Cookie Policy
Last updated: June 2025
At QAUK ("we," "our," "us"), we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring a safe online experience. This Cookie Policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies to recognise you when you visit our website, use our services, or interact with us online.
By continuing to use our website and services, you consent to our use of cookies as described in this policy.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit websites. They allow websites to recognise your device and store certain information about your preferences or actions. Cookies can be used for various purposes, including remembering login details, personalising content, and analysing website traffic.
2. Types of Cookies We Use
We use different types of cookies on our website, each serving a distinct purpose:
a. Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the operation of our website and cannot be disabled. They enable you to navigate the website and use its features, such as secure areas and payment services.
- Session cookies to remember your preferences during your visit.
- Authentication cookies to keep you logged in while using our services.
b. Performance Cookies
Performance cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website. They allow us to collect information on how often users visit certain pages and which pages they visit most often. This data helps us improve the functionality and user experience of our website.
- Google Analytics cookies to track page views and other usage data.
c. Functionality Cookies
These cookies allow our website to remember the choices you make (such as your language preference) and provide enhanced, more personalised features. They help us remember your preferences and provide a more personalised user experience.
- Cookies that store your language settings or region preferences.
d. Targeting or Advertising Cookies
We may use these cookies to deliver more relevant advertisements to you. These cookies collect information about your browsing habits, enabling us to tailor the ads you see on our website or third-party sites.
- Google Ads cookies to display personalised ads based on your browsing history.
e. Social Media Cookies
Social media cookies allow you to share content from our website on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. These cookies may also be used to track how visitors interact with content shared on these platforms.
- Cookies used by Facebook or Twitter sharing buttons.
3. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for several reasons, including:
- To ensure our website operates efficiently and securely.
- To improve your experience by personalising content and remembering your preferences.
- To monitor website traffic and analyse usage patterns.
- To provide relevant advertisements and marketing content.
4. Third-Party Cookies
In some cases, we may also use third-party cookies (for example, Google Analytics or advertising networks) to help us improve our services or provide relevant ads. These third parties may collect data about your online activities across different websites.
You can learn more about how these third-party services use cookies by visiting their privacy policies. We do not control the use of cookies by third parties.
5. Your Cookie Choices
You have several options for managing cookies on our website:
- Browser Settings: Most web browsers allow you to control cookie settings. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. However, please note that blocking cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of our website.
- Cookie Consent Banner: Upon your first visit to our website, we display a cookie consent banner. You can accept or reject the cookies we use, except those that are strictly necessary for the website to function.
- Opt-Out Links: For certain types of cookies, such as advertising cookies, you may also opt out through specific links provided by third-party services (e.g., Google Ad Settings).
For more information on how to manage cookies in your browser, visit your browser’s help or settings section.
6. Data Retention
Cookies do not store personal information like your name or address, but they may store information that can be linked to your personal data. We retain cookies for as long as necessary to fulfil their purpose and comply with applicable laws.
7. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update our Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legal requirements, or our practices. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.
8. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
- Email: admin@qauk.org
- Mail: QAUK, First Floor, Swan Buildings, 20 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JW