Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of all Digital Ascendancy websites and services, including digital-ascendancy.co.uk, the blog at digital-ascendancy.co.uk/blog, and the learning portal at learn.digital-ascendancy.co.uk, operated by SANTMAR LIMITED (Company No: 08172749), trading as Digital Ascendancy ("we," "us," "our," or the "Company").

By accessing our websites, purchasing our services, enrolling on our courses, or engaging with us in any capacity, you agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, our Cookie Policy, and any additional terms specific to particular services.

2. Definitions

• "Client," "You," "Your": The individual or entity purchasing or using our services
• "Learner": An individual enrolled on a course or programme on the learning portal
• "Services": All services offered by Digital Ascendancy, including but not limited to workshops, website development, AI chatbot development, business planning support, digital marketing, AI training, CPD course development, and platform development
• "Courses": CPD-aligned online programmes available via the Moodle learning portal at learn.digital-ascendancy.co.uk
• "Deliverables": Any work product, materials, or outcomes provided as part of our Services
• "Agreement": The contract formed between you and us, incorporating these Terms and any service-specific agreements
• "Intellectual Property": All copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights

3. Company Information

Legal Entity: SANTMAR LIMITED
Trading As: Digital Ascendancy
Company Number: 08172749
Registered in: England and Wales
Registered Office: Office 2913, 321-323 High Road, Chadwell Heath, Essex, RM6 6AX
ICO Registration Reference: ZC174370
Contact Email: admin@digital-ascendancy.co.uk

4. Services Offered

4.1 Service Categories

We provide the following categories of services:

1. Business Workshops & Training: Practical CPD-aligned one-day workshops including Digital Marketing & AI for Business, Cybersecurity Essentials for Small Business, Be the Answer (AI Search Optimisation / GEO), and AI in Plain English — available in-person or virtually
2. Online CPD Courses: Self-paced courses delivered via Moodle LMS at learn.digital-ascendancy.co.uk, including Digital Marketing & AI for Business, Cybersecurity Essentials for Small Business, and Be the Answer: AI Search Optimisation for UK SMEs
3. Website Development Services: Domain registration, hosting, design, and development — Starter, Professional, and E-Commerce packages
4. AI Chatbot Development: Custom chatbot creation, integration, and maintenance — Starter, Professional, and Enterprise packages
5. Business Planning Support: AI-assisted market research, financial modelling, strategy development, and business plan production
6. Digital Marketing Services: SEO, AI search optimisation (GEO/Generative Engine Optimisation), social media management, content marketing, email marketing, and analytics
7. AI Business Productivity Training: Training on AI tools, prompt engineering, and workflow automation
8. Online CPD & Course Development: End-to-end instructional design and Moodle LMS development for training providers and organisations
9. Platform & CMS Development: Development of specialist platforms including Moodle LMS, PrestaShop, Drupal, Joomla, TYPO3, WordPress, phpBB, osTicket, and MediaWiki

4.2 Service Delivery

Services are delivered according to the specifications agreed upon at the time of purchase. We reserve the right to:

• Modify service delivery methods to improve quality or efficiency
• Use subcontractors or third parties to deliver services
• Reschedule workshops or training sessions with reasonable notice

5. Online Courses and Learning Portal

5.1 Enrolment

• Course enrolment requires creation of an account on the learning portal at learn.digital-ascendancy.co.uk
• You must provide accurate registration information and verify your email address to access course content
• Course access begins upon successful payment and email verification
• For any enrolment difficulties, contact learn@digital-ascendancy.co.uk

5.2 Course Subscriptions and Access

• Self-paced online courses are available on a monthly subscription basis unless stated otherwise
• Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled before the renewal date
• You may cancel your subscription at any time — access continues until the end of the paid period
• The Be the Answer course is also available as a one-off purchase at the price stated on the course page
• The AI in Plain English programme is a live monthly Zoom session — places are strictly limited. Booking is by waitlist form; a place is confirmed only upon receipt of payment and written confirmation from us

5.3 CPD Certificates

• Certificates are issued automatically upon successful completion of all required course activities
• CPD hours are aligned with the CPD Standards Office framework
• Certificates are issued in the learner's name as registered on the platform — ensure your name is entered correctly at registration

5.4 Acceptable Use of Course Content

• Course content is licensed for personal use only — you may not share, reproduce, distribute, or resell course materials
• Login credentials must not be shared — one account per enrolled learner
• We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access for breach of these terms without refund

6. Ordering and Payment

6.1 Order Process

• All orders are subject to acceptance by us
• We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone
• Quotations for bespoke services are valid for 30 days unless otherwise stated
• Services commence upon receipt of payment or as agreed in writing

6.2 Pricing and Payment Terms

• All prices are in GBP (£)
• SANTMAR LIMITED is not VAT registered — prices shown are the full price to the customer with no VAT to add
• Payment for online courses is processed via Stripe at the point of enrolment
• Payment for bespoke services is due upon invoice unless alternative terms are agreed in writing
• For ongoing services (hosting, chatbot maintenance, course subscriptions), payment is due monthly in advance

6.3 Late Payment

• Late payments on bespoke service invoices may incur interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate
• We reserve the right to suspend services for overdue accounts
• You remain liable for all reasonable costs incurred in recovering debts

7. Cancellations and Refunds

7.1 Workshop and Training Cancellations

Cancellation Period	Refund Amount
More than 14 days before event	100% refund
7–14 days before event	50% refund
Less than 7 days before event	No refund (transfer to future date possible)

7.2 Online Course Cancellations

• Monthly subscriptions may be cancelled at any time — no further charges will be made after the cancellation date, and access continues until the end of the paid period
• Refunds for the current billing period are not provided once access has been granted, except where required by consumer protection law
• If you have not accessed any course content within 7 days of initial purchase, you may request a full refund by contacting learn@digital-ascendancy.co.uk
• AI in Plain English live session bookings are non-refundable once a place is confirmed, but may be transferred to a future session with a minimum of 7 days' notice

7.3 Bespoke Service Cancellations

• Website Development: Cancellation after work commences will incur charges for work completed to date
• AI Chatbot Services: 30 days' written notice required to cancel monthly subscriptions
• CPD Course Development and Platform Projects: Non-refundable after project commencement unless we fail to deliver the agreed scope

7.4 Our Right to Cancel

We reserve the right to cancel services and provide a full refund if:

• Minimum attendance numbers for live workshops or sessions are not met
• Circumstances beyond our control prevent service delivery
• You breach these Terms or engage in inappropriate behaviour

8. Intellectual Property Rights

8.1 Our Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights in our website content, course materials, training content, methodologies, software, code, brand, logos, and marketing materials remain our property or that of our licensors. You may not use, reproduce, or distribute our intellectual property without written permission.

8.2 Client Intellectual Property

• You retain ownership of content you provide to us
• You grant us a licence to use your content for service delivery purposes
• We may showcase completed projects in our portfolio with your prior permission

8.3 Deliverables

• Upon full payment, you own the deliverables created specifically for you as part of a bespoke project
• We retain the right to reuse general methodologies, techniques, and know-how
• Third-party components remain subject to their original licensing terms
• Course content on the learning portal remains our intellectual property and is licensed for personal use only

9. Website Development Specific Terms

9.1 Domain and Hosting

• Domain names are registered in your name where possible
• Hosting services are provided through third-party providers
• You are responsible for renewal fees after the initial period included in your package
• We are not liable for third-party hosting downtime

9.2 Content and Maintenance

• You are responsible for providing content in a timely manner — delays may affect project timelines
• You warrant that all content provided does not infringe third-party rights
• Post-launch maintenance is subject to a separate agreement

10. AI Chatbot Services Specific Terms

10.1 Service Levels

• Chatbot availability is subject to third-party AI service uptime (including Anthropic and OpenAI)
• Response accuracy depends on training data quality and the information provided
• Monthly conversation limits apply based on the selected package — excess usage may incur additional charges

10.2 Data and Compliance

• You are responsible for ensuring chatbot use complies with applicable data protection laws including UK GDPR
• We are not liable for chatbot responses or customer interactions once deployed
• You must review and approve chatbot training content before deployment

11. AI Search Optimisation (GEO) Services

• GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) is an emerging discipline — results depend on factors outside our control including the behaviour of AI platforms (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, and others)
• We do not guarantee specific AI citation or visibility outcomes
• Recommendations are based on current best practices which may evolve as AI search platforms develop
• We provide a 90-day action plan as a deliverable — implementation outcomes depend on your ongoing effort and the AI platforms' algorithms

12. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to keep confidential all non-public information received from the other party, to use it only for the purposes of the Agreement, and not to disclose it to third parties without consent. This obligation survives termination of services for a period of 5 years.

13. Data Protection

We process personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable UK data protection law. SANTMAR LIMITED is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) under reference ZC174370. By using our services, you:

• Acknowledge our data processing as described in the Privacy Policy
• Warrant that any data you provide to us is accurate and lawfully obtained
• Agree to maintain appropriate data protection measures for any shared access

14. Limitation of Liability

14.1 Our Liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any liability that cannot be excluded by law.

14.2 Limitations

Subject to the above, our total liability to you shall not exceed:

• For workshop and live training services: the fee paid for the specific event
• For online course subscriptions: the total subscription fees paid in the preceding 3 months
• For project-based services: the total project fee
• For ongoing services: three months' fees

14.3 Exclusions

We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, business, or revenue, loss of anticipated savings, loss of data (you should maintain backups), or third-party service failures.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Digital Ascendancy, SANTMAR LIMITED, and our directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your breach of these Terms, your use of our services, content you provide to us, or your violation of any applicable laws or third-party rights.

16. Warranties and Disclaimers

16.1 Our Warranties

We warrant that services will be provided with reasonable skill and care, that we have the right to provide the services, and that deliverables will materially conform to agreed specifications.

16.2 Disclaimers

• Services are provided without warranties of fitness for a particular purpose beyond those expressly stated
• We do not guarantee specific business results or outcomes from our services, training, or courses
• We do not warrant uninterrupted or error-free service, particularly where dependent on third-party platforms
• Business advice and course content is general in nature and not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or technical consultation
• AI tools and platforms referenced in our courses and services are third-party products subject to change — we are not responsible for changes to those platforms

17. Force Majeure

Neither party is liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from circumstances beyond reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, government actions, pandemic or epidemic, labour disputes, or internet and utility failures.

18. Termination

18.1 Termination by Either Party

• Either party may terminate ongoing bespoke services with 30 days' written notice
• Either party may terminate immediately for material breach following written notice
• Course subscriptions may be cancelled by you at any time through the learning portal or by contacting learn@digital-ascendancy.co.uk

18.2 Effects of Termination

• Outstanding fees become immediately due
• We will provide work completed to date for project-based services
• Access to course content ceases at the end of the final paid subscription period
• Confidentiality obligations survive termination
• You must cease using our intellectual property upon termination

19. Dispute Resolution

19.1 Initial Resolution

If a dispute arises, please contact us first at admin@digital-ascendancy.co.uk to seek resolution. We commit to working with you in good faith.

19.2 Formal Proceedings

• These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales
• The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction
• Each party bears their own legal costs unless awarded otherwise by a court

20. General Provisions

20.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with any service-specific agreements and our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between us and supersede all prior agreements or understandings.

20.2 Amendments

We may update these Terms from time to time. Significant changes will be notified via email or website notice. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

20.3 Severability

If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force.

20.4 Waiver

Failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver of that provision.

20.5 Assignment

You may not assign your rights without our written consent. We may assign our rights to successors or affiliates.

20.6 Third-Party Rights

These Terms do not create any third-party beneficiary rights.

21. Acceptable Use Policy

When using our services or platforms, you must not:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe intellectual property rights
• Transmit harmful, offensive, or illegal content
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to systems or accounts
• Share course login credentials or course content with others
• Interfere with service operation or other users
• Use services for unlawful or fraudulent purposes
• Resell our services or course content without authorisation

22. Accessibility and Environmental Commitment

We are committed to making our services and websites accessible to all users. If you require accommodations or alternative formats, please contact us. We also prioritise digital delivery of materials, use recycled and sustainable sources for physical materials where feasible, and encourage clients to adopt sustainable digital practices.

23. Consumer Rights

If you are a consumer (not purchasing as a business), you have additional rights under UK consumer protection law, including:

• A 14-day cooling-off period for distance sales (note: this may not apply to digital content once accessed — see our refund terms in Section 7)
• The right to services provided with reasonable skill and care
• Statutory remedies if services are not as described

24. Complaints Procedure

1. Contact us by email at admin@digital-ascendancy.co.uk with details of your concern
2. We will acknowledge receipt within 2 business days
3. We aim to resolve complaints within 14 business days
4. If you remain unsatisfied, you may pursue formal dispute resolution as set out in Section 19

25. Contact Information