BISMA — Corporate Sponsorship & Certification Policy

1. Purpose of this Policy

This policy sets out how BISMA (British International Sports Medicine Academy) manages corporate-sponsored learners, communication, data protection, payments, and certification for Ofqual-regulated qualifications (including Level 2 Fitness Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer).

It applies where a company (the Sponsor) funds or gifts a course to an individual employee (the Learner).

2. Parties to the Agreement

For the purposes of training and certification:

• The Sponsor (Company) is the financial contracting party responsible for payment.
• The Learner (Employee) is the academic and qualification holder.

This distinction is essential to comply with UK law, Ofqual expectations, and awarding body requirements.

3. Enrolment and Contractual Basis

3.1 Corporate enrolments must be completed using BISMA’s Third-Party / Corporate Course Form.

3.2 By signing the form:

• The Sponsor agrees to BISMA’s Terms and Conditions, Refund Policy, and Payment Terms.
• The Learner agrees to BISMA’s Learner Policies, Code of Conduct, and Assessment Requirements.

3.3 The course is considered a gift from the Sponsor to the Learner, unless otherwise stated in writing.

4. Communication

4.1 BISMA will communicate directly with the Learner regarding:

• Course access and learning materials
• Assessments and feedback
• Certification updates
• Attendance and progress
• Administrative queries relating to learning

4.2 Communication may take place via:

• Learner’s work email, or
• Learner’s personal email

4.3 The Learner may change their preferred email address at any time by notifying BISMA in writing.

4.4 BISMA may provide the Sponsor with:

• Confirmation of enrolment
• Confirmation of attendance
• Confirmation of pass or completion status
• A copy of the certificate (where appropriate)

However, BISMA will not share detailed academic feedback or personal data beyond what is necessary without explicit learner consent, in line with GDPR.

5. Certification and Certificates

5.1 Once the Learner has:

• Successfully completed all assessments,
• Met all academic requirements,
• Completed identity checks, and
• All outstanding fees are settled by the Sponsor,
  BISMA will process certification in line with awarding body procedures.

5.2 Certificate Ownership
The qualification belongs to the Learner, not the Sponsor.

5.3 Certificate Issuance
BISMA will issue the official certificate in the Learner’s name.

5.4 Certificate Delivery
The Learner may choose for their certificate to be sent to:

• Their home address, or
• A business address (Sponsor’s address)

The Learner may change this delivery preference at any time prior to dispatch.

5.5 Sponsor Copy of Certificate
BISMA may provide the Sponsor with a copy of the certificate or written confirmation of achievement upon request.

5.6 Withholding of Certificates
BISMA may only withhold certificates for legitimate academic or administrative reasons, including:

• Outstanding payment
• Incomplete assessments
• Identity verification issues
• Breach of learner conduct policy

BISMA will not withhold certificates to enforce employment agreements, retention clauses, or HR disputes between the Sponsor and Learner.

6. GDPR and Data Protection

6.1 BISMA processes Learner data in accordance with UK GDPR and our Privacy Notice.

6.2 Lawful bases for processing include:

• Performance of a contract (training and certification)
• Legitimate interests (corporate sponsorship arrangements)

6.3 Data shared with the Sponsor will be limited to:

• Enrolment confirmation
• Attendance status
• Pass/fail status
• Certification confirmation

No sensitive personal data or detailed assessment feedback will be shared without explicit learner consent.

6.4 Learners have the right to:

• Access their personal data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Request deletion where applicable
• Change their contact details at any time

7. Payment Responsibilities

7.1 The Sponsor is responsible for full payment of the course in accordance with BISMA’s Terms and Conditions.

7.2 Failure by the Sponsor to make payment may result in:

• Suspension of the Learner’s access to materials, or
• Delay in certification processing.

7.3 The Learner is not personally liable for payment where the Sponsor has formally agreed to fund the course.

8. Withdrawal, Termination, or Employment Disputes

8.1 If the Learner leaves employment before completing the course:

• The Sponsor remains responsible for any agreed payment schedule unless otherwise stated in writing.
• The Learner may continue their studies independently if approved by BISMA.

8.2 BISMA will not intervene in employment disputes between the Sponsor and Learner.

8.3 BISMA will not:

• Withhold certificates as leverage in employment matters, or
• Act as an enforcement body for retention agreements.

9. Compliance with Ofqual and Awarding Bodies

BISMA delivers qualifications in compliance with Ofqual regulations and awarding body requirements. Where there is any conflict between employer requests and regulatory expectations, BISMA will follow regulatory requirements.

10. Acceptance of Policy

By enrolling a corporate-sponsored learner, the Sponsor and Learner both accept this policy in full.