Cookie Policy
Under the EU cookie law we must provide you with details of how cookies are used on our websites and obtain your consent to cookies being stored on your device (laptop/mobile/tablet).
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small text file, usually comprising numbers and letters, downloaded to your computer when you access a website. Typically, it contains information such as the site name and unique user ID, the duration of the cookie's abilities and effects and a random number. As a rule, cookies cannot be used to reveal either your identity or personally identifying information.
On your first visit to a website that uses cookies, a cookie is downloaded onto your computer. The next time you visit that website, your computer checks whether it has a relevant cookie and sends the information contained in that cookie back to the website. The website recognisesthat you have been there before and may tailor what pops up on screen to take account of that fact. It may also record how long you spend on each page of the site, what links you click and even your preferences for page layouts and colour schemes.
Cookies can make your interaction with regularly-visited sites smoother without any extra effort on your part. Without cookies, online shopping would be much harder and some websites will become less interactive with the cookie option turned off.
Most common cookies
Session cookies
These cookies expire when you close your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome). These cookies have a variety of uses such as remembering what you have put in your shopping basket as you browse a website. They can also be used for security to access your Internet banking or email.
Persistent cookies
These cookies remain on your computer after you have closed your web browser to allow your preferences on particular websites to be remembered such as language choice or user name.
First and Third Party cookies
First party cookies are those set by the website you are visiting. Third party cookies are set by another website. If the website you are visiting has advertising on the page, this other website will be able to set a cookie on your computer. The main web browsers allow third party cookies by default but changing the settings on your browsers can prevent this.
Exceptions
There are some exceptions to the above where it is essential for a website to store information on your computer, for example, if they are to provide a service to you that you have requested.
Our use of cookies
We use cookies to improve your experience on our websites and for functionality purposes. We also use cookies to understand your usage of our website;
We have partners who have referred clients and cookies enable us to track referred sales so we can compensate our partners accordingly;
We also use cookies for remarketing purposes. For example, if you have been on the Site Sound or soundinsulationtesting website and then you visit another website featuring Google adverts, you will see a Site Sound advert to remind you of our products and services.
Further information can be found at http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/privacy_and_electronic_communications/the_guide/cookies.aspx and http://www.allaboutcookies.org/.
