Privacy, Cookie and Terms of Business Policy

Last updated: October 2025

Procurement Consultancy is a brand of Thornton & Lowe Limited, registered in England and Wales, Company No. 07098722.
Registered address: 40 Higher Bridge Street, Bolton BL1 2HA
Email: hello@thorntonandlowe.com Phone: 01204 238 046

By using this website and our services, you agree to this policy. These Terms and Conditions apply to all services provided unless specific written terms are issued for your particular project.

1. Privacy Notice

Who we are

Thornton & Lowe Limited is the data controller responsible for personal data collected through this website and services provided under the Procurement Consultancy brand.

What data we collect

We may collect your name, company name, job title, address, telephone number and email address when you contact us, request information or book a consultation.
If at any point you pay us by card or electronic means via a third party, the payment provider will process the necessary payment information.
We also collect limited website usage data through cookies and analytics to help us improve our site.

Why we collect your data

We use your information to respond to enquiries, provide quotes, deliver contracted services, manage our accounts, send marketing communications where you have given consent, and comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

Legal basis for processing

We process data on one or more of the following bases: contractual necessity to perform a contract with you, legal obligation, legitimate interests to operate and improve our services, and consent for marketing communications.

How long we keep your data

We keep personal data only as long as necessary for the purpose collected. Marketing contact details are kept until you withdraw consent. Financial and transactional records are retained in line with UK tax and accounting law.

Sharing your data

We share data only where necessary with trusted service providers, for example secure cloud hosts and IT support.
If we transfer personal data outside the UK, we use recognised safeguards. For transfers to the United States this may include the UK-US Data Bridge where the recipient is certified on the Data Privacy Framework list. Where this does not apply, we use the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or the UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses. We assess the risks of each transfer and keep appropriate records.

Your rights

You have the right to access the information we hold about you, ask us to correct or delete it, restrict or object to processing where applicable, and withdraw consent to marketing at any time.
To exercise your rights, email hello@thorntonandlowe.com or write to our Bolton address.
If you have a concern about our use of your information you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office at www.ico.org.uk/concerns.

2. Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to operate correctly and to help us improve user experience.

Types of cookies

Essential cookies are required for security and core site features.
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors use the site.
Marketing cookies may be used to measure the performance of our marketing.

Managing cookies

When you first visit our website you can accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your choice later in your browser settings or via our cookie settings. We will not set non-essential cookies unless you have given us your consent, and you can withdraw consent at any time using our cookie settings. Blocking essential cookies may affect how the site functions.

3. Standard Terms and Conditions of Business

These terms apply to all services provided by Thornton & Lowe Limited trading as Procurement Consultancy, unless specific written terms are issued for your particular project.

1. Definitions

In these Conditions words and expressions defined in the Agreement Details shall have the same meanings and in addition:

Business Agreement means the Business Agreement or Quote Form setting out the details of the services we will provide and signed by the Provider.
Business Day means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in England, when banks in London are open for business.
Client Materials means all materials, equipment and tools, drawings, specifications and data supplied by the Client to the Provider.
Contract means the agreement between the Client and the Provider relating to the supply of the Services, comprising and limited to the terms contained in the Standard Terms and the Business Agreement.
Days means calendar days and day and days shall be construed accordingly.
Director means a director of the Provider.
Deliverables means all documents, products and materials developed by the Provider or its agents, subcontractors and personnel as part of or in relation to the Services in any form.
Intellectual Property Rights means all patents, trademarks, unregistered trademarks, trade names, copyright, design rights, know-how, confidential information and other intellectual property rights whether or not registered or capable of registration.
Provider IPRs means all Intellectual Property Rights subsisting in the Deliverables excluding any Client Materials incorporated in them.
Standard Terms means these Standard Terms and Conditions 2023 as amended from time to time in accordance with clause 19.
Term means the term determined in accordance with Clause 2, that being either the fixed term under the agreement or any subsequent 12 month period and term shall be construed accordingly.
A Year means 365 days and part-year shall be construed accordingly. This contract excludes all UK Public Holidays and the period between 22 December and 5 January.
You and your means the Client. We, us and our means the Provider.

2. Duration

2.1 The Contract shall commence on the Commencement Date or the date on which we begin to provide Services. The Contract shall continue until terminated in accordance with these Standard Terms.

3. Services

3.1 The Provider shall provide the Services from the Commencement Date.
3.2 The Client understands and accepts that the provision of Services is for such work as could reasonably be expected in the competent jurisdictions of England and Wales based on the laws of England and Wales and that no liability can be accepted for work provided by the Provider outside those jurisdictions, unless confirmed in writing and signed by a Director of the Provider.
3.3 In supplying the Services, we shall:
3.3.1 perform the Services with reasonable care and skill
3.3.2 use reasonable endeavours to perform the Services in accordance with any service description set out in the Business Agreement
3.3.3 comply with all applicable laws, statutes and regulations from time to time in force, provided that the Provider shall not be liable under the Contract if, as a result of such compliance, it is in breach of any of its obligations under the Contract
3.3.4 observe all reasonable health and safety rules and regulations and security requirements that apply at any of the Client’s premises and have been communicated to the Provider, provided that the Provider shall not be liable under the Contract if, as a result of such observation, it is in breach of any of its obligations under the Contract
3.3.5 take reasonable care of all Client Materials in its possession and make them available for collection by the Client on reasonable notice and request, always provided that the Provider may destroy such materials if the Client fails to collect the same within a reasonable period after termination of the Contract.

4. Client Obligations

4.1 The Client shall:
4.1.1 co-operate with the Provider in all matters in respect of the Services
4.1.2 meet any requirements specified for the Client in the Business Agreement
4.1.3 provide us in a timely manner and at no charge, access to your premises, data and other facilities as we reasonably require for the provision of the Services
4.1.4 ensure any information provided is accurate in all material respects.
4.2 If our performance of our obligations under the Contract is prevented or delayed by any act or omission of the Client, its agents, subcontractors, consultants or employees, we shall:
4.2.1 not be liable for any costs, charges or losses sustained or incurred by the Client that arise directly or indirectly from such prevention or delay
4.2.2 be entitled to payment of the Charges which we may reasonably expect to have received despite any such prevention or delay
4.2.3 be entitled to recover any additional costs, charges or losses we sustain or incur as a result.

5. Charges

5.1 The Charges shall be calculated as specified in the Business Agreement and you agree to pay all Charges on the basis specified subject to the terms of these Standard Terms.
5.2 All Charges specified in the Business Agreement exclude VAT which the Client shall be liable to pay in addition subject to receipt of a valid VAT invoice.
5.3 You shall not set off any sums due to us under this Contract howsoever against any other sums claimed from us.

6. Payment

6.1 You shall pay the Charges in accordance with the provisions specified in the Business Agreement.
6.2 The Client shall, unless agreed otherwise by a Director of the Provider, pay all charges by way of electronic transfer to our bank account within 7 days of date of invoice.
6.3 Time shall be of the essence in paying any Charges.
6.4 Simple interest shall be payable on any overdue amount from the date on which payment was due to that on which it is made at the rate of 2 percent above the base rate quoted by the Royal Bank of Scotland as in force at the time of payment falling due, accruing on a daily basis.
6.5 Without prejudice to any other rights we have, if you fail to make any payment when due we shall be entitled by giving written notice to you at any time to exercise any one or more of the following rights:
6.5.1 to suspend the performance of Services
6.5.2 to refrain from providing the Service if circumstances mean that additional costs will be incurred
6.5.3 to require the Client to pay all legal and other costs including court fees, enquiry agents and reasonable administrative costs incurred by us in recovering any amounts, pursuant to clause 5, owing from you and such costs shall be due for payment immediately following written notice of invoice by us.
6.6 Should any payment not be made within 30 days of the due date, the full outstanding balance for the remainder of any fixed term as detailed in the Business Agreement will automatically become due and payable in full.
6.7 Any queries in connection with any invoice must be referred by the Client to the Provider within 7 days of receipt of that invoice.
6.8 In any claim by the Provider for a failure by the Client to comply with clause 5, the Provider shall have the right to claim such payment or payments due as an unpaid debt.

7. Performance

7.1 Time shall not be of the essence in the performance of any Services and the Provider shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense arising from any delay in the performance of any Service or in the provision of such Services from whatever cause nor shall any such delay entitle the Client to repudiate the Contract.
7.2 The Client warrants that it shall notify the Provider within 30 days by written notice if, at any time during the Contract, the nature of the Client’s business alters substantially from the nature of the Client’s business at the commencement of the Contract. This clause is a condition of the Contract and if breached the Provider shall have the right to terminate the Contract.

8. Liability

8.1 The liability of the Provider to the Client in contract, tort including negligence or breach of statutory duty or otherwise under or in connection with the Contract shall be limited as follows:
8.1.1 the Provider shall have no liability for any consequential loss or damage suffered by the Client or any customer of the Client under or in connection with the Contract, including wasted time or expenditure, loss of profits, loss of agreements or contracts, use, revenue or goodwill
8.1.2 the Provider shall have no liability in respect of any claim relating to the Services unless the Client gives the Provider written notice of the claim promptly and in any event within 15 days after the Client becomes aware or should reasonably have become aware of the circumstances giving rise to the claim and affords the Provider not less than 30 days following such notification in which to remedy the Services concerned
8.1.3 the Provider shall be discharged from all liability to which these terms apply unless proceedings are begun within 180 days after the Client became aware or should reasonably have become aware of the facts giving rise to such liability.
8.2 Subject to clause 6.5.3, in all matters affecting or disputes arising out of the Contract each party shall bear its own legal costs incurred, including all costs incurred prior to, during or at the conclusion of any legal proceedings.
8.3 The Client understands and accepts that while every effort is made to ensure the Provider’s sales staff are conversant with all aspects of the Service, they are neither qualified nor in a position to provide the Client with advice on subjects covered by the Service. The Provider is not responsible for any advice given by sales staff. Any representations from sales staff made prior to, during or after the provision of the Service do not form part of the Contract and the Provider does not accept liability for any such representation made or relied upon by the Client.
8.4 Nothing in this Contract shall limit or exclude the Provider’s liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, or the negligence of its personnel, agents or subcontractors, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of the terms implied by Section 2 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 or any other liability which cannot be excluded by law.
8.5 Subject to clause 8.4, the Provider’s total liability to the Client whether arising under or in connection with this Contract shall be limited to 100 percent of the Charges paid in the preceding 12 months and paid under the Contract.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 The Provider and its licensors shall retain ownership of all Provider IPRs. The Client and its licensors shall retain ownership of all Intellectual Property Rights in the Client Materials.
9.2 The Provider grants the Client a fully paid up, worldwide, non exclusive, royalty free, non transferable licence to copy and modify the Provider IPRs for the purpose of receiving and using the Services and the Deliverables in the Client’s business during the term of the Contract.
9.3 The Client grants the Provider a fully paid up, worldwide, non exclusive, royalty free, non transferable licence to copy and modify the Client Materials for the term of the Contract for the purpose of providing the Services to the Client in accordance with the Contract.
9.4 The Client shall not remove, modify or obscure any notice of the Provider IPRs or any third party Intellectual Property Rights on any of the Deliverables, or claim that the Provider IPRs are the Client’s.
9.5 The Provider shall indemnify the Client against sums awarded by a court against the Client arising out of any claim against the Client for infringement of a third party’s rights arising out of or in connection with the receipt or use of the Services by the Client.
9.6 The Client shall indemnify the Provider against sums awarded by a court against the Provider arising out of any claim brought against the Provider for infringement of a third party’s rights arising out of, or in connection with, the receipt or use of the Client Materials by the Provider.

10. Termination

10.1 The Provider shall have the right to terminate the Contract within 14 days of the commencement of the Contract by written notice. If the Provider exercises this discretion the Provider shall reimburse to the Client all sums paid by the Client in relation to the Service or part Service within 30 days.
10.2 Without affecting any other right or remedy, either party may terminate the Contract with immediate effect by giving written notice to the other party if:
10.2.1 the other party commits a material breach of any term of the Contract which is irremediable or which, if remediable, is not remedied within 15 days after written notice
10.2.2 the other party takes any step or action in connection with entering administration, provisional liquidation or any composition or arrangement with creditors other than a solvent restructuring, applying to court for or obtaining a moratorium, being wound up, having a receiver appointed to any assets or ceasing to carry on business, or any analogous procedure in another jurisdiction
10.2.3 the other party suspends or ceases, or threatens to suspend or cease, to carry on all or a substantial part of its business
10.2.4 the other party’s financial position deteriorates to such an extent that in the terminating party’s reasonable opinion its capability to fulfil its obligations is placed in jeopardy.
10.3 On termination of the Contract for whatever reason:
10.3.1 in the event of termination whether by notice, breach by the Client or otherwise, the Client shall pay to the Provider all sums due up until the expiry of the current term of the Contract, such sums being payable immediately. The statement of the Provider as to such sums shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive
10.3.2 any provision of the Contract that expressly or by implication is intended to continue in force on or after termination or expiry shall remain in full force and effect
10.3.3 any right or remedy to which the Provider is or may become entitled under the Contract or in consequence of the Client’s breach may be enforced from time to time and such rights and remedies are cumulative.

11. Force Majeure

11.1 The Provider shall not be liable for any delay or other failure to perform any Services or obligations under the Contract if such delay or failure is by reason of any cause beyond its reasonable control and the time for performance shall be extended by the period of any such delay.

12. Non-Poaching

12.1 During the Term and for a period of 24 months after termination neither party shall hire the other party’s employees without the consent of the other party.

13. Rights of Third Parties

13.1 No person other than the Provider, any person, business or company to whom the Provider assigns the Contract and the Client shall have any enforceable rights under or in connection with the Contract.

14. Entire Contract

14.1 The Contract contains all the terms agreed in relation to its subject matter and supersedes all previous communications. The Provider does not authorise representations that conflict with these terms unless confirmed in writing and signed by a Director.
14.2 The Client accepts that it has not been induced to enter into the Contract by or in reliance upon any statement or representation not set out in the Contract.
14.3 Both parties acknowledge that the Contract contains the whole agreement and that each has made its own independent investigation.
14.4 No failure or delay in exercising any of the Provider’s rights shall constitute a waiver.

15. Notices

15.1 Notices shall be in writing and shall be sent either by first class post, tracked and signed, to the receiving party at its business address as last notified in writing, or by email to accounts@thorntonandlowe.com with the subject line clearly noting Termination Notice.

16. Law and Jurisdiction

16.1 The law applicable to the Contract is the law of England and Wales.
16.2 The parties agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

17. Invalidity and Severability

17.1 The provisions of the Contract are severable. If any provision is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
17.2 The parties shall amend any such provision in a reasonable manner to achieve the business intention without illegality or the Provider may sever the provision.

18. General

18.1 Both parties shall comply with all obligations under UK GDPR and data protection laws and the Client shall ensure it has obtained all permissions and consents required for the Provider to process any data as required to provide the Services. The Provider shall keep Client information while it has a lawful basis to do so. Client information is stored in secure systems in the UK and, where relevant, internationally with appropriate safeguards.
18.2 Our professional indemnity insurers are Markel International Insurance Company Limited and we are a company limited by shares.

4. Contact Information

Data Protection and Legal Enquiries
Thornton & Lowe Limited
40 Higher Bridge Street, Bolton BL1 2HA
Telephone 01204 238 046 Email hello@thorntonandlowe.com