Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

PartTime UK ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you use our platform.

We are the data controller for the personal information we hold about you. Our registered office is located in the United Kingdom, and we are subject to UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

• Name and contact details (email address, phone number)
• University/college information (for students)
• Business information (for employers)
• Profile information and preferences
• Payment information (for sponsored job postings, processed securely through third-party providers)

Usage Information

• Job search and application history
• Communication between users through our platform
• Platform usage analytics and interaction data
• Clicks on external/partner job listings (e.g., job title, company name, redirect URL, and timestamp)
• Device information and IP addresses

Verification Data

• Student verification documents (.ac.uk email confirmation)
• Phone number verification codes
• Email verification status

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

Service Provision

• Creating and managing your account
• Facilitating job postings and applications
• Redirecting you to external partner job boards when you apply for partner-sourced listings
• Processing payments for sponsored job postings
• Providing customer support

Communication

• Sending service-related notifications
• Job matching and recommendation notifications
• Important updates about our platform
• Marketing communications (with your consent)

Legal and Security

• Verifying user identity and preventing fraud
• Complying with legal obligations
• Ensuring platform safety and security
• Resolving disputes and enforcing our terms

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• To provide our services and fulfill our contractual obligations
• To improve our services, prevent fraud, and ensure platform security
• For marketing communications and optional features
• To comply with applicable laws and regulations

5. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

Between Platform Users

• Contact information is shared with students immediately (no payment required)
• Public profile information visible in job applications
• Communication through our platform messaging system

Partner Job Boards

• We display job listings sourced from partner job boards such as Reed.co.uk and Adzuna.co.uk
• When you click "Apply Now" on a partner listing, you are redirected to the partner's website to complete your application
• We record that you clicked on the listing (job title, company name, redirect URL, and timestamp) for analytics and service improvement
• We do not share your personal data with partner job boards — your application is submitted directly on their site under their own privacy policy

Service Providers

• Stripe (our exclusive payment processor) for all sponsored job posting transactions and refunds
• Email service providers for communications
• Cloud hosting providers for data storage
• Analytics providers for platform improvement

Legal Requirements

• Law enforcement agencies when required by law
• Regulatory authorities for compliance purposes
• Legal proceedings and dispute resolution

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:

• Active accounts: Data retained while your account is active
• Closed accounts: Data retained for 2 years after account closure
• Transaction records: Retained for 7 years for tax and legal compliance
• Job postings: Deleted 60 days after expiry unless required for legal purposes
• External job click data: Anonymised if your account is deleted (user association removed, aggregate data retained for analytics)

7. Your Rights Under GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@paarttimeuk.co.uk.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls and staff training
• Secure payment processing for sponsored job postings through certified providers
• Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures

9. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience on our platform. Our Cookie Policy provides detailed information about the cookies we use and how to manage your preferences.

When you click on external partner job listings (e.g., Reed.co.uk, Adzuna.co.uk), we log the click event for analytics purposes. This is not cookie-based tracking — it is a server-side record linked to your account to help us improve job recommendations and platform experience.

You can control cookie settings through your browser, but please note that disabling certain cookies may affect platform functionality.

10. Children's Privacy

Our platform is intended for users aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately.

11. International Transfers

Your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the UK. When we do this, we ensure adequate protection through appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses or adequacy decisions.

12. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through email or platform notifications. The "Last updated" date at the top indicates when this policy was last revised.

13. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe we have not handled your personal data appropriately.