1. About these Terms

These Terms & Conditions apply to services provided by Chris Gaidhu-Withell, an independent researcher.

By booking a consultation or commissioning research, writing, evaluation or related services, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.

These terms are intended to provide clarity about how services are commissioned and delivered. Individual projects may also be subject to a separate written agreement or project specification where appropriate.

2. Services

Services offered may include:

• independent research projects;

• research and evidence reviews;

• literature reviews;

• policy research and analysis;

• FOI and comparative research;

• research reports and evidence briefings;

• research-based articles and other written communication;

• service evaluation and improvement work; and

• research consultations and project scoping.

The precise scope of any commissioned work will depend on the requirements of the individual project.

Where a project requires a defined scope, this will be agreed with the client before work begins.

3. Enquiries and consultations

Initial enquiries can be submitted through this website or by email.

The 15-Minute Initial Research Enquiry is provided free of charge and is intended to establish the nature of an enquiry and whether the requested work is appropriate.

Paid research consultations and project scoping sessions are provided according to the appointment booked.

A consultation does not automatically create an agreement for a larger research project. Any subsequent work will be discussed and agreed separately.

4. Project scope and quotations

Where a client commissions a research or consultancy project, the scope, deliverables, timescale and fee will be agreed before work begins.

Prices displayed on the website are starting prices and are intended to provide an indication of cost.

The final price may vary depending on:

• the complexity of the project;

• the amount of research required;

• the volume of material to be reviewed;

• the required deliverables;

• the timescale; and

• any additional requirements agreed with the client.

Where a bespoke quotation is provided, the quotation will specify the agreed scope and price.

Work outside the agreed scope may require an additional quotation or agreement before it is undertaken.

5. Payment

Payment arrangements will depend on the service provided.

For consultations and appointments, payment will normally be made at the time of booking unless otherwise agreed.

For larger commissioned projects, including Research-to-Report Projects, Independent Research Projects and bespoke research projects, a separate written project and payment agreement will be provided before work begins.

A non-refundable deposit of 20% of the total agreed project fee will normally be required to confirm the project and secure the agreed scope and commencement date.

The remaining balance and any staged payments will be set out in the individual project agreement.

All fees are payable in accordance with the agreed payment arrangements.

6. Cancellation and rescheduling

If you need to cancel or reschedule a consultation, please provide as much notice as possible.

Appointments cancelled more than 24 hours before the scheduled appointment time may be eligible for a refund or rescheduling.

Appointments cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time, or appointments that are missed without notice, are non-refundable.

Any cancellation or rescheduling arrangements displayed through Acuity Scheduling at the time of booking will also apply.

Larger commissioned projects

For larger projects, including Research-to-Report Projects, Independent Research Projects and bespoke research projects, cancellation arrangements will be set out in the individual project and payment agreement.

The 20% project deposit is non-refundable once the project has been confirmed.

Where a project is cancelled after work has commenced, the client remains responsible for payment for work completed up to the date of cancellation, in accordance with the agreed project and payment agreement.

7. Client responsibilities

Clients are responsible for providing accurate and relevant information necessary for the agreed work.

Where a project depends upon information, documents, data or other material being supplied by the client, delays in providing that information may affect the project timescale.

Clients should ensure that they have the necessary rights or permissions to provide any documents, data or other material supplied for use within a project.

8. Research, evidence and professional judgement

Research and consultancy work is undertaken using reasonable professional care and appropriate research methods for the agreed scope.

Research outputs may draw upon academic literature, professional sources, publicly available information, policy documents, legislation, official statistics, FOI responses and other relevant evidence.

Research findings and recommendations represent an evidence-informed analysis of the information available at the time of the work.

Unless explicitly agreed otherwise, research outputs should not be interpreted as legal, medical, clinical, financial or other regulated professional advice.

9. Accuracy and limitations

Reasonable care will be taken to ensure that research and written outputs are accurate and appropriately supported by the available evidence.

However, research findings may be affected by limitations in the available evidence, data quality, source availability, methodological constraints or changes in policy and practice.

Where relevant, limitations will be identified within the research output.

No guarantee is given that research findings or recommendations will produce a particular outcome.

10. Intellectual property

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the client receives permission to use the final agreed deliverables for the purpose for which they were commissioned.

The underlying research methods, templates, frameworks, processes, know-how and working materials used to produce the work remain the intellectual property of Chris Gaidhu-Withell unless otherwise agreed.

Clients may not reproduce, resell or commercially redistribute underlying working materials or proprietary resources without prior agreement.

Where research involves third-party material, the client remains responsible for observing any applicable copyright or licensing restrictions.

11. Confidentiality

Information provided by a client in connection with a commissioned project will be treated as confidential where it is reasonably understood to be confidential.

I will not knowingly disclose confidential client information to third parties except:

• where disclosure is necessary to provide an agreed service;

• where the client has given permission;

• where disclosure is required by law; or

• where disclosure is otherwise permitted or required under applicable law.

Where a project involves particularly sensitive or confidential information, additional confidentiality or data-processing arrangements may be agreed before work begins.

12. Personal and sensitive information

Clients should not provide unnecessary personal or sensitive information through general website enquiry forms.

Where a commissioned project requires the handling of personal or sensitive information, appropriate arrangements will be discussed before such information is provided or processed.

This may include additional contractual, confidentiality, data protection or information-governance requirements depending on the nature of the project.

13. Use of research outputs

Unless otherwise agreed, clients are responsible for determining how research outputs are subsequently used within their organisation or publication.

Where research is used to inform decisions, policy, practice or other activity, the client should consider the findings alongside other relevant evidence and professional judgement.

Research outputs should not be materially altered in a way that misrepresents the findings or conclusions.

14. Website content

Information published on this website is provided for general information about my services and research activities.

Reasonable care is taken to keep website information accurate and current, but information may change over time.

Nothing on this website constitutes legal, medical, clinical, financial or other regulated professional advice unless explicitly stated otherwise.

15. Limitation of liability

I will provide services with reasonable care and skill.

To the extent permitted by law, I am not responsible for losses arising from decisions or actions taken by a client or third party based solely on research findings, recommendations or other information provided as part of a service.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

16. Changes to agreed work

If the requirements of a project change after work has commenced, the scope, timescale and fee may need to be reviewed.

Any significant changes will be discussed and agreed with the client before additional work is undertaken.

17. Termination of commissioned projects

Either party may request to end an ongoing commissioned project.

Where a project is terminated by the client after the project has been confirmed, the 20% non-refundable deposit will be retained.

Where work has commenced, the client may also be responsible for payment for work completed up to the date of termination, together with any other costs that have been expressly agreed in the project agreement.

Any specific termination arrangements agreed in the individual project and payment agreement will take precedence where applicable.

18. Governing law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Any disputes will initially be addressed through reasonable discussion between the parties with the aim of reaching an appropriate resolution.

19. Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact:

Chris Gaidhu-Withell
Email: chrisgaidhuwithell@gmail.com