Introduction
GB Shared Ltd operates a network of countywide sharing platforms, collectively referred to as "Share Site(s)” or “Share Platform(s)”. These Share Sites serve as central, digital platforms for businesses across the UK to share information, knowledge, opportunities, and resources within their respective counties, to encourage local working, collaborations and wider positive impacts at local and global levels.
The Gen, our national youth platform (hereafter referred to as "The Gen") is owned by GB Shared trading as The Gen, it operates with approved content powered by our 'share site' member businesses. The Gen audiences include young adults (16-24), education and parents/carers. The Gen aims to bridge the gap between young people, education, and industry and to centralise and 'share' opportunities, advice, support, and resources, direct from the business community to young adults to aid their life journey. Content includes personal, professional, academia, entrepreneurial and wider support, and life skills. Further educational resources are available such as link to employers, guest speakers and teachers, work placements and internships. All content is validated before being shared. The Gen is not monetised and therefore all membership registrations to it, are free of charge.
Membership and Usage
General
Content Sharing
- Our platforms are 100% powered by business, only paid users can upload content.
- Content will be approved or declined according to our 'sharing policy' which can be found on our site.
- Any content flagged as 'suitable for youth' will be secondary validated before approval to The Gen for safeguarding purposes.
- Paid users must have explicit permission from their organisation to create associated page listings.
- Paid users must ensure they have other relevant permissions (copyright and licences to use specific images/content) to share it. Members take full responsibility for any images or content we share on their behalf.
- GB Shared aims to share member content via our unique sharing mediums which may include to our platforms, social media, video content, newsletters, e-shots, sector groups, or our digital magazines.
- Sharing intends to increase member visibility, digital and sustainable footprints. To be transparent in our returns, paid user accounts will track, share, measure, report and reward all members' shared activity.
Notifications
All users, whether free or paid, can receive automatic notifications based on their membership and self-indicated preferences and can opt out at any time.
All users can control their notification preferences and opt-ins from their login dashboard and profile and amend or turn them off at any time, real time.
Data Storage and Privacy
- Paid user data is stored for 12 months from the date of registration. After this period, should they not renew, membership expires, and associated listings will be removed.
- Paid users will default to 'free user' status to continue receiving (but not share to) site content beyond membership expiry.
- We maintain the ability to reinstate listings for a period following membership lapse, beyond which measured returns will be deleted and only the user email retained for free user status.
- All user data is securely stored in a regulated data centre and is only shared with third-party organisations responsible for hosting our website, server and CRM system, who are GDPR compliant.
- Anyone over 18 can register as a free user to our share sites, they must be 16 to register with The Gen, to access information and opportunities, all we capture is a name and email address.
- We do not collect any personal data outside your name and email address, nor do we share any user emails with any third parties except in the case of introductions to other members which come with implicit user permissions.
- We do not allow any external advertising on our platform from any third parties, all content is 100% member driven.
- Free users stay registered [and opted into certain notifications based on their preferences] until such time they opt out or amend their notification preferences.
- Annual reminders may be sent to inactive accounts to remind you of the ability to opt out or close your account.
- Additionally, our privacy and cookie policies are both readily available on our platform and should be considered alongside these terms.
Marketing Communications
- By registering you opt into a minimum of our weekly newsletter.
- Members can opt in or out of all other GB Shared activities.
- Members can opt by clicking the unsubscribe button or by choosing to opt out on their dashboard and profile preferences.
- Users may further subscribe separately to our quarterly digital publications and other alerts and opt out or unsubscribe at any time.
Sharing Policy - Content Sharing and Responsibilities
Content Upload
- Members are responsible for uploading content in line with their membership package.
- Members may upload content about their own organisations, although content can relate to other organisations, the content must primarily refer to the member organisation.
- Members must ensure explicit permission to share company details on behalf of the joining organisation and must ensure they have the appropriate content licencing and copyrights are in place where necessary.
- All associated images and wording must be owned by the member or have the absolute permissions or rights to share the content or images in question.
- GB Shared are not responsible for any third-party links you place in your content. Any inappropriate links will be removed and could result in membership removal.
- Members are permitted to include external links in their content but ensure they are appropriate and relevant to the associated content shared. Members take full responsibility for third party links embedded. Misuse of third-party links can result in membership removal.
- Members can contribute to our sector groups. All content is monitored in accordance with our sharing policy. Any negative or inappropriate content will be removed and may result in membership removal.
Membership Duration
- Paid membership lasts for one year, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
- Free membership has no end date, members can unsubscribe or opt out at their convenience at any time.
- Paid membership may be by card or monthly payments and begins on the first day of membership for one year.
- Cancellations in year will end membership with immediate effect. Cancellations do not warrant a refund.
- Where non-payment occurs, accounts will be put into immediate suspension until payments are reinstated.
- Membership is not essential and can start and stop at any time.
Dashboard and Return on Investment (ROI) Reports
- Paid users have access to a dashboard displaying cumulative statistics on member activity & returns
- We further offer members a complete ROI report detailing measured activity and returns received from their membership.
- These returns include but are not limited to; digital exposure (views, clicks, impressions, web conversions) visibility, sustainable rewards, introductions, tender and funding wins, and other member related returns.
- Further returns include tracking and rewarding of a member’s sustainable behaviour. Green points awarded in year will be added to member dashboards.
Specific Membership Benefits
Use of Share Logos
- Paid Members may use our Share brand logos on their own websites and marketing materials such as email and signature strips.
- It is recommended paid members link Share logos to their own share listing to retain as much traffic as possible. ensuring that logos are displayed without distortion.
- Our logos are readily available on user dashboards for downloading purposes.
- Where membership expires, we expect previous users to remove said logo and links from their own marketing.
Use of Paid Member Logos
- Paid Members are requested to upload a hi-res version of their own company logo to their share site.
- GB Shared media teams will use this version to promote their members across our various sharing mediums, driving traffic back to their core listings for measuring returns and impact purposes.
- Upload of your branding gives GB Shared permission to positively promote your brand for the duration of membership.
Data Sharing
- At your request, GB Shared Ltd will facilitate introductions between you and other members.
- Where requests are made or synergies between members are identified, provided both parties have opted into introductions we will facilitate a connection between both parties.
- Connections are tracked to monitor where they might lead to the creation of local supply chains, this is to help reward you for your sustainable activity.
- Where connections are facilitated, both party emails will be released, explicit permission from both parties will be sought prior to email sharing between members.
- Where a visitor (public) views your listing, they are able to use the 'contact' us button. Where this happens, GB Shared will forward the users email and message to the business requested. GB Shared are not responsible for a lack of reply.
Security and Passwords
- Members must not share their login or password with third parties.
- Each joining organisation, up to 5 users can be assigned, each with their own login and password.
- Each user will receive their own profile, whilst an overarching company return report will also be available.
- For your security, our platforms will validate all newly registered emails.
- For your security, our platforms further offer multi-factor authentication. Whilst this is not essential and can be disabled, you are encouraged to enable this option downloading a free authenticator app, details are available on our registration page.
Inappropriate Content
- Members must not upload lewd, inappropriate, or offensive information or material, which will be considered a breach of these terms and could result in membership termination.
- GB Shared further reserve the right to remove or not publish inappropriate content.
- GB Shared will monitor and approve content in line with member sharing where content meets our approved sharing guidelines which could result in membership removal.
Charity Benefits
- Charities are eligible for a 50% discount on annual membership fees, provided they provide a valid charity registration number.
- GB Shared encourages local organisations to pass on social values at local level, encouraging businesses to work with and support charities and young adults.
- Charities can 'gift points' to organisations who give social values, via their dashboard.
Sustainable Benefits
- GB Shared issues green points for sustainable behaviour and activity to members.
- Green points for identified sustainable activity will be delivered with educational messaging and green points added to members dashboards.
- Green points will cumulate throughout the duration of annual membership.
- Annual reports detailing green activity will be stored on user dashboards, sustainable reports.
- It is not envisioned that these green points will acquire accreditation, however, our work in partnership with our recommended accreditor will allow your report to be used in evidence.
- Green points will be reset and archived for each year of membership for up to 3 years.
Types of Content and Permissions
Types of Content for Sharing
- Member businesses can only upload information in specific categories, including but not limited to: "Our Business," "Membership," "Offers," "Jobs," "Tenders,” “Events," "News," "Skills & Training," "Funding," "Awards," "Networking Groups," and "Property."
- Members businesses must adhere to our sharing guidelines and only share content primarily for their own organisation as shown in this policy.
- GB Shared will ensure full platform functionality and tools to ensure good brand promotion, connection availability etc, members are responsible for their own content, spellings, displays and sharing permissions.
Permission for Business Data
- Members creating paid accounts consent that they have explicit permission from their organisation to upload business-related content on their behalf.
- Paid members must ensure the correct permissions, licencing, copyrights or insurances and take full responsibility for any unlicenced content, images or third part content links.
Communication and Renewals
Communication and Updates
- GB Shared Ltd communicates with members via email to provide updates on share site activities and statistics related to their accounts.
- Members can control their communication preferences via their dashboard and login screens at any time.
- Outside our weekly newsletter, registered users will only receive share content in line with their own indicated preferences.
Renewals
- Membership will automatically renew for paid members (monthly or annually) unless they login and downgrade to a free account before expiry.
- GB Shared offers member businesses 2 payment methods, in full by card online or by direct debit. Invoices are only permitted in exceptional circumstances.
- Our payment methods are secure and payment details are securely processed by stripe. Card details are encrypted and stored for renewal purposes only by Stripe, our online payment facility. GB Shared holds no customer card or financial data.
Cancellations and Refunds
- In-year cancellations do not warrant a refund in full or in part, except in cases where a complaint is upheld.
- Cancellations may happen either by in writing or users can login to downgrade or close their account.
Complaints and Account Deactivation
Complaints
- Complaints should be submitted to ledge@gbshared.co.uk. with a subject line of 'complaint'.
- GB Shared Ltd aims to respond to complaints within three working days.
- Cancellation of subscriptions will result in related listings being removed from Share Sites and a deletion of returns and statistical data.
Account Deactivation
- All registered users can deactivate or delete their accounts at any time via their login or in writing to GB Shared.
Summary
By using GB Shared Ltd.’s Share Sites, you agree to abide by these terms and conditions. GB Shared Ltd reserves the right to update these terms and notify members of any changes.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at hello@gbshared.co.uk.