Updated: October 2016
This cookie policy
This Cookie Policy explains how and why we use cookies on this website (our Site). In short, cookies help us to deliver our services. Please read this Cookie Policy carefully before you start to use the Site. By continuing to use our Site, you indicate that you accept our use of cookies. If you do not want cookies to be stored on your device whilst using our Site, you can modify your browser to restrict or block cookies. However, please be aware that this may impact upon how you experience our Site.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small files that are placed on your computer when you visit a website. Cookies allow the website to recognise your browser, and to distinguish you from other website users, by reading the contents of the cookie each time the user visits the website. They help websites to improve their users’ experiences, as well as to provide business and marketing information to the owner of the website.
The types of cookies we use
- Strictly necessary cookies: These cookies are needed in order to operate a website and for you to use its features.
- Performance cookies: These cookies collect information about a website’s visitors, for example how many visitors access our Site, and what pages they visit. These cookies are used to improve our Site for visitors in the future.
- Functionality cookies: These cookies allow us to remember you and your preferences when you return to our Site, for example your choice of language or region. These cookies help us to personalise your experience with our Site.
- Targeting cookies: These cookies are used to make content displayed on our websites more relevant to your interests.
Third party cookies
Please note that third party sites that you are linked to within our Site may also use cookies. We have no control over the use of cookies by third party sites. Please ensure that you read the cookie policies on any third party site to which you are linked.
Further information
Further information about the individual cookies we use and the purposes for which we use them can be found in the table below:
| Cookie name | Library | Expiration Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Analytics.js | 2 years | Used to distinguish users. |
| _gat | Analytics.js | 10 minutes | Used to throttle request rate. |
| __utma | Ga.js | 2 years from set/update | Used to distinguish users and sessions. The cookie is created when the javascript library executes and no existing __utma cookies exists. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. |
| __utmt | Ga.js | 10 minutes | Used to throttle request rate. |
| __utmb | Ga.js | 30 mins from set/update | Used to determine new sessions/visits. The cookie is created when the javascript library executes and no existing __utmb cookies exists. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. |
| __utmc | Ga.js | End of browser session | Not used in ga.js. Set for interoperability with urchin.js. Historically, this cookie operated in conjunction with the __utmb cookie to determine whether the user was in a new session/visit. |
| __utmz | Ga.js | 6 months from set/update | Stores the traffic source or campaign that explains how the user reached your site. The cookie is created when the javascript library executes and is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. |
| __utmv | Ga.js | 2 years from set/update | Used to store visitor-level custom variable data. This cookie is created when a developer uses the _setCustomVar method with a visitor level custom variable. This cookie was also used for the deprecated _setVar method. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. |
Manage your settings
You can learn more about how to manage your cookies by visiting the Help function of your browser, the settings of your mobile device or you can visit www.aboutcookies.org which provides detailed information on managing cookies on popular browsers. Please be aware that parts of our websites may not function correctly if you disable cookies.
