Cookies Policy
Last updated: January 2024
This policy explains what cookies are, how we use them on our website, and how you can control them. We aim to be straightforward about our cookie usage and respect your choices.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They're widely used to make websites work efficiently and provide information to site owners. Cookies can remember your preferences, help you navigate between pages, and improve your overall experience.
Cookies aren't programs and can't carry viruses. They simply store small amounts of data that the website can later retrieve.
Types of Cookies We Use
We categorise our cookies into three groups based on their purpose:
Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function. Without them, basic features like page navigation and access to secure areas wouldn't work. You can't opt out of these cookies as they're required for the site to operate.
Examples include:
- Cookies that remember your cookie consent preferences
- Session cookies that maintain your browsing state
- Security cookies that protect against fraudulent activity
Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website. They collect information about which pages are visited most often, how long visitors spend on each page, and how they navigate through the site. This data is aggregated and anonymised, meaning it doesn't identify individual visitors.
We use this information to improve our website's structure and content. For instance, if we notice many visitors leave a particular page quickly, we might investigate whether the content needs improvement.
Analytics cookies are optional. If you decline them, we simply won't collect this usage data from your visits.
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies track your browsing activity to deliver more relevant content and advertisements. They remember that you've visited our website and may share this information with advertising partners.
We use marketing cookies sparingly. Our primary interest is in understanding whether our marketing efforts are effective, rather than building detailed profiles of individual users.
These cookies are entirely optional. Declining them means you may see less relevant advertisements, but your browsing experience on our site won't be affected.
Specific Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies
- cookieConsent — Stores your cookie preferences. Duration: 1 year.
- sessionId — Maintains your session while browsing. Duration: Session (deleted when you close your browser).
Analytics Cookies
- _ga — Google Analytics cookie used to distinguish users. Duration: 2 years.
- _gid — Google Analytics cookie used to distinguish users. Duration: 24 hours.
- _gat — Google Analytics cookie used to throttle request rate. Duration: 1 minute.
Marketing Cookies
- _fbp — Facebook pixel cookie for measuring ad effectiveness. Duration: 3 months.
- _gcl_au — Google Ads cookie for conversion tracking. Duration: 3 months.
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have several options for controlling cookies:
Our Cookie Banner
When you first visit our website, you'll see a banner asking about your cookie preferences. You can accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or customise your choices. You can change these preferences at any time by clicking the cookie settings link in our website footer.
Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:
- See what cookies are stored and delete them individually
- Block third-party cookies
- Block cookies from particular sites
- Block all cookies
- Delete all cookies when you close your browser
Be aware that blocking all cookies may affect the functionality of many websites, not just ours.
Opt-Out Links
For specific tracking technologies, you can use these opt-out tools:
- Google Analytics: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
- Facebook: facebook.com/settings (Ads section)
- General advertising opt-out: youronlinechoices.eu
Local Storage
In addition to cookies, we use local storage to save your preferences on your device. Local storage works similarly to cookies but can store larger amounts of data and doesn't expire automatically. We use local storage to remember your cookie consent choice so we don't ask you repeatedly.
Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our site are set by third-party services we use. We don't control these cookies directly, though we choose which third-party services to integrate. The third parties set cookies according to their own privacy policies.
Third-party services we use that may set cookies include:
- Google Analytics (website analytics)
- Google Ads (advertising measurement)
- Facebook (advertising measurement)
Do Not Track
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature that signals to websites you don't want to be tracked. There's no industry standard for how websites should respond to these signals. Currently, our website doesn't respond differently to DNT signals, but you can use the cookie controls described above to limit tracking.
Cookies and Children
Our services are not directed at children under 18. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children, and our cookies are not designed to track users based on age.
Updates to This Policy
We may update this policy when we change our cookie usage or when regulations require it. The "last updated" date at the top indicates when changes were last made. Significant changes will be highlighted on our website.
Questions
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Post: Privacy Team, emerald-amount Ltd, 45 Greenfield House, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AB
Further Information
For more information about cookies and how to manage them, visit:
- aboutcookies.org — Comprehensive information about cookies
- allaboutcookies.org — Guide to cookies and how to manage them
- ico.org.uk — Information Commissioner's Office guidance on cookies