Use of cookies
A cookie is a small text file which is placed onto your computer (or other electronic device) when you access our website. We use cookies on this website to:
- recognise you whenever you visit this website (this speeds up your access to the website as you do not have to log in each time);
- obtain information about your preferences, online movements and use of the internet;
- carry out research and statistical analysis to help improve our content, products and services and to help us better understand our visitor requirements and interests; and
- make your online experience more efficient and enjoyable.
The information we obtain from our use of cookies will not usually contain your personal data. Although we may obtain information about your computer or other electronic device such as your IP address, your browser and/or other internet log information, this will not usually identify you personally.
In certain circumstances we may collect personal information about you—but only where you voluntarily provide it (e.g. by completing an online form) or where you purchase goods or services from us.
In most cases we will need your consent in order to use cookies on this website. The exception is where the cookie is essential in order for us to provide you with a service you have requested.
Third party cookies
We work with third party suppliers who may also set cookies on our website, for example Google Analytics. These third party suppliers are responsible for the cookies they set on our site. If you want further information please go to the website for the relevant third party. You will find additional information in the table below.
Description of cookies
Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our site and also allows us to improve our service to you. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
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.
We use the following cookies:
Strictly necessary cookies. These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website.
Analytical/performance cookies. 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.
Functionality cookies. These are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences.
Cookies used on this website
Information about the individual cookies we use and the purposes for which we use them:
Google Universal Analytics
The main purpose of Google Universal Analytics cookies is performance and web usage measurement.
Cookie name: _ga
Expiry: 2 years
Description: This cookie is used to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. It is included in each page request in a site and used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data for the sites analytics reports.
Cookie name: _gid
Expiry: 10 minutes
Description: This cookie appears to store and update a unique value for each page visited.
Cookie name: _gat
Expiry: 10 minutes
Description: This cookie is used to throttle the request rate. It does not store any user information and is used to limit the number of requests that have to be made to our website.
qTranslate-X
Cookie name: qtrans_front_language
Expiry: when you leave our website.
Description: This cookie allows to present content in English, French or Chinese language depending on the location of the visitor, based on your Internet service provider’s IP address.
Further information about cookies
If you wish to learn more about cookies and how to manage them, visit http://www.aboutcookies.org/
How to turn off cookies
If you do not want to accept cookies, you can change your browser settings so that cookies are not accepted. If you do this, please be aware that you may lose some of the functionality of this website. For further information about cookies and how to disable them please go to the Information Commissioner’s webpage on cookies: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/