Privacy Policy — NextStep
Last updated: November 2025
1. Who We Are
NextStep (“we”, “our”, “us”) helps students explore and connect with universities and higher education providers.
Our website address is https://nextstep.co.uk
We are committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect the information you share with us through this website.
2. Information We Collect
We may collect and process the following types of personal data:
Information you provide directly:
Name and contact details (such as email, phone number, or enquiry form submissions).
Any messages or details you include when contacting us.
Your consent preferences (for example, if you subscribe to updates or newsletters).
Information collected automatically:
IP address, browser type, operating system, and device type.
How you interact with our site (through cookies and analytics tools).
Aggregate usage data such as most-viewed pages and referral sources.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal data to:
Respond to your enquiries and contact requests.
Improve our website design, content, and user experience.
Maintain security and prevent spam or abuse.
Send occasional updates or newsletters (if you’ve opted in).
Analyse user interactions (using anonymised data) to improve performance.
We never sell your data to third parties.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your data under one or more of the following lawful bases:
Consent — when you submit a form or sign up for updates.
Legitimate interest — to operate, maintain, and improve our website.
Legal obligation — to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
5. Sharing Your Information
We may share limited information with trusted service providers who assist with:
Website hosting, maintenance, and analytics.
Email delivery or enquiry form management.
All third-party partners are bound by confidentiality and data protection agreements to ensure your information is secure.
6. Cookies
We use cookies to personalise content, analyse traffic, and enhance your browsing experience.
You can manage or disable cookies in your browser settings at any time.
More details can be found in our Cookie Policy (if published separately).
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law.
Once data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymised.
8. Your Rights
You have the right to:
Request access to the personal data we hold about you.
Ask for corrections or updates to your data.
Request deletion of your personal data.
Withdraw consent or object to certain processing activities.
To exercise your rights, please contact us at [insert your email, e.g. hello@nextstep.co.uk
].
9. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
While we do our best to safeguard your information, no system can be completely secure, and you share data with us at your own risk.
10. Third-Party Tools and Integrations
Our website is built on WordPress and may include third-party plugins and integrations such as:
Elementor (for forms and layout)
FacetWP (for filtering and search functionality)
Analytics tools (to understand site performance)
Each third-party service adheres to its own privacy and cookie policies.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect legal, technical, or operational changes.
The most recent version will always be available on this page.
By continuing to use our website, you accept the terms of the most recent version.
