Last updated: 22 June 2026
This policy explains how we handle personal data. We process data in line with the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), and the changes introduced by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
1. Who we are
The data controller is Phil Thomas Tech Ltd, operating the site localbusinesswebsites.uk and its town directories.
Contact: uklocalbusinessdirectory@gmail.com
We handle data protection enquiries by email only.
2. Sole traders vs. limited companies — why it matters
Personal data is any information relating to an identifiable living person.
If your business is a limited company (Ltd) or an LLP, your business contact details are generally treated as corporate data, not personal data.
If you are a sole trader, freelancer, or in an unincorporated partnership, your business name, address, email, and phone number count as your personal data. We apply full UK GDPR and PECR protections to those listings.
3. What we collect and where it comes from
Information you give us (UK GDPR Article 13)
When you create or claim a listing: your name, business email, billing details, and any marketing preferences.
Information we source from public records (UK GDPR Article 14)
For unclaimed listings, we collect business name, address, phone number, industry, and website URL from public registers, mapping data, and publicly available business websites. Where this data identifies a sole trader, we will contact you within 30 days of adding your listing to tell you we hold it, where it came from, and how to object or opt out — unless we have already made contact or doing so would involve disproportionate effort, in which case this notice serves that purpose.
Information from platform use
Reviews, ratings, and images uploaded to listings.
4. Removing or suppressing a listing
Any sole trader or business representative can ask us to remove or hide their listing. Email uklocalbusinessdirectory@gmail.com and we will action it within 72 hours of a valid request.
5. Our lawful bases (Article 6)
- • Contract (6(1)(b)) — to provide listing, verification, and support to paying customers.
- • Consent (6(1)(a)) — for marketing emails and any non-essential cookies.
- • Legitimate interests (6(1)(f)) — to publish and organise local business information so consumers can find local trades. We carry out a Legitimate Interests Assessment for this and do not publish a sole trader's details where their rights override our interest in listing them.
6. Cookies
We use essential cookies to run the site. We may use analytics cookies to understand how the site is used; under the current rules, certain low-impact statistical and functionality cookies can be set without consent, and where we use them we provide a clear opt-out. Any marketing or tracking cookies are only set with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time.
7. Who we share data with
We do not sell or trade your details to advertisers or data brokers.
We share data only with the service providers we rely on to run the directory — hosting, database, email delivery, and similar — each under a written data processing agreement. Data is stored in the UK or European Economic Area; any transfer outside this area is covered by UK-approved safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses.
8. How long we keep data
- • Claimed / paid listings: for as long as the listing is active, and up to 6 years after it ends for accounting and legal purposes.
- • Unclaimed listings: kept while the business appears to be trading; removed on request or when we learn the business has closed.
- • Reviews and images: kept while the listing is live unless you ask us to remove your contribution.
- • Marketing data: until you unsubscribe or object.
9. Your rights
You can ask us to:
- • Access the personal data we hold about you. Our search will be reasonable and proportionate, and we may pause the response deadline if we genuinely need you to clarify your request.
- • Correct inaccurate details.
- • Delete your personal data.
- • Object to direct marketing (an absolute right) or to processing based on legitimate interests.
Email uklocalbusinessdirectory@gmail.com to exercise any of these. We respond within one month, which we may extend for complex requests.
10. Complaints
If you think we've mishandled your data, please tell us first. Email uklocalbusinessdirectory@gmail.com with the subject line "DATA COMPLAINT". We will acknowledge it within 30 days, investigate, and write to you with the outcome.
You can also complain to the UK regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), at ico.org.uk.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The "last updated" date at the top shows the current version.