Cookie notice
1. Introduction
2. Types of Cookies We Use
We use the following categories of cookies on our website:
2.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the basic operation of our website and cannot be disabled without affecting website functionality. They include:
- Session management and authentication
- Security and fraud detection
- Load balancing
- Maintaining your selections and preferences during your visit
- Processing transactions
- These cookies do NOT require your consent as they are strictly necessary for the website to function.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
| session_id | User session management | Session | Grounds Risks |
| csrf_token | Security/CSRF protection | Session | Grounds Risks |
| user_preferences | Remember user interface choices | 1 year | Grounds Risks |
2.2 Functional Cookies
These cookies remember your choices to provide you with a personalized experience:
- Remembering login details (where permitted)
- Storing language preferences
- Recalling previously viewed content
- Maintaining website customization settings
These cookies require your consent before being set.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
| session_id | User session management | Session | Grounds Risks |
| csrf_token | Security/CSRF protection | Session | Grounds Risks |
2.3 Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors use our website, which pages are most popular, and how we can improve our services:
- Tracking page views and user journey
- Measuring website performance
- Identifying technical issues
- Understanding visitor demographics and behaviour
These cookies require your consent before being set.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
| _ga | Google Analytics – user ID | 2 years | Google Analytics |
| _gid | Google Analytics – session ID | 24 hours | Google Analytics |
| _gat | Google Analytics – throttling | 1 minute | Google Analytics |
2.4 Marketing and Targeting Cookies
These cookies are used to deliver targeted advertising and measure campaign effectiveness:
- Tracking your interests and online behaviour
- Displaying relevant advertisements
- Measuring advertising campaign performance
- Building user profiles for personalization
These cookies require your explicit consent before being set. We will not set marketing cookies if you do not provide consent.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
| fbp | Facebook pixel tracking | 3 months | Meta Platforms |
| _gcl_au | Google Ads conversion tracking | 3 months | |
| marketing_id | Internal marketing tracking | 1 year | Grounds Risks |
3. Third-Party Cookies
Our website uses third-party services that may set their own cookies:
- Google Analytics – for website analytics (Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy)
- Meta/Facebook – for advertising and audience insights (Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policies/cookies/)
- Google Ads – for advertising and remarketing (Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy)
- LinkedIn – for professional targeting and analytics (Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy)
These third parties may use your data according to their own cookie policies. You should review their privacy policies to understand how they process your information.
4. Other Tracking Technologies
In addition to cookies, we may use similar technologies on our website:
- Web Beacons – Small transparent images used to track user activity and email opens
- Pixels – Tracking pixels used by advertising partners to measure campaign effectiveness
- Local Storage/Session Storage – Browser storage technologies similar to cookies
- Tracking Tags – Code that tracks user behaviour across multiple websites
These technologies require the same consent as cookies for non-essential uses.
5. How We Use Cookie Data
We use cookie data for the following purposes:
- Essential Services – Maintaining website security and functionality
- User Experience – Personalizing your browsing experience and remembering preferences
- Performance Analysis – Understanding website usage patterns and improving our services
- Marketing – Delivering relevant content and measuring campaign effectiveness
- Compliance – Meeting legal and regulatory obligations
All data collected via cookies is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.
6. Your Cookie Consent Rights
6.1 Active Opt-In Consent
Under UK GDPR and PECR, we obtain active, affirmative consent before setting non-essential cookies. This means:
- Consent must be freely given (you have a genuine choice)
- Consent must be specific and informed (you understand what you’re consenting to)
- Consent must be unambiguous (you must actively opt in—pre-ticked boxes are not valid)
- Consent must be easy to withdraw at any time
We do NOT use:
- Pre-ticked checkboxes
- Implied consent through continued browsing
- “Legitimate interests” to justify non-essential cookies
6.2 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our website, a cookie consent banner will appear. You have the following options:
- Accept All – Accept all cookie categories (strictly necessary, functional, analytics, and marketing)
- Reject All – Reject all non-essential cookies (strictly necessary cookies will still be set)
- Manage Preferences – Choose which specific cookie categories to accept or reject
6.3 Managing Your Preferences
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by:
- Returning to our website and accessing the cookie consent banner
- Clicking the “Cookie Preferences” link (typically in the footer)
- Selecting your preferred cookie settings
- Saving your choices
6.4 Withdrawing Consent
You can withdraw your cookie consent at any time using the same methods described above. Once withdrawn, we will respect your preferences and no longer set non-essential cookies, though this may affect your browsing experience.
7. Browser Cookie Controls
You can also control cookies through your web browser. Most browsers allow you to:
- View cookies stored on your device
- Accept or reject cookies
- Delete cookies automatically when you close your browser
- Block cookies from specific websites
Browser cookie control instructions:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data
- Edge: Settings → Privacy → Cookies and other site data
Important Note: Disabling strictly necessary cookies may prevent our website from functioning properly.
8. Cookie Retention and Deletion
We retain cookies for the periods specified in the cookie tables above. When cookies expire, they are automatically deleted from your device. You can manually delete cookies through your browser settings at any time.
For data collected via cookies, we follow the retention periods outlined in our Privacy Policy (typically 24 months for analytics data, 3-12 months for marketing data, and 7 years for legal/compliance data where required).
9. Your Data Protection Rights
Under UK GDPR and DPA 2018, you have the right to:
- Access – Request a copy of personal data we have collected via cookies
- Rectification – Request correction of inaccurate data
- Erasure – Request deletion of your data (“right to be forgotten”)
- Restrict Processing – Request that we limit how we use your data
- Data Portability – Request your data in a portable format
- Object – Object to processing of your data
- Automated Decision-Making – Appeal decisions made solely by automated means
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 11.
10. Cookie Policy Updates
We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect:
- Changes in our cookie usage
- New technologies or cookies we implement
- Legal or regulatory changes
- Your feedback and requests
When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
- Notify you via email (if we have your contact details)
- Request your renewed consent for any new cookie categories
We recommend reviewing this policy regularly to stay informed about how we use cookies.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies, this policy, or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us:
Grounds Risks
- Email: privacy@groundsrisks.co.uk
- Address: [Your Business Address]
- Phone: [Your Phone Number]
- Data Protection Officer: [DPO Contact if applicable]
Regulatory Authority:
If you have concerns about our cookie practices, you can lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
- Website: https://ico.org.uk
- Email: casework@ico.org.uk
- Phone: 0303 123 1113
12. Compliance Statement
This Cookie Policy complies with:
- UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
- Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018)
- Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR)
- Data (Use and Access) Act 2025
- Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Guidance on Cookies
Version: 1.0
Policy Owner: Grounds Risks
Next Review Date: March 2027