Cookie policy

EU regulations require us to provide site visitors with a description of the purpose of cookies and how they are used on our website. The regulations also require site visitors to consent to cookies being stored on their computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

We use cookies to monitor how our website is used and to ensure that we give visitors the best experience we can. These cookies are anonymous and do not collect or hold personal information.

If you continue to use our website without changing your browser-based cookie settings, we will assume that you are happy for us to store our cookies on your device – by using our website, you are giving your consent for the deployment of our cookies.

Should you choose to, you can change your cookie settings at any time – please read the ‘how can I control cookies’ section of this policy for advice on how to do this.

If you choose to block our cookies, some of the functionality of the website will not be available and this may adversely affect the performance and experience of the site.

If at any time we change the cookies, we will make sure you are aware by updating this policy. We recommend you re-visit this policy from time to time to ensure you remain up to date.

Please read the rest of this policy for information on the types and uses of cookies, and for a detailed description of the cookies we use.

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small text file that is created and stored on your web browsing device by a website (or certain functional elements of a website).

Only the website (or function) that created the cookie can retrieve or read the contents within it. When you re-visit a website that uses cookies, it will check for its cookies on your device and read the information within them. Depending on the purpose of the cookie, the website will usually use that information to ‘tailor’ itself to suit you.

Each cookie contains anonymous information (typically a unique identifier, the website name, and some digits and numbers), and is specific to your web browser.

Cookies can be used for a wide variety of tasks, such as storing your website preferences, enhancing navigation between pages and improving your user experience. Cookies help make the interaction between you and the website simpler, smoother and more intuitive.

Without cookies or similar technologies, websites would not easily be able to ‘remember’ who has previously visited them – logging into a website or adding items to a shopping basket would be much more complicated.

Types of cookies

Cookies can be created by the main website you are visiting (‘first party cookies’), or by other websites that are contributing (or ‘feeding’) content to the page you are viewing (‘third party cookies’).

Regardless of their source, cookies are given a lifespan when they are created – they will either exist for the duration of your visit on the website (‘session cookies’), or they will exist for a defined period after your visit (‘persistent cookies’) so that they are available if you return to the site.

A third ‘level’ of categorisation exists which groups cookies as:

• ‘strictly necessary’: enabling websites to provide certain core features or functions that are expected/requested.
• ‘performance’ orientated: improving the performance of the website, and the experience of the user.
• ‘functionality’ orientated: enhancing or adding non-essential functionality to website (for example, storing your preferences for return visits).
• ‘targeting’ orientated: enabling websites to ‘target’ advertising, marketing or other content based on the location and/or browsing habits (among others) of the user.

First party cookies and third party cookies

First party cookies are created, governed and accessed only by the main website you are visiting.

Third party cookies are created, governed and accessed by ‘external’ websites that are contributing content or functionality to the main website. The third party organisation responsible for these cookies may use them to track your journey or store your preferences across multiple websites.

Examples of typical third party content or functionality that may deploy their own cookies:

• user access tracking from external analytics companies, such as Google Analytics;
• embedded videos from sites such as YouTube or Vimeo;
• social sharing options from sites such as Facebook and Twitter;
• content ‘feeds’ from sites such as Flickr and Twitter.

Some websites also use third party advertising services to deliver targeted advertising – and some of these advertising services use cookies to track your browsing across multiple sites to assess which advertisements should be displayed to you. We do not use any such services and there are no advertising cookies on this site. In fact, we do not use any cookies which track your behaviour outside of this website.

Third party cookies are not, by default, governed or controlled by the first party website – setting cookie preferences on the website itself will only affect the deployment of first party cookies and not third party cookies.

To manage third party cookies, you should check the relevant third party website for advice. (Alternatively, use your browser settings to control the deployment of third party cookies.)

A note about Flash cookies

Adobe Flash Player is commonly used to deliver media rich content, such as video and interactive entertainment. (Visit the Adobe Flash Player website for more information.)

Adobe deploy their own third party cookies for use by the Flash Player and these are not manageable through the normal browser settings. (Flash cookies work in a different way to ‘standard’ web browser cookies, and are not stored within the browser.)

Some web browser developers are preparing solutions to allow the control of Flash cookies through their browsers, but until these options are available we suggest visiting the Flash Player website to find out how to restrict or block Flash cookies.

Session cookies

Session cookies are temporary and only exist during your browsing session – once the browser is closed, they are deleted from the browsing device.

Session cookies are used for features like:

• ‘remembering’ the contents of a shopping basket;
• ensuring uninterrupted but secure access to user accounts (for example, internet banking and email).

Persistent cookies

Persistent cookies are semi-permanent – they are saved to the browsing device for a fixed period (which could be a month, a year, or longer) and are retained when the browser is closed.

Persistent cookies are used for features like ‘remembering’ a user and their preferences across multiple browsing sessions.

Strictly necessary cookies

Cookies that provide features or functionality that are specifically requested/required (for example, enabling visitors to navigate through the site) are classed as ‘strictly necessary’.

Without these cookies, the website would not be able to provide site visitors with the service that they expect or need.

Features such as automatic sign in (which is typically requested using a ‘remember me’ option) would use a ‘strictly necessary’ cookie.

If browser settings are used to deactivate strictly necessary cookies, the website may become unusable. At the very least, it will no longer be possible to guarantee security or predict how the website will perform.

Performance cookies

Cookies that help to improve the performance and/or user experience on a website are classed as ‘performance’ cookies.

Performance cookies can include those that collect information about how a visitor interacts with the website. These cookies do not collect any information that could be used to identify the visitor, or that could be used for marketing/advertising purposes.

The collected information is anonymous and used only to improve the relevant organisations’ understanding of how the website works, how effective it is at presenting its content and to help improve the understanding of what its visitors require.

Functionality cookies

Cookies that enhance the features, functionality and user experience are classed as ‘functionality’ cookies.

Functionality cookies can include those that store details of your site preferences, allowing a website to ‘remember’ you and ensure that, when you have chosen a specific option on the site, your choices are retained for each visit.

If you have requested that content be tailored to your requirements, it is possible that a functionality cookie has been used to record this preference (for example, specifying your location to receive information specific to your area).

Targeting cookies

Cookies that attempt to automatically tailor content based on the visitors journey and interactions on a website are classed as ‘targeting’ cookies.

Targeting cookies are typically used for marketing and advertising purposes, delivering content which is relevant to the visitors’ interests and their browsing habits.

Targeting cookies are often governed by third party services.

How we use cookies on this website

This website uses cookies:

• to monitor site visits and understand your usage of the website using Google Analytics.

This website may also feature content from the following third party websites that may use cookies (please visit the respective website for more information on the cookies they use):

• YouTube (video);
• Twitter (Twitter feed, ‘following’ and sharing options;
• Flickr (images);
• Facebook (‘liking’ and sharing options);
• Google (‘plus one’ and sharing options).

We do not collect any personal information in our cookies, we do not sell any of the information we collect and we do not disclose the information to third parties (except where required by law – for example, to government bodies and law enforcement agencies).

What to do if you don’t want cookies to be set

Some users may consider the use of cookies to store information on their device as intrusive, particularly if they are uncertain of who is using that information, and for what purpose.

While cookies are generally harmless, you may find it preferable not to allow, for example, targeting cookies to monitor your browsing habits and display advertising that has been targeted to your interests. In these cases, it is possible to block some or all cookies and to delete cookies that have already been set.

Please note that, while we do not use any ‘strictly necessary’ cookies at present, if you choose to block cookies, we cannot guarantee or predict how this website will perform during your visit.

How can I control cookies?

If you want to control which cookies are sent to your device, you can configure your browser to display a notification (and/or a request for permission) when a website attempts to deploy a cookie. You can also configure your browser to refuse cookies altogether, and you can delete any cookies that have already been set.

Please use your browser’s help option to find out how to perform these actions within your browser. Alternatively, comprehensive information for managing/deleting cookies on a variety of browsers/platforms is available on the About Cookies website.

Further information

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the EU cookie regulations. The ICO website features a guide to the directive and various aspects of cookies.

The All About Cookies website is a free resource for marketers and consumers which explains what cookies are and how they are used.