Cookies are small files that are stored on a user’s computer. They are designed to hold a small amount of information specific to how you browse the internet. This information is then used by the website’s server to carry information from one visit to the next.
Cookies on this site are used to:
- measure how you use the website so it can be updated and improved based on your needs
- enable certain kinds of functionality that help you navigate and use the site.
These cookies aren’t used to identify you personally.
How cookies are used on this site
Measuring website usage (Google Analytics)
Google Analytics software collects information about how you use this website. We do this to help make sure the site is meeting the needs of its users and to help us make improvements, eg improving site search. Google Analytics stores information about:
- the pages you visit on this website
- how long you spend on each page
- how you got to the site
- what you click on while you’re visiting the site
We don’t collect or store your personal information (eg your name or address) so this information can’t be used to identify who you are. We don’t allow Google to use or share our analytics data. Google Analytics sets the following cookies:
| Cookie Name | Expiry | Description |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | 2 Years | This helps us count how many people visit this site by tracking if you’ve visited before |
| _gat | 10 Minutes | Used to manage the rate at which page view requests are made |
| _utma | 2 Years | Like _ga, this lets us know if you’ve visited before, so we can count how many of our visitors are new to the website or to a certain page on the website |
| _utmb | 30 Minutes | This works with _utmc to calculate the average length of time you spend on the website |
| _utmc | When your browser closes | This works with _utmb to calculate when you close your browser |
| _utmz | 6 Months | This tells us how you reached the website (eg from another website or a search engine) |
You can opt out of Google Analytics cookies.
To find out more about how to manage cookies.
Adding Functionality to the Website
These cookies relate to the functionality of the website, allowing us to improve the services that are offered. Examples of these cookies may include:
Logging In
Remembering whether a user has logged in or out of the secure areas of the website.
Saving progress
Saving and remembering a user’s progress in forms and questionnaires.
Notifications
Storing information about any notifications a user is required to, or may want to see, and whether it has been seen or not.
Site Settings
Storing a user’s preferences for the site, which may include any accessibility options that have chosen.
Third Party Cookies
Third parties companies will sometimes place their own cookies on websites, if functionality like Social Media is available. While these cookies do appear on our website, the vendor is responsible for them. For more information about these cookies, we suggest you review the third party websites, to see how they place cookies and why they need to use them to manage data.Some Social Media companies like Facebook and Twitter may use cookies for:
Customizing Content, Providing a safe experience, Advertising, Authentication, Security and site integrity, Site features, Performance, Analytics.