Template: Record keeping and retention schedule

About this resource

This resource provides an example of a retention and record keeping schedule that you could adapt for your work locally.

The Data Protection Act states that data should be kept no longer than necessary. This means that you must have a sound reason for keeping information and once you no longer need it you should securely erase and destroy it.

Any data, whether held on computer systems or on paper, should be subject to a strict retention schedule. We have produced a template retention and record keeping schedule that you can use as a guide when creating your own.

Please note: you should follow the guidance from your provider when completing lengths of retention.