The Skill Bridge Privacy Policy
Effective Date: November 2024 – Last Updated: November 2024

The Skill Bridge (“TheSkillBridge”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data in a lawful, fair, and transparent manner aligned with GDPR and other applicable data protection laws. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and safeguard information when you visit https://www.theskillbridge.co.in (“Website”) or use our learning, coaching, certification, and related services (“Services”).

By accessing or using our Website or Services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

1. Information we collect

We collect information to deliver our learning and coaching Services, meet legal obligations, and enhance user experience.

1.1 Personal data you provide

Depending on how you use our Website and Services, you may provide the following personal data:

• Full name and contact details (email address, phone number, postal address).
• Account registration data (username, password, profile information, preferences).
• Course and program information (courses enrolled, progress, assessments, certificates).
• Professional information (job title, organization, interests, learning goals, feedback).
• Communication data (emails, chat/support requests, survey responses, testimonials, reviews).
• Payment and billing details processed via secure third‑party payment gateways (e.g., name, partial card data, billing address; full card data is handled by the gateway, not by The Skill Bridge).
• Any information you voluntarily share through forms, applications, contests, internship or instructor sign‑ups, or during coaching sessions.

Where you provide information about someone else (e.g., group booking contact), you confirm that you have authority to share their data and that they have been informed about this Privacy Policy.

1.2 Data collected automatically

When you visit or use our Website, we automatically collect certain technical and usage data:

• IP address, approximate location (country/city), and Internet Service Provider.
• Browser type, language, and version; device type, identifiers, and operating system.
• Pages visited, time spent, navigation paths, clicks, and interaction events.
• Referring URLs, campaign parameters, and performance/diagnostic logs.

This information helps us secure the Website, measure performance, and improve Services.

1.3 Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies (“Cookies”) for the following purposes:

• Essential: enable login, session management, payments, and core functionality.
• Functional: remember preferences (language, layout) and personalize your experience.
• Analytics: understand usage, diagnose issues, and improve courses and content.
• Marketing (where legally permitted and based on consent where required): show relevant content and measure campaigns.

You can manage or disable Cookies through your browser settings and (where available) our cookie consent banner, but some features may not function properly if essential Cookies are disabled.

2. How we use your information

We process personal data only when we have a valid legal basis and for clearly defined purposes.

We may use your information to:

• Provide and manage access to courses, coaching, certifications, internships, and related Services.
• Create, maintain, and secure user accounts, profiles, and learning histories.
• Process payments and issue invoices and receipts via third‑party payment processors.
• Track your learning progress, issue completion certificates, and support assessments.
• Communicate with you about enrolments, reminders, updates, policy changes, and service‑related notifications.
• Send newsletters, product updates, offers, and marketing communications where you have given consent or where permitted by law, and allow you to opt out at any time.
• Personalize content and recommendations, such as suggested courses or resources.
• Improve and develop our Website, content, and Services through analytics, A/B testing, and feedback.
• Maintain security, prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access to accounts and systems.
• Comply with legal, regulatory, accounting, tax, and contractual obligations, and to establish or defend legal claims.

We do not use your personal data to train third‑party general AI models; any AI‑powered features we deploy are designed to respect applicable privacy laws and minimize personal data use.

3. Legal basis for processing (GDPR and similar laws)

Where GDPR, UK GDPR, or similar data protection laws apply, we rely on one or more of the following legal bases:

• Contractual necessity: to register your account, deliver courses/coaching, process payments, issue certificates, and provide support.
• Consent: for certain marketing communications, non‑essential Cookies, testimonials (where required), and where local law requires consent for specific processing activities.
• Legitimate interests: to improve our Services, run analytics, ensure security, prevent misuse, personalize learning experience, and grow our business, provided these interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms.
• Legal obligation: to comply with applicable laws (e.g., tax, accounting, law enforcement requests, statutory retention).
• Vital interests or public interest (rare): where required to protect someone’s vital interests or respond to certain legal requests, as permitted by law.

You may withdraw consent at any time where consent is the legal basis, without affecting prior lawful processing.

4. How we share your information

We do not sell or rent your personal data. We share data only as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy and with appropriate safeguards.

We may share your data with:

• Service providers / processors
  • Payment gateways (e.g., Razorpay or similar providers) for secure payment processing.
  • Email, notification, and communication platforms for sending service and marketing emails (where permitted).
  • Learning management systems, hosting, and IT infrastructure providers.
  • Analytics, security, and performance tools to monitor usage and protect our systems.
• Instructors, mentors, and organizational clients
  • Limited information such as your name, course enrolments, and progress may be shared with instructors, mentors, facilitators, or corporate clients where you are enrolled through your organization, for training administration and reporting.
• Business partners
  • Where you participate in joint programs, co‑branded offerings, or external credentialing, we may share necessary data to deliver such programs and credentials.
• Legal and compliance recipients
  • Government authorities, regulators, courts, or law enforcement when required by applicable law or in response to lawful requests or to protect our rights, safety, or property.
  • Professional advisors (lawyers, auditors) under confidentiality obligations.
• Business transfers
  • In the event of a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred to the relevant entity, subject to safeguards and continuity of this Privacy Policy or an equivalent policy.

All service providers are contractually required to process data only on our instructions, implement appropriate security measures, and maintain confidentiality as required by applicable law.

5. International data transfers

The Skill Bridge operates from India, and some of our service providers or partners may be located in other countries. Where personal data is transferred outside your country (including, where applicable, outside the European Economic Area or UK), we take steps to ensure an adequate level of protection, such as:

• Using jurisdictions recognized as providing adequate protection; and/or
• Implementing appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent instruments, where required by law.

You may contact us for more information about the safeguards used for international transfers.

6. Data security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

Examples include:

• Encrypted connections (HTTPS) for Website use where supported.
• Restricted access to personal data based on role and business need.
• Secure use of reputable hosting, LMS, and payment partners.
• Regular monitoring for suspicious activity and potential security incidents.

No system can guarantee absolute security, and the Internet carries inherent risks. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and immediately notifying us if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

7. Data retention

We retain personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Provide our Services to you (e.g., course history, certificates).
• Fulfil legal, regulatory, tax, and accounting obligations.
• Resolve disputes, respond to complaints, and enforce our agreements.

When data is no longer required, we will delete, anonymize, or securely archive it in accordance with applicable law and our retention policies.

8. Your rights and choices

Depending on your location and applicable law (including GDPR/UK GDPR), you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right of access: obtain confirmation whether we process your data and receive a copy.
• Right to rectification: correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”): request deletion of your data in certain circumstances.
• Right to restriction: ask us to limit how we process your data in specific situations.
• Right to data portability: receive certain data in a structured, commonly used format and transmit it to another controller.
• Right to object: object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing, including profiling.
• Right to withdraw consent: where processing is based on consent (e.g., marketing emails, certain cookies), you may withdraw consent at any time.

You can exercise some of these rights directly by:

• Updating your account details and preferences in your profile (where available).
• Using the “unsubscribe” link in marketing emails to opt out of marketing communications.

To exercise your rights or make a privacy request, contact us at privacy@theskillbridge.co.in. We may request additional information to verify your identity before fulfilling your request and will respond within the time required by applicable law.

If you believe your data protection rights have been violated, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority where applicable.

9. Cookies, tracking, and consent

We use Cookies for essential functionality, analytics, and, where permitted, personalization and marketing.

You can:

• Use our cookie banner (where available) to manage non‑essential Cookies.
• Adjust your browser settings to refuse or delete Cookies.
• Use opt‑out tools provided by some analytics and advertising partners, where applicable in your jurisdiction.

Disabling certain Cookies may impact Website performance or limit access to some features.

10. Third‑party links and services

Our Website may contain links to third‑party websites, applications, or services not operated by The Skill Bridge (for example, payment providers, social networks, or content platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of these third parties.

You are encouraged to review the privacy policies of any third‑party sites or services you access before providing personal data.

11. Children’s privacy

Our Services are designed for adults and professionals and are not directed to children under 13 years of age (or higher age where local law sets a different threshold for online consent)

• We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13.
• If we learn that personal data of a child under 13 has been collected, we will take reasonable steps to delete it promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us personal data, please contact us at privacy@theskillbridge.co.in

12. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, Services, or legal requirements.

• Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.
• Where changes are material, we may also notify you by email or by a prominent notice on our Website, where required by law.

Your continued use of the Website or Services after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, you can contact us at:

• 📧 privacy@theskillbridge.co.in – for privacy and data protection queries.
• 📧 contact@theskillbridge.co.in – for general enquiries and support.
• 📞 Phone and postal address as listed on our Website contact section.