Bridewell has published analysis showing that data privacy complaints to the Information Commissioner’s Office rose across several major UK sectors, with finance, insurance and credit recording the highest total.

The data covers complaints logged with the regulator over two 12-month periods and points to continued pressure on organisations handling large volumes of personal information. Finance, health, and online technology and telecoms generated the most complaints in both years.

In finance, insurance and credit, complaints rose 5 per cent to 4,630 in the later period from 4,422 a year earlier, keeping the sector at the top of the rankings.

Health ranked second, with complaints increasing to 4,082 from 3,903, a rise of 179 cases over the year.

Retail and manufacturing recorded the fastest annual increase among the sectors highlighted in the research. Complaints rose 12 percent to 2,714 from 2,421, though the total remained below finance and health.

Regulatory outcomes

The research also tracked how complaint cases were resolved. Cases resulting in informal action responses fell 22 per cent between the two reporting periods.

At the same time, cases concluding with “No Further Action” rose 14 per cent. This may reflect a higher bar for intervention, with regulators focusing resources on complaints with clearer evidence of risk, harm, or repeated non-compliance.

The analysis also noted that one common reason for taking no further action was insufficient information. That underlines the importance of evidence and documentation in complaints about the handling of personal information.

Sector pressure

The figures come as businesses in heavily regulated and data-intensive industries face closer scrutiny over their treatment of customer and user data. Financial services firms, healthcare providers, retailers and digital platforms all handle sensitive personal information at scale, making them more exposed to complaints and enforcement action.

Separate Bridewell research in financial services found that 39 per cent of organisations viewed data privacy and protection as one of their biggest cyber security challenges. The latest complaint analysis adds to that picture by showing where members of the public are directing concerns to the regulator.

Recent enforcement activity has also kept data privacy high on corporate risk agendas. Reddit was fined more than GBP £14 million for failing to carry out a data protection impact assessment and for not checking the age of users accessing its platform.

The case reflects wider regulatory attention on children’s privacy and on whether organisations have put safeguards in place around the use of personal data. For companies operating in consumer-facing markets, such decisions can create both financial and reputational risks.

Chris Linnell, Associate Director of Data Privacy at Bridewell, said: “Rising complaint volumes in sectors like financial services and healthcare show that public expectations around data protection continue to grow. Organisations can’t treat privacy as a compliance box-ticking exercise; it must be central to business operations.”

He also pointed to the consequences of weak controls as regulators sharpen their focus on data governance. “Cases like this highlight the escalating reputational, financial, and operational costs of inadequate privacy controls.”

Tenzo has appointed Jane O’Riordan as Chair of the Board, adding a senior hospitality executive to its leadership team.

O’Riordan brings more than 25 years of industry experience, including roles at Nando’s, Pizza Express and Gourmet Burger Kitchen. She currently chairs Caravan Restaurants and Red Engine, the parent company of Flight Club Darts and Electric Shuffle, and previously served as Chair of Turtle Bay.

Her appointment comes as hospitality operators face sustained pressure on margins and staffing. Tenzo sells a data and analytics platform that helps multi-site restaurant and hospitality groups track live sales, labour, inventory, reservations and guest information in one system.

The role will focus on supporting long-term strategy and governance as Tenzo looks to expand further in the UK and overseas. Founded in 2016 by Christian Mouysset and Adam Taylor, the company aims to give restaurant operators a real-time view of performance rather than relying on historical reporting.

Sector experience

O’Riordan also chairs the UK Hospitality Sector Council’s Innovation Working Group, giving her a broader role in industry discussions on change and modernisation. Her career has spanned board and operating positions across restaurant and leisure brands, making her a well-known figure in the UK’s casual dining market.

That background is likely to be relevant for a company serving a sector grappling with rising costs, labour shortages and weaker consumer spending. Operators are under pressure to improve decision-making at site level while managing wage bills, stock levels and customer demand more precisely.

In comments released alongside the appointment, O’Riordan linked those pressures to the need for real-time information in restaurant operations.

“I have always believed data should empower operators, not overwhelm them. This is what excites me about Tenzo. The team has built a platform with real impact, helping hospitality businesses become smarter, more resilient and more profitable at a time when the industry needs it most.

“With margins under pressure and labour challenges continuing, Tenzo is giving operators an opportunity to turn real-time data into confident, decisive action. I am excited to help scale Tenzo’s vision responsibly, both in the UK and internationally,” O’Riordan said.

Company focus

Tenzo operates in a crowded hospitality software market, where restaurants increasingly rely on a mix of point-of-sale systems, labour scheduling tools, booking platforms and customer feedback products. Companies in this market are trying to reduce the fragmentation that leaves operators switching between separate systems to understand daily trading.

Tenzo’s approach is to combine those data sources into a single operational view, allowing managers to respond more quickly to issues such as staffing levels, sales trends and cost control.

Mouysset said O’Riordan’s experience as a chair and her understanding of the restaurant market were key factors in the appointment.

“Jane’s appointment marks an exciting time for the business. As Tenzo approaches its next stage of growth, Jane will be influential not only because of her outstanding Chair experience leading fast-growth brands, but also because of her deep, hands-on understanding of the hospitality industry today.”

“Jane is aligned with our customer-obsessed mindset and belief in constant experimentation, as well as our view of Tenzo. Like us, she sees Tenzo as the glue that holds together the hospitality technology stack, helping orchestrate and democratise access to data for all operators,” Mouysset said.

The appointment also reflects a wider trend of hospitality technology companies seeking board members with direct operating experience in restaurants and leisure. As cost pressures persist across the sector, software vendors are increasingly expected to show not just technical expertise but also a clear understanding of how site managers and senior operators make day-to-day decisions.

For Tenzo, bringing in a chair with experience across both established restaurant chains and newer leisure formats gives the board exposure to different operating models across the market.

The eighth annual Really Amazing Awards, hosted by Oxford Bus Group at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, brought together employees from Oxford Bus Company, Carousel Buses, Pulhams, Thames Travel and City Sightseeing Oxford.

The evening, full of laughter from stand-up comedian Ivo Graham, shone a spotlight on individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond in their roles.

Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus Group, said: “It was wonderful to spend the evening together and celebrate the people who have delivered really amazing work across the business.

“We also recognised our colleagues who have given a significant number of years’ service to the company.

“They should all be proud of their achievements and role in providing an excellent service to our valued passengers.”

Long service was a central theme of the night, with eight colleagues recognised for a combined 235 years of dedication.

Oxford Bus Company mechanic Craig Evans and facilities manager Andy Seeney were both honoured for 40 years of service.

Several awards were given out on the night, most of which were based on staff nominations.

The gold award in the Star of the Year category went to airline driver Barry Duke, who has recently been on secondment at Thames Travel as operations and control co-ordinator.

The silver award was presented to tour guide Lesley Sammons, whose efforts helped City Sightseeing Oxford earn the title of ‘Worldwide Operator of the Year’, while Pulhams touring coach driver Justin Howell received the bronze award.

Oxford Bus Company’s CCTV team – comprising Steve Williams, Kyle Norburn, Sam De Gouveia and Paul Versey – won the A-Team award for their improvements to the company’s video systems.

Carousel’s High Wycombe depot was named Depot of the Year, thanks in part to its new VIP Bus Driver Academy, upgraded facilities and planned service expansions for 2025.

Alex Knox was named Manager of the Year after stepping up to become assistant operations manager at Oxford Bus Company in 2025, while Lorna Earp received the Unsung Hero award for her behind-the-scenes work maintaining vehicles and facilities at Pulhams’ Cheltenham depot.

The Rising Star award went to Paul Versey, who has retrained and contributed in several roles across the group, including as an engineer at Pulhams.

Other honourees included Thames Travel’s Kenny Hawkins, named Engineer of the Year, and Carousel controller Sam Edmondson, who won the Above and Beyond award.

Long-serving staff recognised on the night included airline driver Gilbert Rae, who marked 30 years with the business.