This policy explains what personal information LinkUp NI collects, why we collect it, and your rights over it.
1. Who we are
LinkUp NI (linkupni.co.uk) is a Northern Ireland business directory run by Michael Henderson, trading as LinkUp NI, of 25 Glebe Manor, Ahoghill, BT42 1GN.
We are the data controller for the personal information described here. You can contact us about privacy at hello@linkupni.co.uk.
2. Information we collect
When you create an account
- Your name, email address and password.
When you submit a listing
- Your name, email address, phone number and your role in the business.
- Business details, such as name, category, town, address, phone, email, website, description and keywords.
- Logos, photos and social media links you upload.
- Anything you add in the additional information field.
Business details are published on the website once a listing is approved. Your personal contact details are not published unless you include them as the business contact.
When you buy a Featured Listing
- Your name, billing details and a record of your purchase.
- Card payments are handled by Stripe. We do not see or store your full card number.
When you contact us
- Your name, email address and the content of your message.
When you use the website
- Technical information, such as your IP address, browser, device and the pages you visit, collected through cookies and similar tools.
3. How we use your information
| What we do | Why we can do it (lawful basis) |
|---|---|
| Create and manage your account | To provide the service you asked for (contract) |
| Review and publish your listing | Contract |
| Process Featured Listing payments and keep records | Contract, and legal obligation for tax and accounting records |
| Contact you about your listing or renewal | Contract and legitimate interests |
| Reply to messages and reports | Legitimate interests |
| Share approved listings on our social media | Legitimate interests, to promote your business and the directory |
| Keep the website secure and stop spam | Legitimate interests |
| Understand how the website is used | Consent, where cookies require it |
| Send marketing emails | Consent. You can unsubscribe at any time |
4. Who we share it with
We do not sell your personal information. We only share it with trusted services that help us run LinkUp NI:
- Website hosting: Hostinger.
- Payments: Stripe, through WooCommerce, to process Featured Listing payments.
- Maps: Google, through Google Maps, to show business locations.
- Spam protection: the captcha service used on our forms.
- Website analytics: Google Analytics, through Google Site Kit, only if you accept analytics cookies.
- Advertising: Google AdSense, if we show adverts on the website, and only if you accept advertising cookies.
- Email: our email and hosting provider, to send account and listing emails.
We may also share information if the law requires it, or to protect our rights and the safety of others.
Some of these services may process data outside the UK. Where they do, we rely on the safeguards UK law requires, such as approved contract terms.
5. Cookies
- We use essential cookies to keep you logged in, process payments and protect forms from spam. These do not need your consent.
- We only use analytics or advertising cookies if you agree to them through our cookie banner.
- If we show adverts, Google and its partners may use cookies to show you ads, which may be personalised if you consent. You can manage this at any time using the Manage consent button on the site, or learn more at how Google uses data from partner sites.
- You can read more about the cookies we use in our Cookie Policy.
- You can change your choice at any time, or block cookies in your browser settings.
6. How long we keep it
| Information | How long |
|---|---|
| Account details | While your account is open, then deleted within 12 months of closing |
| Published listings | While the listing is live, then removed within 3 months |
| Payment and purchase records | 6 years, for tax and accounting |
| Messages and reports | Up to 2 years |
7. Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:
- Ask for a copy of your personal information.
- Ask us to correct information that is wrong.
- Ask us to delete your information.
- Object to or restrict how we use it.
- Ask for your information in a portable format.
- Withdraw consent at any time, where we rely on consent.
To use any of these rights, email hello@linkupni.co.uk. We will reply within one month.
8. Keeping it safe
We use secure connections (HTTPS), trusted providers and restricted admin access to protect your information. No website is completely secure, so please use a strong, unique password.
9. Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we handle your information, please contact us first at hello@linkupni.co.uk.
You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page, with the date it was last changed.
Last updated: 4 October 2026