How & Why We Use Cookies On This Site

A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer’s hard drive. Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a better experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.

We may use the following types of cookie:

  • Necessary. These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They may include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website or to ensure that you are are a human rather than a bot.
  • Functionality. These are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalise our content for you and remember your preferences.
  • Statistical. These allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
  • Marketing. These are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customised advertisements.

You can find more information about the specific cookies we use below:

Necessary Cookies:

  • _cf_bm. Provided by hubspot.com. 1 day expiry
  • _cf_bm. Provided by vimeo.com. 1 day expiry
  • _GRECAPTCHA. Provided by google.com. Used to distinguish between humans and bots, which is beneficial to make valid reports on the use of the website. 180 day expiry.
  • bscookie. Provided by linkedin.com. This allows the website to identify the user through an application. i.e. to log in using their linkedin application. 1 year expiry.
  • JSESSIONIS. nr-data.net. This is used for session management in J2EE web applications. Expires at session end.
  • li_gc. This stores the user’s cookie consent state for the domain. 180 day expiry.
  • rc:a, rc:b, rc:c, rc:d-15#, and rc:f. Provided by gstatic.com. Used to distinguish between humans and bots. No expiry.
  • test_cookie. Provided by doubleclick.net. Used to check whether the browser supports cookies. 1 day expiry.

Functionality Cookies:

  • lidc. Provided by linkedin.com. Registers which server cluster is serving the visitor and used for server balancing. 1 day expiry.
  • messagesUtk. Stores a unique string for each chat-box session to allow website support to identify past issues. 180 day expiry.

Statistical Cookies:

  • _hssc. Identifies if the cookie data needs to be updated in the user’s browser. 1 day expiry.
  • _hssrc. Used to recognise the visitor’s browser upon reentering the website. Expires at session end.
  • _hstc. Used to create a unique ID for the browsing session, which allows the website to collate data on visitor behaviours. 180 day expiry.
  • _ga. Registers a unique ID to generate statistical data on website usage. 2 year expiry.
  • _ga_#. Used by Google Analytics to collect data on the number of site visits as well as the dates for the first and most recent visits. 2 year expiry.
  • _gat. Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rates. 1 day expiry.
  • _gid. Registers a unique ID which is used to generate statistical data on how site is used. 1 day expiry.
  • AnalyticsSynchHistory. Provided by linkedin.com and used to synchronise data with a third party analysis service. 30 day expiry.
  • hubspotutk. Sets a unique session ID which allows the website to obtain data on visitor behaviour. 180 day expiry.
  • In_or. Registers statistical data on user behaviour, which is used for internal analytics. 1 day expiry.

Marketing Cookies:

  • _ptq.gif. Provided by hubspot.com. A pixel-based session cookie which sends information to hubspot.com about the visitor’s device and behaviour. Tracks the visitor across devices and marketing channels. Expires at session end.
  • _fbp. Used by Facebook to deliver advertisement products. 3 month expiry.
  • _gcl_au. Used by GoogleAdsense to experiment with advertisement efficiency across websites using their services. 3 month expiry.
  • ads/ga-audiences. A pixel-based session cookie provided by google.com. Expires at session end.
  • bcookie. Provided by linkedin.com and used to track embedded services. 1 year expiry.
  • IDE. Provided by doubleclick.net to provide ad delivery or retargeting. 1 year expiry.
  • li_sugr. Provided by linkedin.com. Collects data on user behaviour and interaction to optimise the website and make advertisements more relevant. 3 month expiry.
  • pagead/1p-user-list/#. A pixel-based session cookie provided by google.com. Expires at session end.
  • UserMatchHistory. Provided by linkedin.com. Ensures visitor security by preventing cross-site forgery. 30 day expiry.

How To Control Or Delete Cookies

You block cookies by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. In order to do this, follow the instructions provided by your browser (usually located within the “Help”, “Tools” or “Edit” facility).

Disabling a cookie or category of cookie does not delete the cookie from your browser; you will need to do this yourself from within your browser. If you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including necessary cookies), you may not be able to access all or parts of our site.

Google Analytics Opt Out

If you wish to opt out of Google Analytics so that we cannot use your data within Google Analytics, you may do so by installing an add-in from https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

This add-in is designed to be compatible with Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Microsoft Edge. As it is provided by Google, which is a third party, we offer no warranty, whether express or implied, as to the add-in’s suitability or efficacy.