DATA PROTECTION RIGHTS
Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, individuals may have the right to:
These rights may be subject to applicable legal conditions and exemptions.
Individuals have the right to object at any time to the processing of their personal information for direct marketing purposes.
To exercise these rights, please contact contact@surgery.international.
We may need to verify an individual's identity before responding to a request.
17. AUTOMATED DECISION-MAKING
Buyer Connect Limited does not currently undertake solely automated decision-making using personal information that produces legal or similarly significant effects for individuals.
If this changes, we will update this Policy and provide additional privacy information as required by law.
18. CHILDREN'S DATA
Our publications, professional services and events are primarily intended for adults and healthcare professionals.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18 through these services.
Where personal information concerning a child is collected unintentionally, we will take appropriate steps in accordance with applicable law.
19. COOKIES AND WEBSITE ANALYTICS
The websites operated by Buyer Connect Limited, including Surgery International and The Surgeon Show, use Google Analytics to help us understand how visitors interact with our websites and improve their functionality, content and user experience.
Google Analytics may collect information about:
We use this information to analyse website performance, understand audience engagement and improve our publications, events and online services.
Cookies and consent
Our websites may use cookies and similar technologies to support essential website functions, maintain security, measure performance and understand visitor interactions.
Non-essential analytics cookies and tracking technologies will only be activated where the necessary consent has been obtained, unless a specific legal exemption applies and its conditions are satisfied.
Visitors will be provided with appropriate information about cookies and available controls for managing their preferences.
We will provide information about relevant cookies, their purposes, providers and retention periods through the applicable website's cookie information or Cookie Policy.
20. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES AND LINKS
Our websites, publications and newsletters may contain links to external websites operated by sponsors, advertisers and other organisations.
Where an individual visits a third-party website, that organisation may collect and process personal information independently.
We encourage individuals to review the privacy information provided by external organisations before sharing personal information with them.
21. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may update this Group Privacy Policy to reflect changes to our activities, services, technology or applicable legal requirements.
Where changes are significant, we will take reasonable steps to inform affected individuals where appropriate.
The latest version will be published on the websites operated by Buyer Connect Limited and will display its effective date.
22. CONTACT AND COMPLAINTS
For questions about this Policy, our processing of personal information or to exercise data protection rights, please contact:
Buyer Connect Limited
The Threshing Barn
Manor Farm Barns
Coates Lane
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP13 5UX
United Kingdom
Email: contact@surgery.international
If you have concerns about how we have handled your personal information, you may contact us to request that we investigate.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator.
ICO website: www.ico.org.uk
End of Group Privacy Policy – Version 2.1