cookie policy

1. Cookies

This website uses cookies to store information within your web browser. Where possible we avoid storing any sensitive or tracking information in these cookies.

In accordance with the EU Cookie Directive, we now provide information about how we use these cookies. Where possible, we also provide the means to control whether these cookies are stored. Ironically the mechanism used to control cookie usage has to use a cookie to remember your preference.

Browser settings

Any cookies generated by this website may be safely blocked or deleted using your web browser settings, but this may impact the performance, functionality and services provided by this website.

Categories of cookies

We have sorted the cookies used on this website into four categories:

(1) Strictly Necessary

These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas of the website. Without these cookies services like shopping baskets or electronic billing, cannot be provided.

If you do not accept the use of these cookies our website may not work as intended.

While you are free to block them (see below), if you do then we cannot guarantee that this website will be functional.

Here are some examples of the Strictly Necessary cookies we use:

FEATURE
COOKIE NAME
PURPOSE
EXPIRY
Session
PHPSESSID
This cookie is essential for user sessions.
Http Session only
User authentication
wordpress_*
This cookie stores website authentication details.
Http only, 365 days
User preference
wp-settings-*
This cookie helps remember your personal preferences within the website.
365 days

(2) Performance

These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most often and if they get error messages. These cookies don’t collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.

To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Here are some examples of the Performance Cookies we use:

FEATURE
COOKIE NAME
PURPOSE
EXPIRY
Google Analytics
_utma
This cookie is typically written to the browser upon the first visit to your site from that web browser. If the cookie has been deleted by the browser operator, and the browser subsequently visits your site, a new __utma cookie is written with a different unique ID. This cookie is used to determine unique visitors to this site and it is updated with each page view. Additionally, this cookie is provided with a unique ID that Google Analytics uses to ensure both the validity and accessibility of the cookie as an extra security measure.
2 years
Google Analytics
_utmb
This cookie is used to establish and continue a user session with this site. When a user views a page on this site, the Google Analytics code attempts to update this cookie. If it does not find the cookie, a new one is written and a new session is established. Each time a user visits a different page on this website, the cookie is updated to expire in 30 minutes, thus continuing a single session for as long as user activity continues within 30-minute intervals. This cookie expires when a user pauses on a page on this site for longer than 30 minutes.
30 minutes
Google Analytics
_utmc
Historically, this cookie operated in conjunction with the __utmb cookie to determine whether or not to establish a new session for the user. For backwards compatibility purposes with sites still using the urchin.js tracking code, this cookie will continue to be written and will expire when the user exits the browser.
Session only
Google Analytics
_utmz
This cookie stores the type of referral used by the visitor to reach this site, whether via a direct method, a referring link, a website search, or a campaign such as an ad or an email link. The cookie is updated with each page view to your site.
6 months

3) Functionality

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make such as your username, language or the region you are in and provide enhanced, more personal features. For instance, a website may be able to provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing in a cookie the region in which you are currently located. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages you can customise, to provide services you have asked for such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.

If you do not accept the use of these cookies our website may not work as intended.

While you are free to block them (see below), if you do then we cannot guarantee that this website will be functional.

Here are some examples of the Functionality Cookies we use:

FEATURE
COOKIE NAME
PURPOSE
EXPIRY
Cookie Settings
cookillian_opt_*
This cookie is essential for our site to remember your cookie preferences.
365 days

(4) Targeting

‘Targeting’ cookies are linked to services provided by third parties, such as ‘Like’ buttons and ‘Share’ buttons. The third party provides these services in return for recognising that you have visited our website.

We use ‘Targeting’ cookies to Link to social networks like Facebook, who may subsequently use information about your visit to target advertising to you on other websites.

You can control whether or not these cookies are used, but preventing them may stop us from offering you some services. All of these cookies are managed by third parties, and you may alternatively use the third parties’ own tools to prevent these cookies.

Here are some examples of the Targeting Cookies we use:

FEATURE
COOKIE NAME
PURPOSE
EXPIRY
ShareThis
*.sharethis.com
Enables link sharing tools on specific pages of our website. The cookies may store anonymous data and your favourite preferences.
4 hours – 1 year
AddThis
*.adddthis.com
Enables link sharing tools on specific pages of our website. The cookies may store anonymous data and your favourite preferences.
30 days – 2 years
Twitter
*.twitter.com
Enables the Tweet button on certain pages of our site. The cookies may store anonymous session data and if your computer is already logged into Twitter, may contain session or other data identifying the logged in account.
Facebook
*.facebook.com
Enables the Facebook Like button on certain pages of our site that allows you to easily Like a specific page.
LinkedIn
leo_auth_token
Enables the LinkedIn button on certain pages of our website.
365 days
LinkedIn
JESESSIONID
Used for tracking user sessions
Http Session only
YouTube
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
YouTube uses this.
YouTube
PREF
YouTube uses this.

Managing cookies

You can prevent the setting of cookies by adjusting the settings on your browser (see below):

Chrome

  • Click on the ‘Tools’” menu (or the Spanner/Wrench icon) and select ‘Options’.
  • Click the ‘Under the Bonnet’ tab and locate the ‘Privacy’ section, and choose the ‘Content settings’ button.
  • Click the ‘Cookie settings’ tab and choose your preferred settings. The default behaviour is to allow all cookies, but you can fine tune your preferences here, and view the currently set cookies by clicking on ‘All cookies and site data…’

Edge

  • Click the Tools menu and then Internet Options
  • Click the Privacy tab
  • Move the slider to choose your preferred settings. These settings are quite general.
  • For more specific cookie settings click on ‘Advanced’, check the ‘Override cookie handling’ button and modify the settings to suit your requirements. You can also click on ‘Sites’ to set cookie settings for individual websites.

Firefox

  • Click the Tools or Settings (depending on browser version), then Options
  • Select the Privacy & Security
  • Select Cookies. You can then choose your preferred settings

Apple Safari

  • Click the Cog icon or Edit on the main menu
  • Click Preferences, then Security
  • The ‘Accept cookies’ section allows you to specify your cookie preferences. To remove all cookies, click on ‘Show Cookies’ and ‘Remove All’.

Further reading

>Information about cookies

Useful information about cookies can be found at:
http://www.allaboutcookies.org

Internet Advertising Bureau

A guide to behavioural advertising and online privacy has been produced by the internet advertising industry which can be found at:

http://www.youronlinechoices.eu

International Chamber of Commerce United Kingdom

Information on the ICC (UK) UK cookie guide can be found on the ICC website section:

http://www.international-chamber.co.uk/our-expertise/digitaleconomy