Essex Business Directory privacy notice
Last updated: 22 October 2026
This notice explains how we use information in the free Essex Business Directory on localleadshub.co.uk. It adds to our main privacy policy.
Who we are
The directory is run by Mark Westley trading as Local Leads Hub, a sole trader. We are the controller of the information described here. Business correspondence address: Bowen Suite, The Globe Centre, 1 St. James Square, Accrington, BB5 0RE. Data protection: Local Leads Hub is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). ICO registration number: ZC282883. Contact us about your data or a listing at info@localleadshub.co.uk.
What we collect
- From the "add your business" form: business name, business type, category, main town, areas served, short description, one public contact (phone, email, website, Facebook or Instagram), and optional website, Facebook and Instagram links. Businesses with premises can choose to show a premises address.
- Your private email (optional), used only to contact you about your listing. It is never published.
- A record of your agreement: that you ticked the confirmation box, the date and time, and the version of the listing terms.
- Reports about a listing: the reason a visitor gives. We do not ask for the reporter's name or contact details.
- Like most websites, our hosting provider processes technical data such as IP addresses to deliver the site and protect it from abuse.
Why we use it and our lawful basis
- To check and publish your listing, and keep it accurate: your consent, given when you submit the form. You can withdraw it at any time by asking us to remove your listing.
- To contact you about your listing (for example a question before publishing, or a report): our legitimate interest in running an accurate directory.
- To keep a record of your agreement and handle reports and spam: our legitimate interest in running the directory fairly and safely, and in being able to show what was agreed.
- We do not send marketing emails from the directory and we do not sell your information.
What is published
Only the business details you submit for display: business name, category, town, areas served, description, your chosen public contact and the links you add. Your private email, the agreement record and any reports are never published.
Sole traders' addresses are never shown. Sole traders and businesses without premises appear by town and service area only. A premises address is shown only if you run a business from premises and choose to show it. Please never enter a home address.
Every listing is checked before it appears
New listings are not public until we have looked at them. We check that a submission looks genuine, is in Essex and follows the listing terms. This is not a vetting or endorsement check (see the listing terms).
Who we share it with
Published details can be seen by anyone visiting the website. Our service providers process data on our behalf: Vercel (website hosting) and Supabase (database). Supabase stores the directory database in the UK (London region). Vercel may process data outside the UK; where it does, it relies on recognised legal safeguards for international transfers. We do not share directory data with anyone else unless the law requires it.
How long we keep it
- Published listings: while the listing is live. We ask each business to confirm its details at least once a year, and we may remove a listing that is not confirmed.
- Rejected submissions (never published): deleted 6 months after the decision.
- Removed listings (previously published): the full listing is deleted when it comes down. We keep a short record (business name, dates, reason for removal, the agreement record and related emails) for 12 months after removal, so we can deal with any complaint or claim about what was published, then delete it.
- Reports about a listing: deleted 12 months after the report is dealt with.
- The record that you agreed to the listing terms: kept while the listing is live and for 12 months after it is removed.
- If a complaint or legal claim is under way, we keep the information needed for it until it is resolved.
- Encrypted backups of the database may hold copies for up to about 2 months after deletion, until they are replaced.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you can ask to see the information we hold about you, have it corrected or deleted, restrict or object to how we use it, receive a copy of information you gave us, and withdraw consent. To remove or change a listing, email info@localleadshub.co.uk from the address you used, or explain how you are connected to the business. Visitors can also use the "report this listing" form on any listing page. We aim to reply within one month.
Complaints
Please contact us first so we can try to put things right. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint or on 0303 123 1113.
Cookies
The directory pages do not set advertising or tracking cookies. If the site administrator signs in to review listings, the sign-in is kept in the browser's local storage, which is strictly necessary for that feature. Other Local Leads Hub pages use Vercel Web Analytics, which counts visits without using cookies.
Listings added on your behalf
We only add a business after the owner has agreed, and we record how they agreed. If you think your business has been listed without permission, email info@localleadshub.co.uk or use the report form and we will take it down.
Changes
We may update this notice. The date at the top shows when it last changed.