Privacy Policy​

Next Step is a local employment and business information platform designed to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and provide access to information about businesses and service providers operating in or serving Montserrat.

Our services may include:

• Publishing employment opportunities;
• Providing job search and vacancy information;
• Facilitating or directing users to job application opportunities;
• Providing information about employers;
• Maintaining a local business and service directory;
• Receiving requests from businesses to be included in the directory;
• Responding to enquiries from users, employers, businesses, and other organisations; and
• Providing future communications such as job alerts, business promotions, and other promotional information where appropriate.

The information we collect depends on how you interact with Next Step.

Information provided by job seekers

Depending on the application process associated with a particular vacancy, we may receive or process information such as:

• Full name;
• Email address;
• Telephone number;
• Residential or other relevant contact information;
• Curriculum vitae/resume;
• Cover letter;
• Employment history;
• Education and qualifications;
• Professional certifications;
• References and referee information;
• Skills and experience; and
• Other information voluntarily provided as part of an employment application.

Not every vacancy will require Next Step to receive this information.

Job applications may be handled in different ways depending on the employer and vacancy. An application may be submitted:

• Through a Next Step application process;
• Directly to the employer by email;
• Through an external application system or website; or
• Through another application method specified by the employer.

Where an application is submitted directly to an employer or through an external service, the privacy practices of that employer or third-party service may also apply.

Information provided by employers

Employers may provide information such as:

• Name of the organisation;
• Name of a contact person;
• Email address;
• Telephone number;
• Business address;
• Job vacancy information;
• Job descriptions and requirements;
• Salary or compensation information;
• Application instructions;
• Website and social media information; and
• Other information voluntarily provided to Next Step.

Information provided by businesses for the directory

Businesses and service providers may provide information including:

• Business name;
• Business category;
• Description of the business;
• Services offered;
• Business address or location;
• Telephone number;
• Email address;
• Website;
• Social media accounts;
• Opening hours; and
• Other information voluntarily supplied for inclusion in the Next Step directory.

Businesses are responsible for ensuring that information they provide to Next Step is accurate and that they have the authority to provide information submitted for publication.

Information provided through contact forms

When you contact Next Step, we may collect information such as:

• Your name;
• Email address;
• Telephone number;
• Organisation or business name;
• Type of enquiry; and
• The contents of your message.

Technical information

When you visit the Website, certain technical information may be collected automatically by the Website, hosting provider, security services, analytics services, or other technologies used by the Website.

This may include information such as:

• IP address;
• Browser type;
• Device type;
• Operating system;
• Pages visited;
• Date and time of visits;
• Referring website; and
• Other technical or usage information.

The exact information collected will depend on the technologies and services enabled on the Website.

We may use information we collect to:

• Provide and operate the Next Step Website;
• Publish and manage job listings;
• Facilitate employment applications where applicable;
• Forward or otherwise provide application information to the relevant employer where appropriate;
• Respond to enquiries;
• Communicate with job seekers, employers, businesses, and other users;
• Review and verify job and business information;
• Create and maintain business directory listings;
• Process requests to update or remove listings;
• Protect the Website from spam, fraud, abuse, and malicious activity;
• Maintain the security and functionality of the Website;
• Improve our services and Website;
• Comply with applicable legal obligations;
• Resolve disputes or enforce our terms and conditions; and
• Provide future communications such as job alerts, business promotions, and other promotional communications where appropriate.

We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the purpose for which it was collected without an appropriate basis for doing so.

Next Step may facilitate or direct users to employment application opportunities.

The manner in which an application is handled will depend on the individual vacancy and employer.

Where Next Step receives application information, we may provide that information to the employer responsible for the relevant vacancy so that the employer can assess the application.

Next Step does not make hiring decisions on behalf of employers.

Employers are responsible for their own recruitment processes and for how they handle information received from applicants after it has been provided to them.

Where an applicant applies directly to an employer or through an external application system, the applicant should review the privacy policy and terms applicable to that employer or service.

Next Step may publish information about businesses and service providers in its local directory.

Businesses may request to be listed or provide information for a listing.

Next Step may verify information and may make suggestions regarding the information supplied. Next Step will not intentionally alter a business’s submitted information without appropriate permission.

Directory information is intended to serve as a public reference and may include business contact details and links to publicly available websites or social media accounts.

Businesses may contact Next Step to request that their information be corrected, updated, or removed.

Next Step may also remove listings where information is inaccurate, outdated, inappropriate, misleading, submitted without proper authority, or where removal is otherwise considered necessary.

We may share information where reasonably necessary to operate Next Step and provide our services.

This may include sharing information with:

• Employers in connection with employment applications;
• Service providers that assist with hosting, website functionality, email delivery, security, forms, analytics, or other technical services;
• Third parties where you have requested or authorised us to do so;
• Government authorities, regulators, law enforcement agencies, or other parties where required or permitted by law; and
• Professional advisers where reasonably necessary.

We do not intend to sell personal information to third parties.

Next Step may use third-party services to support the Website and its functionality.

These services may include website hosting, email delivery, security, spam prevention, mapping services, analytics, social media integrations, and other technical services.

For example, Next Step may use Google Maps or similar mapping services in the future.

Third-party services may process information in accordance with their own privacy policies and terms.

Where third-party services are introduced, we will take reasonable steps to use reputable providers and configure services appropriately.

The Website may use cookies and similar technologies to support functionality, security, performance, analytics, and other Website features.

Cookies may be used to:

• Keep the Website functioning properly;
• Improve Website performance;
• Understand how visitors use the Website;
• Support security and spam prevention; and
• Provide certain third-party functionality.

You may be able to control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Website.

Next Step may introduce job alerts, business promotions, newsletters, announcements, and other promotional communications in the future.

Where appropriate, we will provide users with an opportunity to opt in to promotional communications.

Users may unsubscribe from promotional emails by following the unsubscribe instructions included in the relevant communication or by contacting Next Step.

Next Step takes reasonable steps to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss, misuse, or destruction.

However, no method of transmitting or storing information electronically can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Users should avoid submitting information through the Website that they are not comfortable providing through an online service.

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including providing our services, maintaining appropriate records, resolving disputes, enforcing agreements, and complying with applicable legal obligations.

The period for which information is retained may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.

Employment application information may be retained in accordance with the relevant application process and the needs of the employer.

Directory information may remain publicly available while a listing is active and may be removed following a request, completion of a listing cycle, or where removal is otherwise appropriate.

Next Step is intended for users aged 16 and older.

We do not knowingly encourage children under the age of 16 to submit personal information through the Website.

If we become aware that personal information has been submitted by a person under 16 without appropriate authorisation, we may take reasonable steps to remove the information.

Depending on applicable law and the circumstances, you may have rights concerning personal information held by Next Step.

You may contact us to:

• Ask what personal information we hold about you;
• Request correction of inaccurate information;
• Request removal of information where appropriate;
• Request an update to information;
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
• Unsubscribe from promotional communications; or
• Ask questions about how your information is being used.

Requests can be made using the contact details below.

We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.

The Website may contain links to websites operated by employers, businesses, social media platforms, job application services, and other third parties.

Next Step is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of external websites.

Users should review the privacy policies of external websites before providing personal information.

Next Step may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, Website, technology, or legal requirements.

When changes are made, the updated version will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.