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Last updated: September 2025
What Are Cookies? (And Why Should You Care?)
Cookies are tiny text files that websites store on your device when you visit them. Think of them as digital sticky notes that help websites remember things about you—like your preferences, login status, or what pages you’ve visited.
They’re not scary or dangerous. Cookies can’t access your files, install software, or harm your device. They’re just small bits of text that make websites work better.
But you have choices about which cookies you want to accept. This policy explains what cookies we use, why we use them, and how you can control them.
The Honest Truth About Our Cookies
We use cookies to make our website work properly and to understand how we can improve it. We don’t use them to spy on you, track you across the internet, or sell your information to anyone.
We’re transparent about what we do because trust matters more than data. If you’re not comfortable with any of our cookies, you can turn them off—though some parts of our website might not work as well.
Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies (The Ones We Really Need)
What they do: Make our website actually work Examples:
- Remember you’re logged in to our client portal
- Keep items in your assessment cart
- Remember your cookie preferences
- Ensure forms submit properly
- Prevent security issues
Can you turn them off? Not really—without these, our website would be broken. But they don’t track you or collect personal information.
How long they last: Usually until you close your browser, sometimes longer for login sessions
Analytics Cookies (Help Us Improve)
What they do: Tell us how people use our website What we learn:
- Which pages are most popular
- How long people spend reading our content
- Where visitors come from (Google, LinkedIn, etc.)
- What devices and browsers people use
- Where people get stuck or leave
Why we use them: To make our website better and create content that actually helps people
What we don’t learn: Your name, email, or any personal information. It’s all anonymous.
Tools we use: Google Analytics (with privacy settings enabled)
Can you turn them off? Yes, and our website will still work fine
Marketing Cookies (Remember Your Interests)
What they do: Remember what you’re interested in so we can show relevant content Examples:
- Remember you downloaded our hiring guide
- Show you relevant blog posts
- Personalise content based on your company stage
- Track which emails you’ve opened (if you subscribe)
Why we use them: To avoid showing you irrelevant content and to understand what’s actually helpful
What we don’t do: Sell your information, share it with other companies for their marketing, or track you across unrelated websites
Can you turn them off? Absolutely—you’ll still get our content, just less personalised
Social Media Cookies (For Sharing and Connecting)
What they do: Enable social sharing and show social content Examples:
- Share buttons for LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
- Embedded LinkedIn posts or videos
- Social login options (if we add them)
Why we use them: Make it easy to share our content and connect with us on social platforms
Third parties involved: LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social platforms we integrate with
Can you turn them off? Yes, but social sharing buttons won’t work
How Long Cookies Last
Session Cookies
Last: Until you close your browser Purpose: Keep you logged in, remember form data during your visit
Persistent Cookies
Last: From 30 days to 2 years, depending on purpose Purpose: Remember your preferences, analyse long-term trends
Third-Party Cookies
Last: Varies by provider (usually 30 days to 2 years) Purpose: Analytics, social sharing, marketing
We regularly review and clean up old cookies to keep only what’s necessary.
Your Cookie Choices
When You First Visit
You’ll see a cookie banner with these options:
- Accept All: Get the full website experience with all features
- Essential Only: Basic functionality without tracking or personalisation
- Customise: Choose exactly which types you’re comfortable with
Changing Your Mind Later
Cookie Settings: Look for the “Cookie Settings” link in our footer Browser Settings: Most browsers let you block or delete cookies Opt-out Tools: Use browser extensions or privacy tools
What Happens If You Say No
Essential cookies: Our website might not work properly Analytics cookies: We won’t know how to improve our content Marketing cookies: You’ll see less relevant content Social cookies: Sharing buttons won’t work
The website will still work—you just won’t get the full experience.
Third-Party Cookies We Use
Google Analytics
Purpose: Understand website usage and improve content Data collected: Anonymous usage statistics Privacy controls: We’ve enabled privacy settings and IP anonymisation Opt-out: Use Google’s opt-out tool or browser settings
Email Marketing (Mailchimp/ConvertKit)
Purpose: Track email engagement and improve our newsletters Data collected: Email opens, clicks, and preferences Only if: You subscribe to our emails Opt-out: Unsubscribe link in every email
Social Media Platforms
Purpose: Social sharing and embedded content Platforms: LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube (as we add them) Data collected: Varies by platform Control: Adjust settings on each social platform
Managing Cookies in Your Browser
Chrome
- Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Choose your preferred level of cookie blocking
- Manage exceptions for specific sites
Firefox
- Settings → Privacy & Security
- Choose Standard, Strict, or Custom protection
- Manage exceptions for specific sites
Safari
- Preferences → Privacy
- Choose how to handle cookies and website tracking
- Manage website data
Edge
- Settings → Cookies and site permissions
- Choose your cookie preferences
- Manage permissions for specific sites
Mobile browsers: Look for similar privacy settings in your mobile browser’s menu
Cookies and Your Privacy
What We Don’t Do
❌ Sell cookie data to other companies
❌ Use cookies to identify you personally (unless you’re logged in)
❌ Track you across unrelated websites
❌ Store sensitive information in cookies
❌ Use cookies for anything we haven’t told you about
What We Do
✅ Use cookies to improve your experience
✅ Protect your privacy with security measures
✅ Give you control over your cookie preferences
✅ Regularly review and update our cookie practices
✅ Comply with privacy laws and regulations
International Cookie Laws
UK and EU (GDPR/PECR)
We comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations Your rights: Clear information, genuine choice, easy opt-out Our commitment: No non-essential cookies without your consent
US State Laws
We follow applicable state privacy laws regarding cookies and tracking Your rights: Vary by state but generally include opt-out rights Our approach: Transparent practices regardless of location
Updates to This Policy
When We Change Things
We’ll update this policy if we start using new types of cookies or change how we use existing ones
How we’ll tell you:
- Updated date at the top of this page
- Website banner for significant changes
- Email notification if you’re subscribed to our updates
Your choices remain: You can always change your cookie preferences
Questions About Cookies?
Get Help
General questions: hello@hfbac.co.uk Technical issues: Include “Cookie Help” in the subject line Privacy concerns: We’ll address them promptly and honestly
Common Questions
Q: Do I have to accept cookies? A: No, but some features won’t work without essential cookies
Q: Can I change my mind later? A: Absolutely—use our Cookie Settings link or browser controls
Q: Do cookies slow down my browser? A: Not noticeably—they’re tiny files that have minimal impact
Q: Are cookies the same as tracking pixels? A: Similar purpose, different technology—we use both and this policy covers both
The Bottom Line
Cookies help us make our website better, but your privacy and choice matter more than our convenience.
We’ll never use cookies to do anything sneaky or harmful. If you’re not comfortable with any of our cookies, turn them off—we’d rather have your trust than your data.
Questions are always welcome. If anything about our cookie use concerns or confuses you, just ask. We’re here to help, not hide behind technical jargon.
Like our privacy policy, this cookie policy is written in plain English because we believe transparency shouldn’t be complicated. Your trust is more important than our tracking.
