Cookie Policy

1. Cookies

We are committed to protecting you and any data (anonymous or otherwise) that we collect about you on our websites. This section tells you how we use cookies, why, and how this allows us to improve our service. It also tells you how you can manage what cookies are stored on your device.
By using our websites (through any device) you agree that this Cookies Policy applies to you

1.1 How do we use cookies?

While we use cookies to monitor activity on the site we also use session cookies which expire once you leave our website.

1.2 What happens now I’ve read your cookie message?

As you have chosen to read this message we have now placed a cookie on your browser so you won’t see this message again. This also happens if you choose to close our cookie message. (Unless you clear your browser of cookies.)

1.2 How can i remove your cookies from my browser?

If you wish to remove and manage any cookies in your browser please review your current settings. If you require advice or support please check with your chosen browsers online support centre.
Apple Safari support > https://support.apple.com/safari
Google Chrome Support > https://support.google.com/chrome/#topic=3227046
Internet Exploerer Support > https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb
Mozilla Firefox Support > https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/

2.0 General cookie Information

2.1 What is a Cookie?

Cookies are files containing small amounts of information which are downloaded to the device you use when you visit a website and help your browser navigate through a particular website. Cookies are then sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit, or to another website that recognises that cookie. Cookies do lots of different and useful jobs, such as remembering your preferences, and generally improving your online experience.

2.2 Types of Cookies

There are different types of cookies. Generally the content of a cookie is a randomly generated set of characters. For most purposes a website sending a cookie does not need to know who you are – it just needs to remember that it has seen your browser before. Some websites do write personal information about you into a cookie, but this is only possible if you have provided them with the information in the first place. If personal information is stored in a cookie it is usually encrypted – coded – so that any third party who has access to the cookie folder of your browser cannot read it.
They all work in the same way, but have minor differences:

2.2.1 Session Cookies

Session cookies last only for the duration of your visit and are deleted when you close your browser. These facilitate various tasks such as allowing a website to identify that a user of a particular device is navigating from page to page, supporting website security or basic functionality.
Many of the Cookies we use are session Cookies. For example, they help us to ensure the security of session, and can also keep you logged in while you move between pages.

2.2.2 Persistent Cookies

Persistent Cookies last after you have closed your browser, and allow a website to remember your actions and preferences. Sometimes persistent Cookies are used by websites to provide targeted advertising based upon the browsing history of the device.
We DO NOT do online marketing. We DO NOT have the need to store persistent cookie on your browser for targeted advertisements. Please check your browser and remove any cookies you don’t want to keep.

2.2.3 First and third party Cookies

Whether a Cookie is a first or third party Cookie depends on which website the Cookie comes from. First party Cookies are those set by or on behalf of the website visited. All other Cookies are third party Cookies. We use both first party and third party Cookies.
Google Analytics are the only 3rd party Cookies we use.

3.0 Cookies we Use

3.1 PHPSESSID

The PHPSESSID Cookie is generated by our web-based application. It is a general purpose identifier used to maintain user session variables. It is normally a random generated number; we use it to maintain the status of a logged-in user as he/she moves between pages. This is an example of session cookie
This is not a third party cookie and it is Strictly Necessary

3.2 _ga

The _ga cookie is part of Google analytics. it is a significant update to Google’s more commonly used analytics service. 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.
By default it is set to expire after 2 years, although this is customisable by website owners, we have left the default expiration period in place. This is a third party cookie.

3.3 _gid

This cookie name is asssociated with Google Universal Analytics. This appears to be a new cookie and as of Spring 2017 no information is available from Google. It appears to store and update a unique value for each page visited. This is a third party cookie.

3.4 _Utma

The _utma cookie is part of Google analytics, and is primarily used to track visits to any site which uses Google analytics. _utma stores the number of visits made from your device, the time of the first visit, the previous visit, and the current visit. This cookie does not contain any personal information other than the IP address of your device. This is a third party cookie.

3.5 _Utmb

The _utmb cookie is part of Google analytics. __utmb and __utmc are used to check approximately how long you stay on any site which uses Google analytics: when a visit starts, and approximately ends. This Cookie does not contain any personal information other than the IP address of your device. This is a third party cookie.

3.6 _Utmc

The _utmc cookie is part of Google analytics. __utmb and __utmc are used to check approximately how long you stay on any site which uses Google analytics: when a visit starts, and approximately ends. This Cookie does not contain any personal information other than the IP address of your device. This is a third party cookie.

3.7 Domain Cookie

A Domain cookie is used by a web application to store information related to your preferences to enhance your user journey. No information is held specific to any customer. The data relates to how the customer views the site. This is not a third party cookie.