This Cookie Policy is intended to inform you how we use cookies on our website. The information contained within this Policy will enable you to make an informed decision about whether you want to use our website. We therefore politely request that you take the time to read this information alongside our Privacy Policy.
What is a cookie?
A cookie, also known as a browser cookie, is a small text files that is stored on a user’s device by a website, containing information about their browsing activity and preferences.
Cookies are used to enhance the user experience by providing personalised content, to remember login credentials, and track website usage for analytics purposes. Different types of cookies are used to perform different functions. For example, some allow you to navigate between different pages on a website efficiently, remembering preferences you have given and helping us to identify ways to improve your overall site experience. Cookies may be used for personalization of ads which is more tailored to your interests or to measure the number of site visits and the most popular pages users visit. Please visit Google’s Privacy & Terms site to read more about how Google uses information collected from the HFE website.
‘First party’ and ‘third party’ cookies
Each type of cookie can be set and controlled by the operator of the website which the user is browsing, such as www.hfe.co.uk (this is a ‘first party cookie’) or Facebook (which is a third-party cookie) for example to display advertisements and social sharing features.
Due to their core role of enhancing and enabling site usability and functionality, disabling certain types of cookies may prevent you from being able to use certain aspects of our website.
Broadly speaking, there are two different types of browser cookie used on this site:
(1) Session cookies are stored in your device’s memory during a user’s browsing session and they are automatically deleted from the user’s computer when the browser is closed or the session is deemed to have ended.
These cookies usually store a session ID that is not personally identifiable to the user. They allow the user to move from page to page on the website without requiring the user to log-in repeatedly. They are widely used by commercial web sites; for example to keep track of items that a consumer has added to a shopping basket.
Session cookies do not collect any information from the user’s computer and they expire at the end of the user’s browser session. They can also become inaccessible after the session has been inactive for a specified length of time, usually 20 or 30 minutes.
(2) Persistent cookies are stored on the user’s computer and are not deleted when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies can be used to retain user preferences for a particular website, allowing those preferences to be used in future browsing sessions.
Persistent cookies usually assign a unique ID to the user’s browser and they are usually configured to identify a user for a prolonged period of time, from days to months or even years.
How we use cookies?
We only uses browser cookies to measure non-personal information, for example to learn about the behaviour of visitors to our website and how they respond to our marketing communications. The more we learn, the better we are able to provide relevant and interesting content and services. The first-person cookies that we have set do not contain any personally identifiable information.
Strictly necessary cookies
‘Strictly necessary’ cookies let you move around the website and use essential features. These cookies don’t gather any information about you that could be used for marketing or your previous browser/internet activity. Accepting these cookies is a condition of using our website because they are required for the proper operation of the site. If you prevent them, we cannot accept responsibility for how the site will perform.
Analytics cookies (performance cookies)
We use these cookies to collect information about how visitors use our website, including details of the site where the visitor has come from and the total number of times a visitor has been to our website.
By using our website, you agree that we can place these types of cookies on your device. We use the information to improve our website and enhance the experience of its visitors. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and is therefore anonymous.
Application or site-specific cookies (functionality cookies)
These cookies remember choices you make to improve your experience. By using the website, you agree that we can place these types of cookies on your device.
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. 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.
Advertising cookies (targeting cookies)
From time to time, cookies are used to collect information about your browsing habits in order to deliver adverts which are 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.
The cookies are usually placed either directly by third-party advertising networks (blogs, social media websites) 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.
On the basis that advertising cookies are not managed by us, this policy does not cover the use of these cookies. This will be covered by that third party’s privacy policies and practice and we would recommend that you take a look at these which in most cases will be found on that company’s website.
What cookies are used on this website?
To find out what cookies are used on this website, please click the top navigation and select ‘renew cookie consent’. Then select ‘decline / manage cookies’. On the privacy controls screen you can expand each group of cookies to see which cookies are being used on this website and their purpose.
How can you control the use of cookies?
If you want to disable cookies on this website, select ‘renew cookie consent’ in the main navigation at the top of this page and select decline cookies. Here, you can you can select which groups of cookies you are happy to use and change your settings.
If you do not want this website to set cookies on your computer or your device then you should either not use the site, or you should delete HFE.co.uk cookies after having visited the site. Alternatively you should browse the site using your browser’s anonymous usage setting (called “Incognito” in Chrome, “InPrivate” in Internet Explorer, “Private Browsing” in Firefox and Safari).
Alternatively, the ‘Help’ menu on the menu bar of most browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies; how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie and how to disable cookies altogether. However, because cookies allow you to take advantage of some of the website’s essential features, we recommend you leave them turned on.
A guide to behavioural advertising and online privacy has been produced by the internet advertising industry which can be found at www.youronlinechoices.eu. The guide contains an explanation of the IAB’s self-regulatory scheme to allow you greater control of the advertising you see.
Learn more about cookies
To find out more about cookies, search in Google or visit aboutcookies.org or allaboutcookies.org.