This Cookie Policy sets out how HVM Catapult uses and protects any information that you give HVM Catapult when you use this website.
Use of cookies
In order to collect anonymous data, we may use ‘cookies’ that remain in the cookies file of your browser until they are deleted from your hard drive.
Cookies by themselves cannot be used to discover the identity of the user. A cookie is a small data file which is sent to your browser and stored on your computer’s hard drive, mobile phone or other device. They enable the website to “remember” who you are, avoiding the need to re-enter your information on return to our website.
Cookies can be removed from your PC using browser settings but there will still be some deterioration in the service you receive (for example, you may receive many pop up boxes containing the same advertisements or you may not be able to access a page you earlier personalised). Generally, we recommend that you set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie. This enables you to decide if you want to accept it or not. These can be found in the advanced preferences.
There are different types of cookies which are used to do different things, such as letting you navigate between different pages on a website efficiently, remembering preferences you have given a website, and improving your overall experience. Others are used to provide you with advertising which is more tailored to your interests, or to measure the number of site visits and the most popular pages users visit.
Session cookies enable online information. Without these we would not be able to operate our website. These cookies are allocated to your PC only for the duration of your visit to a website, and these are strictly necessary cookies. They automatically expire when you close down your browser.
Persistent cookies are those which remain on your PC until you delete them.
Performance cookies are used only to improve our site or measure response rates. All information collected by these cookies is anonymous and does not in any way impact on your privacy.
No cookies on our site are served or used by third parties. We do not use “spyware”, such as web bugs, hidden identifiers or other similar devices to gain access to information, store hidden information or to trace activities of users.
How we use cookies
Please be aware that we use cookies on our website. These cookies, listed below, detail why they are used and when they will expire.
Measuring website usage (Google Analytics)
We use Google Analytics through a third-party plugin to assist in identifying how our website is used by visitors. We do this to make sure it is meeting our customer’s needs and to understand how we can improve our site. Google Analytics stores information about what pages you visit, how long you are on the site, how you got here and what you click on. We do not collect or store your personal information (e.g. your name or address) so this information cannot be used to identify who you are.
Google Analytics sets the following cookies:
Name Typical content Expires
_ga Used to distinguish users. 2 years
_gid Used to distinguish users. 24 hours
_gat Used to throttle request rate. 1 minute
AMP_TOKEN Contains a token that can be used to retrieve Client ID from AMP Client ID service from 30 seconds later up to 1 year.
We may also use your IP address to help diagnose problems with our server and to administer our website. An IP address is an assigned number, similar to a telephone number, that identifies your computer on a network. Your IP address is also used to gather broad demographic information, such as geographic location indicating where website users are browsing from. IP addresses are always anonymised when measuring website usage.
For more information about cookies, including how to set your browser to reject them, please go to www.allaboutcookies.org. We also recommend that you take the time to read the ‘cookie code’ developed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for use by website operators to comply with the new rules.
Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites, and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.