Privacy Policy

Last updated: 17 July 2026

1. Who we are and scope

This policy explains how LiftMyTrade (“we”, “us”) collects, uses and protects personal data when you use liftmytrade.co.uk, contact us, or engage our services. LiftMyTrade is operated by Jacob Garner, a sole trader based in Basildon, Essex, England, who is the data controller for the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Contact: info@liftmytrade.co.uk, or by post at LiftMyTrade, The Workspace Basildon, 7 High Pavement, Basildon, Essex, SS14 1EA.

2. Personal data we collect

Data you give us directly: name, business name, trade, town(s) of operation, phone number, email address, and the content of any message you send via our contact form, email, or phone. If you become a client: billing details, records of the services provided, correspondence, and information needed to deliver the work (such as access to your Google Business Profile and website).

Data collected automatically: our hosting provider records server logs including IP address, browser type, pages visited and timestamps. Strictly necessary cookies are set for site functionality and caching (see section 8).

We do not collect special category data, and we do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18. Our services are directed at businesses.

3. Purposes and lawful bases

We process personal data only where the UK GDPR provides a lawful basis:

To respond to enquiries and run the free town check — lawful basis: our legitimate interests (responding to people who contact us) and steps taken at your request prior to entering a contract (Article 6(1)(b)).

To maintain our one-trade-per-town exclusivity register — lawful basis: legitimate interests. Recording which towns are taken is necessary to deliver the exclusivity we offer clients. We record only trade, town and dates, and this register is never published or shared.

To deliver services to clients, invoice, and manage the relationship — lawful basis: performance of a contract.

To keep accounting and tax records — lawful basis: legal obligation.

To secure and maintain the website — lawful basis: legitimate interests.

Where we rely on legitimate interests, we have balanced those interests against your rights and concluded they are not overridden; you may request details of this assessment or object at any time (section 6).

4. Who we share data with

We share personal data only with processors and services necessary to operate: Hostinger International Ltd (website hosting), our email service provider, our accounting software and accountant (client billing records only), and Google LLC where the work involves your Google Business Profile. We do not sell personal data, share it for marketing, or disclose enquiry details to any third party except where required by law. We will disclose data where legally compelled (for example by court order or to HMRC).

5. International transfers

Some providers (such as Google) may process data outside the UK. Where this happens, transfers are protected by UK adequacy regulations or the provider’s UK International Data Transfer Addendum / standard contractual clauses. We do not otherwise transfer your data outside the UK.

6. Your rights

You have the right to: access the personal data we hold about you; have inaccurate data rectified; have data erased where there is no lawful reason for us to keep it; restrict processing; data portability (for data you provided under contract or consent); object to processing based on legitimate interests, which we will stop unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds; and withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent, without affecting prior processing.

To exercise any right, email info@liftmytrade.co.uk. We will respond within one calendar month, free of charge. We may need to verify your identity first. If you are dissatisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk, 0303 123 1113). We’d appreciate the chance to resolve it first, but you may go to the ICO directly.

7. Retention

Enquiry records (including town-check requests): 24 months from last contact, then deleted. Exclusivity register entries for active clients: duration of the client relationship. Client contractual and billing records: 6 years after the end of the relationship (Companies/HMRC requirements). Server logs: retained per Hostinger’s schedule, typically no more than 12 months. Where you ask for erasure, we delete data unless retention is legally required, and will tell you which data we must keep and why.

8. Cookies

This site sets only strictly necessary cookies: caching and performance cookies set by our hosting/optimisation software so pages load quickly. These do not require consent under PECR. We do not currently use analytics, advertising or social media cookies. If that changes, we will update this policy and, where required, request your consent via a banner before any non-essential cookie is set.

9. Security

Data is protected by TLS encryption in transit, access controls on all accounts (strong passwords and two-factor authentication where available), and reputable UK/EU hosting. In the unlikely event of a personal data breach likely to result in a risk to your rights, we will notify the ICO within 72 hours and affected individuals without undue delay, as required by law.

10. Automated decision-making

We do not carry out automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The “last updated” date at the top will change, and material changes will be flagged on this page. Continued use of the site after changes does not affect your statutory rights.