Our Cookie Policy
What is a Cookie?
A cookie is a packet of information that your internet connected devices’ web browser exchanges with a webpage.
It helps keep track of visits and activity to a web page and provide tailored content to you. An example is where many online retailers use cookies to keep track of the items in a user’s shopping cart as they move around the site. Without cookies, the shopping cart would reset every time a link on the site was clicked.
They may also keep a record of the most recent visit or record your login information. Many people find this useful so that they can store passwords on frequently used sites, or simply so they know what they have visited or downloaded in the past.
Different types of cookies keep track of different activities. There are two types;
- Session cookies are used only when a person is actively navigating a website
- Persistent cookies which may be used to create long-term records of multiple visits to the same site. Authentication cookies track whether a user is logged in, and if so, under what name.
We may also use web beacons or spotlight tags. These are transparent image files used to understand how users interact with the pages and content on the pages of our web site. We do not use web beacons to collect information about specific users.
Use of cookies
We may work with third parties to research certain usage and activities on the Site on our behalf. No personal information about you is shared except to the extent it is required to be used by a third party or parties for providing such research, and in the course of conducting this research we, and/or these third parties may place a unique "cookie" on your browser.
The use of cookies helps us understand and track your use of the Site and where it can improve the information and services provided. We use cookies solely to gather information on IP addresses, to analyse trends, administer the Site, track users' movements on the Site and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses are not linked to other personally identifiable information and will not be used to deliver targeted marketing messages. For information about blocking the use of cookies, please refer to the instructions/help screen on your internet browser. Please note that you may not be able to use or access certain parts of the Site or online services if you block the use of cookies.
Consent
We are allowed to store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of our sites. For all other types of cookies we need your permission.
You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website. You can find guidance on how to do this through your devices’ browser at www.AboutCookies.org (Link opens in a new window).
Please be aware that some aspects of our website, such as Internet Banking, will not work properly if you choose to not to use certain cookies
The cookies we use on our website
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies enable services you have specifically asked for.
They 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 you have asked for, like forms and internet banking, cannot be provided.
Performance Cookies
These cookies collect anonymous information on the pages visited.
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 from web pages. These cookies don’t collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. It is only used to improve how a website works.
Functional Cookies
These cookies remember choices you make to improve your experience. These cookies 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. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages that you can customise. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.
Targeting & Advertising Cookies
These cookies are used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator’s permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisations such as advertisers. Quite often targeting or advertising cookies will be linked to site functionality provided by the other organisation such as advertisers.