Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a personal experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.

To comply with current EU law, all sites that use cookies must seek express permission from users to allow cookies to be stored on their computer or device. Therefore, when you visit our site you will be asked to accept our cookie policy and by continuing to use this site you agree to the use of cookies as set out in this policy.

About Cookies

A cookie is a small file that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer, phone or other device, if you agree. Cookies are used to help to personalize your web experience and provide data to help us improve the functionality and performance of the website.

The cookies we use do not give us access to your computer or any information about you other than the data you choose to share with us. We do not use third-party cookies. i.e. those saved on your device by other websites for advertising purposes.

You can block cookies by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including essential cookies) you may not be able to access or use all or parts of our website.

Our website uses the following cookies:

1.   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.

We use Google Analytics and Hotjar to measure how you use the website so we can make improvements based on our user’s activity and needs. These cookies store information about how you got to the site, the pages you visit and how long you spend on each page, what you click on while you're visiting the site and new and returning visitor counts.

All the information stored in these cookies is aggregated and therefore anonymous. We do not allow Google or Hotjar to use or share the data about how you use this site.

2.   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 (for example, your choice of language or region). These cookies remember your preferences and the choices you make to personalise your experience of using the website.

3.   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, cookies that remember notifications you've seen so we do not show them to you again and remember your progress through a form (for example registering to bid or joining an auction).

Session Variables

For increased security, wherever possible we use session variables rather than cookies to store user data.

Like cookies, session variables can be used to store information about a user’s visit to a website, but unlike cookies are stored on the website server rather than in the user’s browser.

During a user’s session a temporary folder is created on the web server where session variables are stored and then destroyed after the session ends. A session starts when a user visits a website and ends when the user closes the browser, leaves the site or is inactive for a period of time causing the session to time out.

Security

We use a range of physical and electronic security measures to keep your personal information secure from unauthorised use, loss or disclosure including restricting access to our offices, using firewalls, data encryption and secure databases.

Summary

Most internet browsers are set up to accept cookies, however, you can choose not to accept cookies when you first visit the site. Alternatively, you can modify your browser settings to refuse all cookies or to notify you each time a cookie is sent to your computer giving you the choice to accept it or not.

For more information on opting out of being tracked by Google Analytics across our website, please visit Google page: /dlpage/gaoptout