What are Cookies?
A cookie is a small file that is stored on your computer by your web browser when you visit or interact with a given website. The data saved within a cookie is then read each time you load any content from a given website but is only accessible if content is loaded from that website. Cookies are a widely used storage format across the internet designed to provide each user with a better experience.
The data within a cookie has many utilities such as, but not limited to, storing preferences, remembering your account, personalising a website to your requirements and understanding how users interact with content.
Cookie Terminology
Types of Cookie
Cookies can be split into two categories “first” and “third” party. Both are functionally the same, however, a first party cookie is set against the current website you are visiting whereas a third-party cookie is set against a different website whilst viewing the current website. Third-party cookies are subject to the respective privacy policies for these external services.
Expiry of Cookies
Each individual cookie can either have a defined expiry date, such as in 6 months, or a temporary session state. A session cookie will automatically expire after a user stops interacting with the website for a short period and could also expire when the user closes their browser. An expired cookie is deleted and no longer accessible to the browser or website.
The website makes use of both cookies as well as defined date and session expiries.
Cookie Categorisation
We have identified the following criteria which all utilised cookies on the website are placed under. Using the cookie management system you are able to control how each group can operate within your browser.
Strictly Necessary
These cookies are essential in the core operation of this website, such as PHPSESSID and ASP_NET_SessionID. Without these cookies enabled some primary functionality would not be available on the website.
Analytics
A series of cookies that aid in the collection of anonymous user interactions on the website to understand and improve the website’s functionality. Such as, but not limited to, most frequently visited pages, error messaging and the most common web browsers used.These cookies also include those used for page variation testing which aims to improve user experience and site performance.
Marketing
A series of cookies which serve a range of functions, this includes, but is not limited to, sharing content on social media platforms and providing targeted advertising relevant to the things you’re interested in based on your interactions on the website.
Specific Cookie Details
The following table outlines the commonly used cookies on the website in the above use cases.
| Consent Category | Vendor | Cookie Name | Description | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analytics | FCCDCF | Google Funding Choices API (consent gathering). | 1 year | |
| Analytics | FCNEC | Google Funding Choices API (consent gathering). | 1 year | |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | _dc_gtm_UA-3691619-4 | Legacy Universal Analytics ID. | 54 seconds |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | _ga | ID used to identify users and track individual user sessions. | 1-2 years |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | _ga_DV12YQ5EEN | ID used to identify users and track individual user sessions. | 1 year |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | _ga_HD8BF8V312 | ID used to identify users and track individual user sessions. | 1 year |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | _ga_YMKKFD35XY | ID used to identify users and track individual user sessions. | 1 year |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | _gid | ID used to identify users for 24 hours. | 24 hours |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | _ga_* | ID used to identify users and track individual user sessions. | 1-2 years |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | _gat_* | Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests. | 1 min – 1 hour |
| Analytics | Google Analytics | _gat | Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests. | 1 min – 1 hour |
| Analytics | Matomo | _pk_id.1.7519 | Matomo unique visitor ID. | 1 year |
| Analytics | Matomo | _pk_ses.1.7519 | Matomo session cookie. | 30 mins |
| Analytics | Matomo | MATOMO_SESSID | Matomo analytics session ID. | Session |
| Analytics | Matomo | _pk_id* | Matomo unique visitor ID. | 1 year |
| Analytics | Matomo | _pk_ses* | Matomo session cookie. | 30 mins |
| Analytics | Matomo | _pk_ref | Stores attribution information (the referrer that brought the visitor to the website). | (blank) |
| Analytics | Matomo | pk_cvar | Stores custom variables in key-value pairs to define additional metadata about the visitor or their actions during a session; it could be any custom data you want to track. Because this is a session-based cookie, it only applies to the current visit. | Session |
| Analytics | Matomo | _pk_hsr | Session cookie temporarily stores Heatmap session data when using the Matomo Heatmap feature. | 30 minutes |
| Analytics | Matomo | _pk_testcookie | Temporary cookie to check if a visitor’s browser supports cookies (set in Internet Explorer only). | Temporary cookie that expires almost immediately after being set. |
| Analytics | Matomo | _pk_uid | If enabled, this cookie assigns the same ID to a visitor navigating across all your domains and subdomains, so Matomo can recognise users across devices and sessions. It is only used when enabling third party cookies in Matomo’s config file. | 13 months |
| Analytics | Newspack | newspack-cid | Publisher functionality cookie. | 1 year |
| Marketing | Google (DoubleClick) | IDE | Used for targeting and optimization of ad campaigns. | 1 year |
| Marketing | Google (DoubleClick) | test_cookie | Determines if the visitor’s browser supports cookies. | 15 mins |
| Marketing | Google Ads | __eoi | Tracking cookie related to Google ad services. | 6 months |
| Marketing | Google Ads | __gads | Ensures Frequency Caps work correctly. | 1 year |
| Marketing | Google Ads | __gpi | Optimizes advertisement relevance. | 1 year |
| Marketing | Google AdSense | _gcl_au | Used for experimenting with advertisement efficiency across websites. | 3 months |
| Marketing | Google AdSense | _gcl_* | Used for experimenting with advertisement efficiency across websites. | 3 months |
| Marketing | ID5 | id5 | Universal ID for ad targeting. | 3 months |
| Marketing | Microsoft Dynamics | 319af4c0-e197-4de9-8a9b-fe98c8a2ca04 | Dynamics 365 session GUID. | Session |
| Marketing | Microsoft Dynamics | 79f08280-5c63-4331-b04d-fb6f39afda51 | Dynamics 365 tracking GUID. | 1 year |
| Marketing | Microsoft Dynamics | msd365mkttr | Dynamics 365 Marketing tracking cookie. | 1 year |
| Marketing | Microsoft Dynamics | msd365mkttrs | Dynamics 365 Marketing session cookie. | Session |
| Marketing | PostRelease | opt_out | Stores opt-out preferences. | 1 year |
| Marketing | Prebid.js | pbjs-unifiedid | Unified ID for programmatic bidding. | 2 months |
| Marketing | Prebid.js | pbjs-unifiedid_cst | Unified ID consent status. | 2 months |
| Marketing | Publisher Common ID | _pubcid | Shared ID for ads. | 6 months |
| Marketing | Publisher Common ID | _pubcid_cst | Shared ID consent status. | 6 months |
| Marketing | TikTok | msToken | Optimizes advertisement relevance. | 10 days |
| Marketing | TikTok | ttwid | Tracks use of embedded services. | 1 year |
| Marketing | YouTube | __Secure-ROLLOUT_TOKEN | Aids in rolling out updates or features. | 6 months |
| Marketing | YouTube | __Secure-YNID | Security/Functional cookie. | 6 months |
| Marketing | YouTube | VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | Estimates bandwidth on pages with integrated videos. | 6 months |
| Marketing | YouTube | YSC | Registers unique ID to keep statistics of videos seen. | Session |
| Necessary | Cloudflare | __cf_bm | Bot products to identify and mitigate automated traffic. | 30 mins |
| Necessary | Cloudflare | _cfuvid | Distinguishes individual users sharing the same IP. | Session |
| Necessary | Google reCAPTCHA | _GRECAPTCHA | Sets a necessary cookie for risk analysis. | 6 months |
| Necessary | WordPress | wordpress_test_cookie | Checks if cookies are enabled. | Session |
| Necessary | Civic Cookie Control | CookieControl | Stores user consent preferences. | 1 year |
Third-Party Tool’s use of Cookies
We may work with third party advertisers that use cookies and similar technologies to provide more relevant advertising about our Products and Services on our website and across the internet.
To provide this ‘interest-based advertising’, the parties combine non-personal data about your online activities acquired over time, which helps cater for advertising that is delivered to you. Examples of this may include an advertisement on a Facebook page or a Google owned page such as a search results page or YouTube, or on a site within Google’s advertising network.
You can manage your preferences and opt out of personalised ads from third-party advertisers and ad networks who are members of the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance by visiting YourOnlineChoices.
If you have opted out of receiving communications from us, we will not use your email for interest-based advertising, although you may still be subject to certain interest-based advertising depending upon your browser and device settings.
Managing and Opting Out
You can update your cookie preferences for this website by clicking here.