This cookie policy was last updated on 8th March 2023
What is a cookie?
A “cookie” is a piece of information that is stored on your computer’s hard drive and which records how you move your way around a website so that, when you revisit that website, it can present tailored options based on the information stored about your last visit. Cookies can also be used to analyse traffic and for advertising and marketing purposes.
Cookies are used by nearly all websites and do not harm your system.
If you want to check or change what types of cookies you accept, this can usually be altered within your browser settings. You can block cookies at any time by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including essential cookies) you may not be able to access all or parts of our site. For details on how to manage your cookies see below in this policy.
How do we use cookies?
We use cookies to track your use of our website. This enables us to understand how you use the site and track any patterns with regards how you are using our website. This helps us to develop and improve our website as well as products and / or services in response to what you might need or want.
Cookies are either:
Session cookies: these are only stored on your computer during your web session and are automatically deleted when you close your browser – they usually store an anonymous session ID allowing you to browse a website without having to log in to each page, but they do not collect any personal data from your computer; or
Persistent cookies: a persistent cookie is stored as a file on your computer and it remains there when you close your web browser. The cookie can be read by the website that created it when you visit that website again. We use persistent cookies for Google Analytics.
Cookies can also be categorised as follows:
Strictly necessary cookies: These cookies are essential to enable you to use the website effectively, such as when buying a product and / or service, and therefore cannot be turned off. Without these cookies, the services available to you on our website cannot be provided. These cookies do not gather information about you that could be used for marketing or remembering where you have been on the internet.
Performance cookies: These cookies enable us to monitor and improve the performance of our website. For example, they allow us to count visits, identify traffic sources and see which parts of the site are most popular.
Functionality cookies: These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced features. For instance, we may be able to provide you with news or updates relevant to the services you use. They may also be used to provide services you have requested such as viewing a video or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect is usually anonymised.
Cookies we currently use:
| Cookie | Used by | Used for |
| _ga, _gat, _gid | Google Analytics | We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors to our site behave and where they are from. We use this information to improve the content available on the website. IP address information gathered is anonymised so that individuals cannot be identified. |
| cookie_notice_accepted | Cookie Notice | Records if consent is granted to allow cookies to be used. |
| lidc | This cookie is associated to the Linkedin.com social media button on the website. Linkedin is a social networking website for people in professional occupations. | |
| wordpress_test_cookie | WordPress | Tests whether or not the browser has cookies enabled. |
| 1P_JAR, APISID, HSID, NID, SAPISID, SID, SIDCC, SSID, _AVESTA_ENVIRONMENT | MailChimp | Mostly used to build a profile of the website visitor’s interests and show relevant ads on other sites. |
Managing Your Cookies
Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. The methods for doing so change from browser to browser, and from version to version. You can however obtain up-to-date information about blocking and deleting cookies in your preferred browser below:
Chrome – https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en
Explorer – https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies
Edge – https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10-microsoft-edge-and-privacy
Safari – https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/safari/manage-cookies-and-website-data-sfri11471/mac
Firefox – https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences
Opera – http://www.opera.com/help/tutorials/security/cookies/
By blocking all cookies it will have a negative impact upon the usability of many websites. If you block cookies, you may not be able to use all the features on this website.