Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They help websites remember information about your visit, such as your preferences and login status, which can make your next visit easier and the site more useful to you.

Cookies contain information that is transferred to your device's hard drive. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners about how their site is being used.

Types of Cookies

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them
• First-Party Cookies: Set by the website you're visiting
• Third-Party Cookies: Set by a domain other than the one you're visiting

2. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies for several purposes to enhance your experience on our website:

Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable core functionality such as:

• Security and authentication
• Form submission and data validation
• Navigation and basic website features
• Load balancing and performance optimization
• Cookie consent preferences

Legal Basis: These cookies are essential for the legitimate operation of our website.

Analytics and Performance Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting anonymous information:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Traffic sources and user journeys
• Popular content and features
• Technical issues and error rates
• Device and browser information

Purpose: To improve website performance and user experience

Data Retention: 26 months

Functional Cookies

These cookies enhance functionality and personalization:

• Language and region preferences
• Font size and accessibility settings
• Previously viewed courses or content
• Form data to prevent re-entry
• Chat or support widget preferences

Purpose: To provide enhanced, personalized features

Data Retention: 12 months

Marketing and Advertising Cookies

These cookies are used to make advertising more relevant to you:

• Track visits across websites for remarketing
• Measure advertising campaign effectiveness
• Provide targeted content and offers
• Prevent showing the same ads repeatedly
• Social media integration and sharing

Purpose: To deliver relevant marketing content

Data Retention: 13 months

3. Specific Cookies We Use

4. Third-Party Cookies

We may use third-party services that set cookies on our website:

Google Analytics

• Purpose: Website analytics and performance measurement
• Provider: Google LLC
• Privacy Policy: Google Privacy Policy
• Opt-out: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on

Social Media Plugins

• Purpose: Social sharing and integration
• Providers: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
• Note: These services may track your activity across websites

Payment Processors

• Purpose: Secure payment processing
• Providers: Stripe, PayPal
• Note: These cookies are essential for payment security

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner allowing you to:

• Accept All: Allow all cookies for full functionality
• Necessary Only: Only accept essential cookies
• Customize: Choose specific cookie categories

Changing Your Preferences

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by:

• Clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our website footer
• Clearing the cookieConsent item from your browser's local storage
• Refreshing the page and making new selections

Browser Settings

You can also control cookies through your browser settings:

Google Chrome

1. Click the menu button (three dots) → Settings
2. Click "Privacy and security" → "Cookies and other site data"
3. Choose your preferred cookie settings

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the menu button (three lines) → Settings
2. Click "Privacy & Security"
3. Under "Cookies and Site Data," choose your settings

Safari

1. Safari menu → Preferences
2. Click the "Privacy" tab
3. Choose your cookie preferences

Microsoft Edge

1. Click the menu button (three dots) → Settings
2. Click "Cookies and site permissions"
3. Click "Cookies and site data"

6. Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling certain cookies may affect your experience on our website:

Essential Cookies

Cannot be disabled as they're required for basic functionality. Blocking these may prevent:

• Course booking and payment processing
• Contact form submissions
• Secure access to account areas
• Proper website navigation

Analytics Cookies

Disabling these won't affect functionality but prevents us from:

• Understanding user behavior patterns
• Improving website performance
• Identifying popular content
• Fixing technical issues efficiently

Marketing Cookies

Disabling these may result in:

• Less relevant advertising content
• Repeated display of the same ads
• Limited social media integration
• Generic rather than personalized content

7. Data Protection and Security

We take cookie security seriously and implement measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: Sensitive cookies are encrypted
• Secure Transmission: Cookies are sent over HTTPS
• Limited Access: Only authorized personnel can access cookie data
• Regular Audits: We regularly review cookie usage and security

8. International Data Transfers

Some of our cookie data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the UK/EU, particularly through third-party services like Google Analytics. When this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place through:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
• Adequacy decisions by regulatory authorities
• Provider certification under recognized frameworks

9. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect information from children through cookies. If you are under 16, please seek parental consent before using our website.

10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect:

• Changes in cookie technology
• New features or services
• Legal and regulatory requirements
• Industry best practices

We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Displaying a notice on our website
• Sending email notifications to newsletter subscribers

11. Contact Information

If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:

12. Your Rights

Under GDPR and UK data protection law, you have rights regarding cookie data:

• Access: Request information about cookies we use
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate information
• Erasure: Request deletion of cookie data
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Objection: Object to certain types of cookie processing
• Withdrawal: Withdraw consent for non-essential cookies

To exercise these rights, contact us using the information above.