A cookie is a small text file that some websites or web applications store via the browser on your computer’s hard drive.  Cookies are widely used in order to make websites or web applications work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the websites or applications.

Some expire at the end of your session, whilst others will remain on your computer for longer.  When you return to websites or visit websites that use the same cookies, these cookies and, therefore, your browsing device are recognised.

Cookies do lots of different and useful jobs, like letting you navigate between pages efficiently, remembering your preferences and generally improving your browsing experience.  Cookies can be used to customise areas of online content to be more relevant to you and your interests.

First party cookies are set by the specific website or web application you visit – i.e. the location displayed in the URL window.

Third party cookies are set by third party services that appear on our pages.  They are set by the operators of that service and are not in our control. For example, Twitter, Facebook and other advertisers may use the information they obtain from your use of their cookies to track your browser across multiple websites to build a profile of your web surfing or to target advertisements which may be of particular interest to you.

The types of cookies on websites or web applications can be put into one of four categories, based on the International Chamber of Commerce guide to cookie categories:

1. Strictly Necessary Cookies: These cookies are essential, as they enable you to move around a website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas. Without these cookies, the services you have asked for (such as access to secure areas) cannot be provided. These cannot be restricted or blocked. These cookies do not gather information about you that could be used for marketing or remembering where you have been on the internet. The default settings for these cookies is set to ‘on’.
2. Performance Cookies: These cookies collect information about how you use a website; for example, which pages you go to most often and if you get any error messages from certain pages. These cookies do not gather information that identifies you. All the information these cookies collect is anonymous and is only used to improve how a website works. These cookies are not used to target you with online advertising. Without these cookies, we cannot learn how the website is performing and make relevant improvements that could better your browsing experience. These can be restricted or blocked. The default settings for these cookies are set to ‘off’.
3. Functionality and Profile Cookies: These cookies allow a website to remember choices you make (such as your username, language, or the region you are in) and tailor the website to provide enhanced features and content for you. For instance, they remember your login details and allow you to watch videos. They also ensure the on-site marketing and experience is relevant to you. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, font and other parts of pages that you can customise. The information these cookies collect may be anonymous, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. Without these cookies, a website cannot remember choices you have previously made or personalise your browsing experience. These can be restricted or blocked. The default settings for these cookies are set to ‘off’.
4. Tracking/Targeting Cookies: These cookies gather information about your browsing habits. They remember that you have visited a website and share this information with other organisations, such as advertisers. They do this in order to provide you with adverts that are more relevant to you and your interests. Although these cookies can track your visits to other websites, they do not usually know who you are. Without these cookies, the online advertisements you encounter will be less relevant to you and your interests. These can be restricted or blocked. The default settings for these cookies are set to ‘off’.

You can set your own cookies using the Cookie Consent Management Platform.

Cookies on our website are used for many purposes including, but not limited to:

• enabling you to register on our website (be verified) where applicable and to have such details remembered for later to enable you to use the subscriber login;
• enabling you to avail yourself of our services on the website;
• recognising your computer when you visit our website;
• improving our website’s usability;
• analysing the use of our services;
• administrating our website;
• preventing fraud and improving the security of our website; and
• to analyse the use of our services through analytics software.

Please see the Cookie Consent Preference Management Tool to see the audited cookies in operation.

• More information about cookies can be found at: https://www.allaboutcookies.org.
• Internet Advertising Bureau: Guide to online advertising and privacy.
• International Chamber of Commerce United Kingdom: ICC UK cookie guide.
• Cookiebot by Usercentrics.