Use of Cookies

On 26 May 2011, the amended Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations came into force in the UK and EU. They include changes to the rules for use of cookies on websites.

This information is provided in recognition of that legislation.

Cookies are text files that are stored on a visitor?s computer and enable information to be remembered by a website during a visitor?s current visit and in some cases are stored to be used on future visits to a particular website. Depending on the web browsing program used cookies can be deleted or disabled but this may prevent you from using the website in the way you expected.

The legislation is complex and currently there is considered by many people to be a lack of clarity concerning exactly what website operators need to do to adhere to this legislation particularly when balanced against adversely affecting a visitor?s experience of a website.

We have therefore sought to take action that we consider reflects the spirit of the legislation and provide information to visitors about how we use cookies.

This acknowledges the information provided by the UK Information Commissioner's Office
(https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-pecr/) but is based largely on the following documents:

• http://www.international-chamber.co.uk/blog/2012/04/02/launch-of-icc-uk-cookie-guide/
• http://www.international-chamber.co.uk/components/com_wordpress/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/icc_uk_cookie_guide.pdf - N.B. as at January 2018 this document appears to no longer be available however was only originally provided as background information so does not affect the content on this page.

Should you have any concerns about how cookies are used on our website please contact us.

In some cases cookies are necessary in order that a website works correctly for the visitor and disabling cookies would mean you would not be able to use that website. This is often the case for ecommerce sites or sites where you might login to view specific content.

In other cases ? the main reason for the law being brought in ? they might be used for targeted advertising or other purposes that some people consider as invasive.

Further details on each of the categories of cookie is provided later.

Our website uses cookies that are in Categories 1 and 2 (see later for full details of each category).

In summary these are for e.g. collecting anonymous statistics about how the site is used, or which enable the visitor?s experience to match their expectations based on the website content/purpose of the visit e.g. where payments are made via our payment partner Sagepay.

This includes use of Google Analytics to help us identify the numbers of visitors and how the site is used. If you wish to find out more Google provides information at https://developers.google.com/analytics/resources/concepts/gaConceptsCookies

• If you disable cookies then your use of the site would be affected.
• By using this website you give your consent to the use of our cookies.

Should you however have any concerns about how cookies are used on our website please contact us.

Credit: At the time of writing (May 2011) these descriptions were taken from the document:

http://www.international-chamber.co.uk/components/com_wordpress/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/icc_uk_cookie_guide.pdf
N.B. as at January 2018 this document appears to no longer be available however was only originally provided as background information so does not affect the content on this page.

Category 1: strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas of the website. Without these cookies services you have asked for, like shopping baskets or e-billing, cannot be provided.

Category 2: performance cookies

These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages. These cookies don?t collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. It is only used to improve how a website works.

Category 3: functionality cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. For instance, a website may be able to provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing in a cookie the region in which you are currently located.

These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages that you can customise. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.

Category 4: functionality cookies

These cookies are used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator?s permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisations such as advertisers. Quite often targeting or advertising cookies will be linked to site functionality provided by the other organisation.

If you have any further queries please contact us