Privacy Policy

1. Who is responsible for your information?

HELPBNK UK LIMITED is the controller of personal information collected through The World’s Biggest Business Competition (“WBBC” or the “Competition”).

Company number: 14844480
Registered office: Seven Grange Lane, Pitsford, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom, NN6 9AP
Email: [email protected]

This policy covers WBBC registration pages, participant communications, webinars, community activities, Competition submissions, winner administration and related support. A partner or sponsor may be a separate controller where you choose to interact with its own service; its privacy notice will then also apply.

2. Information we collect

Depending on how you take part, we may collect:

• Registration details, such as your name, email address, selected business track and Fast Track choice;
• Participation information, such as attendance, community activity, progress, answers, submissions, feedback and support messages;
• Prize administration information, such as identity, age or residence checks and, for winners, payment, tax or delivery details;
• Marketing preferences, including consent, unsubscribe and suppression records;
• Technical information, such as IP address, browser, device, approximate location, referring page, timestamps, page interactions and security logs; and
• Content you provide, which may include your business name, story, documents, images, audio or video.

Please avoid including sensitive personal information or another person’s confidential information in a submission unless it is genuinely necessary and you are authorised to provide it.

3. Why we use your information

To provide the Competition

We use registration, participation and contact information to confirm your entry, give you access, send essential updates, operate webinars and community activities, review submissions, administer prizes and provide support. Our lawful basis is usually performance of our agreement with you or taking steps at your request before entering that agreement.

To operate safely and improve WBBC

We use technical, participation and support information to prevent fraud and abuse, keep our systems secure, troubleshoot problems, understand engagement and improve the participant experience. We rely on our legitimate interests in running an effective, fair and secure Competition, balanced against your rights.

To meet legal obligations

We may use identity, payment, tax, prize and transaction records to comply with laws, respond to regulators or authorities, establish legal claims and keep required business records.

Marketing and optional cookies

Where required, we rely on your consent to send promotional emails or use non-essential cookies. You can withdraw consent at any time. Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that was lawful before withdrawal and will not remove you from essential Competition communications.

4. Who we share information with

We share only what is reasonably necessary with:

• service providers that support forms, CRM, email, hosting, security, analytics, webinars, video and community features, including HighLevel/LeadConnector and Vercel;
• judges, advisers and contractors who need access to operate a Competition stage and are subject to appropriate confidentiality or data-protection obligations;
• payment, identity-verification, tax, delivery or professional-services providers needed to administer a prize;
• law-enforcement bodies, courts, regulators or other authorities where required by law or necessary to protect legal rights; and
• a buyer, investor or successor in connection with a genuine corporate transaction, subject to appropriate safeguards.

If you actively choose a sponsor offer or win a sponsor-provided prize, we may send that sponsor the information needed to fulfil your request. We will explain the sharing at the relevant point, and the sponsor’s own privacy notice may apply.

International transfers

Some providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where information is transferred internationally, we use an available lawful safeguard, such as UK adequacy regulations, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement, the UK Addendum to approved standard contractual clauses, or another valid mechanism.

5. How long we keep information

We keep information only for as long as needed for the purpose collected, including legal, accounting, security and dispute-resolution needs. Our usual periods are:

• Competition registration, participation, support and submission records: up to 24 months after the Competition ends;
• winner, prize, payment, tax and material legal records: up to 7 years where needed for legal or accounting obligations;
• marketing contact details: until you unsubscribe or we no longer need them, after which we may keep a minimal suppression record so we honour your choice; and
• technical security logs: typically up to 12 months, unless an incident requires longer investigation.

We may securely anonymise information instead of deleting it, in which case it can no longer identify you.

6. Your rights

Under UK data-protection law, you may have the right to:

• ask for access to your personal information;
• ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
• ask us to delete information in certain circumstances;
• ask us to restrict how information is used;
• object to processing based on legitimate interests or to direct marketing;
• receive certain information in a portable format; and
• withdraw consent at any time where consent is our lawful basis.

To exercise a right, email [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity. We aim to respond within one month, although the law allows extensions for particularly complex requests.

You can unsubscribe from marketing using the link in any marketing email. You will still receive essential messages needed to administer your entry.

You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint. We would appreciate the chance to resolve your concern first.

7. Cookies and similar technologies

Our pages may use essential technologies to make forms, security and core functions work. With your permission where required, we may also use analytics or marketing technologies to understand performance and improve our communications. You can control cookies through any preference tool we provide and through your browser settings.

Blocking essential technologies may prevent some page or registration features from working. Disabling optional technologies will not prevent you from entering the Competition.

8. Security and automated decisions

We use proportionate technical and organisational measures designed to protect information, including access controls, secure service providers and monitoring. No online system is completely secure, so please use caution when sending information electronically.

We do not use solely automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects for entrants. We may use automated tools to flag suspected fraud or abuse, but material decisions are subject to human review.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our services, partners or legal obligations change. We will post the updated version with a new effective date and will draw attention to material changes where appropriate.

10. Contact us

For privacy questions or requests, email [email protected] and include “WBBC Privacy” in the subject line.

HELPBNK UK LIMITED
Seven Grange Lane, Pitsford, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom, NN6 9AP
Company number 14844480