Cookie policy and how we use them

Cookies and ‘similar technologies’

A cookie is a small file that’s downloaded onto your computer, tablet or smartphone (device) when you visit a website.

The cookies we set are called ‘first party’ cookies, but we also use ‘third party’ cookies, which are set by a domain other than the one you are visiting. Cookies do lots of different things, like helping us to remember your preferences, showing us how our website is being used so we can make it better, and helping make sure our adverts are more relevant to you.

Our cookie policy also applies to similar technologies, which include things like scripts, tracking pixels and plugins that perform similar functions to cookies. So when we refer to ‘cookies’ in this policy, we’re referring to those ‘similar technologies’ too.

Deleting cookies

You can delete cookies, but how you do it is different from device to device. Check your browser settings to see how to delete them from yours. If you change your cookie preferences and no longer consent to some, this won’t delete those cookies from your device, but will mean they are inactive.

Essential cookies

These cookies make sure our website works properly. We can’t turn them off, but you can block them in your browser settings, which will cause parts of our website not to work.

Cookies that measure and personalise

These cookies help us measure the number of visitors to our site and how it is used, so we learn what’s working and then improve the experience for you. For example, they might show us if visitors are giving up at a certain step when completing a form, which helps us understand where we can make things better.

They help us personalise content to you on our website, and in our marketing and service communications to make them more relevant for you by combining information that shows us how you use the site, with other information you've already given to us.

Also they help us to record interactions, deliver surveys and gather the answers. We use this information to let us try out new ideas to help us improve the experience for you.

Our measurement and personalisation cookies

Third party measurement and personalisation cookies

Advertising cookies

Adverts are great when they’re about things you like, and these cookies help us personalise our ads to you. They can be set through our advertising partners, which means when you see our ads on other websites, they should be more relevant.

Information collected by these cookies, for example the pages you have viewed, is combined with other data, collected and held, by our advertising partners to serve ads that are relevant to you. They help us avoid ads you've already seen and only show ones you might like. If you reject these cookies, you might still see our ads but they won’t be tailored to you.

More information

Social Media cookies

Sometimes we advertise our products and services on social media. Cookies help social media providers like Facebook recognise you when you visit them and display ads on our behalf. If we didn’t use cookies for this purpose, you might still see our ads on social media, but they won’t be tailored to you.

More information

To find out more about advertising and social media cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them visit www.aboutads.info/choices