This may not be the currently effective version of our Cookie Notice.
View the current Cookie NoticePlease read this cookie policy carefully as it contains important information on who we are and how we use cookies on our Services. This policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy which set out who we are, how to contact us, what data is collected, how and why we collect, store, use and share personal information generally, as well as your rights in relation to your personal information and details of how to contact us and supervisory authorities if you have a complaint.
Cookies
A cookie is a small text file which is placed onto your device (e.g. your smartphone or other electronic device) when you use our Services. When we use cookies on our Services, you will always be informed by a pop-up within the Services.
Cookies help us to recognise you and your device and allow us to store some information about your preferences or past actions, including your location data (for more information, please see our Privacy Policy).
For example, we may monitor how many times you use our Services, which parts of the Services you go to, location data. This information helps us to understand use of the Services by our users. Some of this data will be aggregated or statistical, which means that we will not be able to identify you individually.
For further information on our use of cookies, including a detailed list of your information which we and others may collect through cookies, please see below.
For further information on cookies generally, including how to control and manage them, visit the guidance on cookies published by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.
Consent to use cookies and changing settings
We will ask for your consent to place cookies or other similar technologies on your device, except where they are essential for us to provide you with a service that you have requested (e.g. to allow you to remain logged-in to the Services as you navigate within the Services and use the Services functionalities).
You can withdraw any consent to the use of cookies or manage any other cookie preferences by using the tool made available to you within the Services itself. You can then adjust sliders or untick boxes as appropriate to reflect your choice. It may be necessary to refresh or restart the Services for the updated settings to take effect.
Update cookie preferencesOur use of cookies
The table below provides more information about the cookies we use and why:
| Provider / type | Cookie name(s) | Purpose | Duration | Essential / consent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band Pencil session | PHPSESSID | Maintains your session, including keeping you logged in as you move between pages. | Session | Strictly necessary; consent is not required. |
| Band Pencil cookie preferences | bp_cookie_consent | Remembers your choices about essential, analytics and marketing cookies. | 1 year | Strictly necessary; consent is not required. |
| Google Analytics | _ga; _ga_* | Distinguishes visitors and stores session information to help us understand how our website is used. | Approximately 13 months (400 days) | Analytics; we request consent before placing these cookies. |
| DataFast visitor analytics | datafast_visitor_id; datafast_visitor_first_seen_at; datafast_visitor_session_count | Recognises visitors across visits, records when they first visited and counts their visits to help us understand website usage. | 1 year | Analytics; we request consent before placing these cookies. |
| DataFast session analytics | datafast_session_id | Identifies a visit for website usage analytics. | 30 minutes | Analytics; we request consent before placing this cookie. |
| PostHog product analytics | ph_phc_*_posthog | Stores visitor, device and session identifiers to help us understand how people use our Services. | 1 year | Analytics; we request consent before placing this cookie. |
| Google advertising | _gcl_au | Helps measure advertising conversions and the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. | 90 days | Advertising; we request consent before placing this cookie. |
How to turn off all cookies and consequences of doing so
If you do not want to accept any cookies, you may be able to change your device settings so that cookies (including those which are essential to the services requested) are not accepted. If you do this, please be aware that you may lose some of the functionality of our Services and of other Services you use on your device. For further information about cookies and how to disable them please go to the guidance on cookies published by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.
Changes to this policy
This policy was published on 1 November 2026 and last updated on 8 October 2026. We may change this cookies policy from time to time, when we do we will inform you via the Services or by sending an email to the email address you provided when you signed up to the Services.