Cookie policy

This is the cookie policy for simonwhatley.co.uk (my website). It explains how I use cookies and similar technologies to recognise you when you visit my website. It explains what these technologies are and why I use them, as well as your rights to control my use of them.

Cookies are small data files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used by website owners in order to make their websites work, or to work more efficiently, as well as to provide reporting information.

Cookies set by the website owner (in this case, me) are called “first party cookies”. Cookies set by parties other than the website owner are called “third party cookies”. Third party cookies enable third party features or functionality to be provided on or through the website (for example, advertising, interactive content and analytics). The parties that set these third party cookies can recognise your computer both when it visits the website in question and also when it visits certain other websites.

I use first and third party cookies for several reasons. Some cookies are required for technical reasons in order for my website to operate, and I refer to these as “essential” or “strictly necessary” cookies. Other cookies also enable me to track and target the interests of my users to enhance the experience on my website. Third parties serve cookies through my website for analytics and other purposes. This is described in more detail below.

You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. Essential cookies cannot be rejected as they are strictly necessary to provide you with services.

Find out more about how to manage cookies on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) website.

I use Google Analytics software (Universal Analytics) to collect information about how you use my website.

Google Analytics stores information about:

  • the pages you visit
  • how long you spend on each page
  • how you got to the site
  • what you click on while you’re visiting the site

I do not collect or store your personal information (for example your name or address) so this information can’t be used to identify who you are.

Google Analytics sets the following cookies:

NamePurposeExpires
_gaThis helps us count how many people visit our website by tracking if you’ve visited before2 years
_gidThis helps us count how many people visit our website by tracking if you’ve visited before24 hours
_gatUsed to manage the rate at which page view requests are made1 minute

You can opt out of Google Analytics cookies at any time.

No. I do not serve targeted adverting on my website.

I keep my cookie policy under regular review in order to reflect, for example, changes to the cookies I use or for other operational, legal or regulatory reasons. Please therefore re-visit this cookie policy regularly to stay informed about our use of cookies and related technologies.

This cookie policy was last updated on 1st January 2020.

If you have any questions about my use of cookies or other technologies, please email me at hello@simonwhatley.co.uk.


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