Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

1.1 Definition

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and give website owners information about how their site is being used.

1.2 How Cookies Work

When you visit our website, we (or authorised third parties) may place cookies on your device. These cookies contain information that is transferred to your device and read by our web servers. This allows us to:

• Recognise your device when you return to our website
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Understand how you use our website
• Improve your experience and our services

1.3 Types of Cookies by Duration

Session Cookies

Session cookies are temporary and are deleted when you close your browser. They are used to:

• Keep you logged in as you navigate between pages
• Remember items in your shopping cart
• Store temporary data needed during your session

Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. They are used to:

• Remember your preferences for future visits
• Keep you signed in (if you choose “remember me”)
• Track your behaviour over time for analytics
• Deliver relevant advertising

1.4 Types of Cookies by Source

First-Party Cookies

First-party cookies are set by the website you are visiting (in this case, our website). These are typically used for essential functionality and remembering your preferences.

Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are set by external services (such as Google Analytics or advertising networks) that we use on our website. These cookies may track your activity across multiple websites.

2. Why We Use Cookies

2.1 Essential Operations

• Enabling core website functionality
• Managing user authentication and sessions
• Ensuring website security
• Processing transactions
• Load balancing and server optimisation

2.2 User Experience

• Remembering your language and region preferences
• Storing your display settings (dark/light mode)
• Remembering form data to avoid re-entering information
• Personalising content based on your preferences

2.3 Analytics and Performance

• Understanding how visitors use our website
• Identifying popular content and features
• Measuring website performance and load times
• Detecting errors and improving reliability
• A/B testing and optimisation

2.4 Marketing and Advertising

• Delivering relevant advertisements
• Measuring advertising effectiveness
• Limiting the number of times you see an ad
• Remarketing to users who have visited our site
• Understanding conversion paths

3. Types of Cookies We Use

We categorise cookies into four main types:

3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They cannot be disabled.

These cookies enable:

• Navigation between pages
• Access to secure areas
• User authentication
• Security features (CSRF protection, etc.)
• Basic functionality

Legal Basis: These cookies do not require consent under PECR/ePrivacy as they are strictly necessary for the service you have requested.

3.2 Performance and Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website.

These cookies allow us to:

• Count visitors and traffic sources
• Measure page load times and performance
• Understand user journeys and navigation patterns
• Identify errors and usability issues
• Test and improve website features

All data collected is aggregated and anonymous. These cookies do not directly identify individuals.

Legal Basis: Consent (you can opt out via our cookie settings).

3.3 Functionality Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalisation.

These cookies enable:

• Remembering your preferences (language, region, display settings)
• Storing login information (if you choose “remember me”)
• Personalised content recommendations
• Live chat functionality
• Video player preferences

If you disable these cookies, some features may not work correctly.

Legal Basis: Consent (you can opt out via our cookie settings).

3.4 Targeting and Advertising Cookies

These cookies are used to deliver relevant advertisements and measure their effectiveness.

These cookies enable:

• Displaying ads relevant to your interests
• Limiting the frequency of ads
• Measuring ad campaign effectiveness
• Remarketing to visitors across the web
• Building audience profiles for advertising

These cookies may track your activity across multiple websites.

Legal Basis: Consent (you can opt out via our cookie settings).

4. Detailed Cookie List

Below is a representative list of cookies that may be used on our website, depending on your choices and enabled features:

4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

4.2 Performance and Analytics Cookies

4.3 Functionality Cookies

4.4 Targeting and Advertising Cookies

5. Google Cookies and Technologies

We may use Google services on our website. If enabled, this section provides detailed information as required by Google's policies.

5.1 Google Analytics

If enabled, we may use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. Google Analytics collects information about:

• Pages you visit and how long you spend on them
• How you arrived at our website (search engine, direct, referral, etc.)
• Your approximate geographic location (country/city)
• Your device type, browser, and operating system
• Interactions with website elements

Data Processing

• Data is processed by Google LLC in accordance with their Privacy Policy
• We use IP anonymisation so your full IP address is never stored
• Data retention is set to 14 months
• We do not enable Google's advertising features unless you consent

Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

If enabled, Google Analytics 4 (GA4) includes enhanced privacy features such as:

• IP anonymisation is enabled by default
• Reduced data collection
• Cookieless measurement options
• Built-in consent mode integration

5.2 Google Ads and Conversion Tracking

Conversion Tracking

When you click on a Google ad and visit our website, a temporary cookie may be placed to track whether you complete an action (such as signing up or making a purchase).

Remarketing

If you consent to advertising cookies, we may use Google Ads remarketing to show you relevant ads on other websites based on your visit to our site.

5.3 Google Fonts

We use Google Fonts to display typography. When fonts are loaded, your browser connects to Google's servers, and Google may collect your IP address, the URL of the page requesting the font, and technical information about your browser.

5.4 Google reCAPTCHA

If enabled, we may use Google reCAPTCHA to protect our forms from spam and abuse. reCAPTCHA analyses your behaviour to determine if you are human. It may collect all cookies placed by Google, device and browser information, mouse movements and scroll patterns, and your IP address. Use of reCAPTCHA is subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

5.5 Google Tag Manager

If enabled, we may use Google Tag Manager to manage and deploy tracking scripts. While Tag Manager itself does not collect personal data, it facilitates the deployment of tags that may collect data (such as analytics and advertising tags).

6. Third-Party Cookies

In addition to Google services, we may use other third-party services that may set cookies:

6.1 Payment Processors

6.2 Social Media Platforms

6.3 Analytics and Optimisation

6.4 Customer Support

6.5 Security and Infrastructure

7. Similar Technologies

In addition to cookies, we may use other tracking technologies:

7.1 Web Beacons (Pixel Tags)

Web beacons are small, invisible images embedded in web pages or emails. They help us:

• Track whether emails are opened
• Measure click-through rates
• Understand user engagement
• Deliver targeted content

7.2 Local Storage and Session Storage

We use browser storage mechanisms to:

• Store application state
• Cache data for faster loading
• Save user preferences
• Enable offline functionality

Unlike cookies, this data is not automatically sent to our servers.

7.3 Fingerprinting

We do NOT use browser or device fingerprinting for tracking purposes. Any technical fingerprinting is limited to fraud prevention and security.

7.4 ETags and Cache Mechanisms

We may use HTTP cache mechanisms (ETags, Last-Modified headers) for performance optimisation. These are not used for tracking purposes.

8. Cookie Consent

8.1 Consent Requirements

Under UK/EU law, we must obtain your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device. This includes:

• Analytics cookies
• Functionality cookies (beyond strictly necessary)
• Advertising and targeting cookies

8.2 How We Obtain Consent

When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner that allows you to:

• Accept All: Consent to all cookie categories
• Reject All: Reject all non-essential cookies
• Customise: Choose which cookie categories to accept

8.3 Consent Management

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by:

• Using your browser settings
• Contacting us directly

8.4 Withdrawing Consent

You have the right to withdraw consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before withdrawal.

8.5 Record of Consent

We maintain records of your consent, including:

• Date and time of consent
• Categories consented to
• Method of consent

9. Managing Your Cookies

9.1 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Common options include:

• Block all cookies: Prevents any cookies from being set
• Block third-party cookies: Allows first-party but blocks third-party cookies
• Allow all cookies: Permits all cookies
• Clear cookies: Delete existing cookies
• Notify before setting: Ask permission for each cookie

9.2 Private/Incognito Browsing

Using private or incognito mode will:

• Delete session cookies when you close the window
• Not remember your browsing history
• Still allow websites to set cookies during your session

10. Browser-Specific Settings

Instructions for managing cookies in major browsers:

10.1 Google Chrome

Click the three-dot menu → Settings → “Privacy and security” → “Cookies and other site data” → Choose your preferred settings.

10.2 Mozilla Firefox

Click the hamburger menu → Settings → “Privacy & Security” → Under “Cookies and Site Data,” choose your settings.

10.3 Safari (Mac)

Click Safari → Preferences → “Privacy” → Choose your cookie settings.

10.4 Safari (iOS)

Go to Settings → Safari → Scroll to “Privacy & Security” → Adjust cookie settings.

10.5 Microsoft Edge

Click the three-dot menu → Settings → “Cookies and site permissions” → “Cookies and site data” → Choose your preferred settings.

10.6 Opera

Click the Opera menu → Settings → “Advanced” → “Privacy & security” → “Cookies and other site data.”

11. Opt-Out Options

In addition to browser settings, you can opt out of specific tracking:

11.1 Google Analytics Opt-Out

Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on to prevent Google Analytics from collecting data about your visits.

11.2 Google Ad Personalisation

Visit Google Ads Settings and turn off “Ad personalisation.” This affects ads across all Google services.

11.3 Network Advertising Initiative

Visit NAI Opt-Out to opt out from multiple advertising networks at once.

11.4 Digital Advertising Alliance

Visit DAA Opt-Out to manage preferences across participating companies (US users).

11.5 European Digital Advertising Alliance

Visit Your Online Choices to manage behavioural advertising preferences (EU users).

11.6 Facebook/Meta Opt-Out

Visit Facebook Ad Preferences to manage how Facebook uses your data for advertising.

11.7 LinkedIn Opt-Out

Visit LinkedIn Advertising Preferences to control interest-based advertising on LinkedIn.

12. Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control

12.1 Do Not Track (DNT)

“Do Not Track” is a browser setting that sends a signal to websites requesting not to track your activity. There is currently no universal standard for responding to DNT signals.

Our Response: We do not currently change our data collection practices in response to DNT signals. However, you can use browser settings to control tracking.

12.2 Global Privacy Control (GPC)

Global Privacy Control is a newer standard that provides a universal opt-out signal. We honour GPC signals in jurisdictions where required by law (including California under CCPA/CPRA).

When we detect a GPC signal, we will:

• Treat it as a request to opt out of the sale/sharing of personal information
• Disable non-essential tracking for that browser

13. Cookies on Mobile Devices

13.1 Mobile Browsers

Cookies work similarly on mobile browsers. You can manage them through your mobile browser's settings.

13.2 Mobile Apps

Our mobile apps may use similar technologies including:

• Mobile Advertising IDs: Device-specific identifiers (IDFA, GAID)
• SDK Tracking: Third-party SDKs for analytics and advertising
• Local Storage: Data stored within the app

13.3 Opting Out on Mobile

iOS

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Tracking
2. Turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track”
3. Go to Settings → Privacy → Apple Advertising → Turn off “Personalised Ads”

Android

1. Go to Settings → Google → Ads
2. Turn on “Opt out of Ads Personalisation”
3. Tap “Reset advertising ID” to clear existing data

14. Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling cookies may affect your experience:

14.1 If You Disable All Cookies

• You may not be able to log in or stay logged in
• Shopping cart functionality may not work
• Form submissions may fail
• Security features may be affected
• The website may not function properly

14.2 If You Disable Analytics Cookies

• No impact on website functionality
• We won't be able to improve based on your usage patterns
• You'll still see the same content

14.3 If You Disable Functionality Cookies

• Your preferences won't be remembered
• You may need to re-enter settings each visit
• Some personalisation features may not work

14.4 If You Disable Advertising Cookies

• No impact on website functionality
• You may still see ads, but they won't be personalised
• You may see the same ads repeatedly

15. Changes to This Policy

15.1 Updates

We may update this Cookies Policy to reflect:

• Changes in the cookies we use
• New legal requirements
• Changes in technology or our practices
• User feedback

15.2 Notification

When we make material changes:

• We will update the “Last updated” date
• We may show a notice on our website
• We may request fresh consent where required

15.3 Review

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about our use of cookies.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Cookies Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us at our contact form.

Supervisory Authority

If you disagree with how we process personal data, you may lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority. UK residents may contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). If you are in the EEA, you may contact your local authority.