This cookie policy explains what cookies are, how this website uses them, what types of cookies we set, how you can manage your preferences, and your rights under UK data protection and electronic communications law.
What Cookies Are
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites function correctly, to improve user experience, and to provide information to site operators about how visitors interact with their pages. Cookies may be set by the website you are visiting (first-party cookies) or by third-party services that operate on the site, such as analytics providers or advertising networks (third-party cookies). Some cookies are deleted when you close your browser (session cookies), while others remain on your device for a set period or until you manually delete them (persistent cookies).
Our Legal Obligations
This website operates in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR). Under PECR, we are required to obtain your consent before setting any cookies on your device that are not strictly necessary for the operation of the website. Strictly necessary cookies may be set without consent because they are essential for the website to function. For all other cookies, including analytics and advertising cookies, we request your consent through a cookie consent mechanism displayed when you first visit the site.
Categories of Cookies We Use
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They enable basic features such as page navigation, access to secure areas, and the operation of the cookie consent mechanism itself. Without these cookies, the website cannot function as intended. Strictly necessary cookies do not collect any personally identifiable information for marketing purposes. Because they are essential, these cookies are set without requiring your consent, in accordance with PECR. They are typically session cookies that are deleted when you close your browser.
Analytics Cookies
If you consent, we use analytics cookies to collect anonymised information about how visitors use this website. This helps us understand which pages are most and least popular, how visitors move through the site, and whether users encounter any errors. All data collected by analytics cookies is aggregated and anonymous. We use this information solely to improve how this website works and to ensure our content meets the needs of our visitors. Analytics cookies are set only after you provide consent through the cookie consent mechanism. If you do not consent, no analytics cookies are placed on your device and no analytics data is collected from your visit.
Advertising and Targeting Cookies
This website is funded in part through advertising. If you consent, advertising cookies may be set by our advertising partners to deliver relevant advertisements and to limit the number of times you see a particular advert. These cookies work by uniquely identifying your browser and device. They may be used by advertising networks to build a profile of your interests based on your browsing activity across different websites, and to show you adverts that are relevant to those interests on this and other sites. Advertising cookies are set only with your explicit consent. If you do not consent, you may still see advertisements on this website, but they will not be tailored to your interests.
Preference Cookies
Preference cookies allow the website to remember choices you have made, such as your cookie consent settings or any display preferences. These cookies improve your experience by ensuring you do not need to re-enter preferences each time you visit. They are set only with your consent and typically persist for a defined period, after which they expire and your preferences will need to be set again.
How to Manage Cookies
You have several options for managing cookies on this website and more broadly across your browsing activity.
Through our cookie consent mechanism: When you first visit this website, a cookie consent banner is displayed, allowing you to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting the site, which will trigger the consent mechanism again.
Through your browser settings: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can configure your browser to block all cookies, to block only third-party cookies, to alert you before a cookie is set, or to delete all cookies when you close the browser. The method for managing cookies varies between browsers. You can find instructions for common browsers at the following locations: Google Chrome at google.com, Mozilla Firefox at mozilla.org, Apple Safari at apple.com, and Microsoft Edge at microsoft.com.
Through industry opt-out tools: You can opt out of interest-based advertising from many advertising networks through the following platforms: the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance at youronlinechoices.eu and the Network Advertising Initiative at networkadvertising.org.
Please be aware that blocking or deleting cookies may affect the functionality of this and other websites. Some features may not work as intended if certain cookies are disabled.
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this cookie policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use, changes in applicable legislation, or changes in our practices. When we update this policy, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to check this page periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
Further Information
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please refer to our Privacy Policy for further details on how we handle personal data. For general information about cookies and how they work, you can visit allaboutcookies.org, an independent resource maintained by the digital advertising industry. For information about your rights under UK data protection law, visit the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.