Cookie policy

1. What cookies do

Cookies are small text records stored by a browser when a website is visited. Related technologies can perform similar functions. They help a site remember choices, maintain security, understand how content is used and, where permitted, support measurement or relevant advertising.

Some cookies are necessary for a service requested by the visitor and do not require consent. Non-essential analytics and marketing cookies are used only after a positive choice. Refusing optional cookies does not prevent access to the article or the enquiry form.

2. Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies support core functions such as remembering whether you accepted all cookies or selected necessary cookies only, maintaining security and enabling forms to work consistently. They cannot be switched off through our consent banner because the site may not function as intended without them.

The consent record named cookie_consent stores the selected preference for up to 180 days. Security or infrastructure providers may use short-lived records during a browsing session to manage traffic, prevent misuse and deliver pages reliably.

3. Analytics cookies

Analytics cookies help us understand aggregate readership, such as which articles are opened, broad device categories, approximate region and how visitors move through a page. We use this information to improve article structure, accessibility and route information rather than to make decisions with legal or similarly significant effects.

Where analytics are enabled, identifiers are retained only for the period configured with the provider, normally no longer than 13 months. Reports may remain in aggregated form after individual identifiers have expired. Analytics cookies are not placed unless you accept the relevant optional category.

4. Marketing and advertising cookies

Marketing technologies may measure whether an advertisement led to a visit or enquiry, limit repeated advertising and help select content likely to be relevant. Providers may receive information such as a cookie identifier, IP address, device details, referral information and events such as viewing the article or submitting an enquiry.

Advertising cookies are optional and may last from a session to 13 months depending on the provider and purpose. Third-party providers act under their own privacy information where they determine their own purposes. Choosing necessary cookies only prevents us from placing optional marketing cookies through this website.

5. Third-party services

Our pages may include services supplied by hosting, security, analytics or advertising partners. When an optional service is enabled, that provider may set or read its own cookie and process technical information. The provider’s policy explains its precise cookie names, retention settings and any international transfers.

External links do not automatically place cookies on this website, but the destination may do so when opened. We review the categories used on our pages and update this policy when providers or purposes materially change.

6. Managing your choice

You can reopen the consent banner using the “Cookie settings” link in the footer. From there, you can accept all cookies or continue with necessary cookies only. A later choice replaces the earlier preference for this website.

You can also remove or block cookies in your browser. Browser controls vary and may need to be applied separately on each device or profile. Blocking necessary cookies can affect preference retention and form behaviour. Withdrawing consent does not make processing that occurred before withdrawal unlawful.

7. Legal basis and updates

We use necessary technologies because they are required to provide the website and remember your privacy choice. We rely on consent for optional access to or storage of information on a device and for related processing where required under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and UK GDPR.

We may update this policy when technologies, providers or legal requirements change. The date at the top identifies the current version. If a change materially affects an existing consent choice, we may ask you to choose again.

8. Contact

Questions about cookie use or your privacy choice can be directed to the controller using the details below.