Here we offer a complete list of the cookies used, specific cookie names and the purposes of each one. We provide details about how the cookie data is stored on your computer, and where such cookies are not essential to the operation of the suite of websites listed, allow you to opt out of their storage on your computer.

Updated: 23 January 2023

Understanding and managing cookies

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What are cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of textual data that websites ask your web browser to store on your computer, and then give back each time you visit a page. Essentially this allows the website(s) to know a bit more about you as you move from page to page within the suite of websites and from visit to visit.

If you do not agree to the use of cookies, as set out below, you can adjust your browser settings. If you choose to reject all cookies in your browser settings, we cannot guarantee that your experience will be as fulfilling as it would otherwise be, or that you will be able to access all features.

A complete list of cookies, specific cookie names and purposes can be found towards the bottom of the page.

How to manage cookies

If you do not agree to the use of cookies, as set out below, you can adjust your browser settings. If you choose to reject all cookies in your browser settings, we cannot guarantee that your experience will be as fulfilling as it would otherwise be, or that you will be able to access all features across the suite of websites.

How you control or delete cookies depends on which version of your internet browser you’re using. You can check this by going to the ‘Help’ section of your browser.

To find out more about cookies, and how to manage cookies on particular browsers, websites such as aboutcookies.org and www.allaboutcookies.org provide more detailed information and instructions for managing cookies from your browser. You can also visit your browser developer’s website for further information.

These are third party websites, and we are not responsible for the information provided there.

Your data and privacy

Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (the PECR), we must provide full disclosure about the cookie data that we store on your computer, and where such cookies are not essential to the operation within the suite of websites, allow you to opt out of their storage on your computer.

To find out more about how we use your information and protect your privacy when using our website, please read our Privacy Policy.

Third party links

The suite of websites may include links to third-party websites, which may also use cookies. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for the cookies they use, or their cookie policies or privacy statements. We cannot be responsible for the cookie policies and practices of other websites even if you accessed the third party website using links from our Website, or you linked to our Website from a third party website.

We recommend that you check the cookie policy and privacy policy of each website you visit and contact the owner or operator of such website if you have any concerns or questions.

Types of cookies we use

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We use or may use the following types of cookies:

Strictly necessary cookies

These are cookies that are required for the operation of a website and without which the website could not perform basic functions. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of a website, use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services.

Analytical/Performance cookies

These collect information about how visitors use a website, for example, counting page visits, dwell time, bounce rates, technologies used to access the site, and page load speeds. This is used to improve the way a website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.

Functionality cookies

These are used to recognise you when you return to a website.  They allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features.

The boxes below shows the specific cookies that we store on your computer. Some of them are classed as essential to the operation of the site (so your only choice if you are not happy with them is not to use the site), but others are optional and you may opt out of them if you wish.

The preferences that you choose are specific to the computer or device that you are currently using.

Please see the complete list of cookies, specific cookie names and purposes below.

Cookies on all of our sites

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Google Analytics

Cookie

_ga

Purpose

Performance/Analytics

What does this cookie do?

This cookie is used to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. It is included in each page request in a site and used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data for the sites analytics reports.

We use this cookie to collect information about how visitors use our Website, and to improve how our Website works.

These cookies don’t collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.

Cookie

_gat

Purpose

Performance/Analytics

What does this cookie do?

This cookie is used to throttle the request rate to limit the collection of data on high traffic sites. It expires after 10 minutes.

We use this cookie to collect information about how visitors use our Website, and to improve how our Website works.

These cookies don’t collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.

Cookie name

_gid

Purpose

Performance/Analytics

What does this cookie do?

This cookie is used to collect information about how visitors use our Website. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve how our Website works.

The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the website, where visitors have come to the website from and the pages they visited.

HotJar

Cookie

_hjIncludedInSample

Purpose

Performance/Analytics

What does this cookie do?

This cookie uniquely identifies a visitor during a single browser session and indicates they are included in an audience sample.

We may use this cookie to collect information about how visitors use our Website, and to improve how our Website works.

These cookies don’t collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.

Cookie name

_hjid

Purpose

Performance/Analytics

What does this cookie do?

This cookie is set when the customer first lands on a page with the Hotjar script. It is used to persist the random user ID, unique to that site, on the browser. This ensures that behaviour in subsequent visits to the same site will be attributed to the same user ID.

We may use this cookie to collect information about how visitors use our Website, and to improve how our Website works.

These cookies don’t collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.