Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used across the internet to make websites function efficiently and to provide information to website owners.

Cookies serve several important purposes:

• Functionality: Enabling core website features such as navigation, security, and access to secure areas.
• Performance: Remembering your preferences and settings (e.g., language, region) so you don't have to re-enter them on each visit.
• Analytics: Helping website owners understand how visitors interact with their site, so improvements can be made.
• Security: Protecting against fraud and unauthorised access.

Cookies do not store personally identifiable information on their own. However, when combined with other data (such as your IP address or account information), they can be used to identify you. Under the UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), cookies that are not strictly necessary require your consent before being set.

For a more technical explanation of cookies and how they work, you may visit the About Cookies website or the ICO's guidance on cookies.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

J C BROTHERS LIMITED uses three categories of cookies on our website. We have classified them based on their purpose and the level of necessity:

2.1 Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)

These cookies are essential for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, filling in a contact form, or navigating to a secure area of the website.

• Session cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser. They enable core functionality such as maintaining your session while navigating the site.
• Security cookies: Used to protect against CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) attacks and ensure form submissions originate from our website.
• Cookie consent record: Stores your cookie preference choices so we remember them on your next visit.

You cannot opt out of essential cookies, as the website would not function properly without them. These cookies do not collect or store any personal data that could be used for marketing or tracking purposes.

2.2 Analytics Cookies (Performance & Measurement)

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our website. They help us know which pages are most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site.

• Page view tracking: Records which pages you visit and how long you spend on each page.
• Traffic source tracking: Records how you arrived at our website (e.g., search engine, direct, referral link).
• Device and browser data: Records your device type, browser, screen resolution, and general location (country/region level — not precise location).

All analytics data is aggregated and anonymised. We cannot identify individual users from this data. Analytics cookies are set only with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time.

2.3 Preference Cookies (Functionality)

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.

• Language and region: Remembers your selected language and region preferences.
• Accessibility settings: Remembers any accessibility preferences you have set (e.g., font size, contrast).
• Form data retention: Temporarily retains information you've entered in forms so it isn't lost if the page reloads.

Preference cookies are not essential for the website to function, but they improve your experience. They are set with your consent and can be disabled without affecting core website functionality.

3. Detailed Cookie List

The table below provides detailed information about each cookie we set, including its name, purpose, duration, and category.

Note: We do not use advertising cookies, targeting cookies, or social media tracking cookies on our website. We do not share cookie data with advertising networks or use it for targeted marketing.

4. How We Use Cookies

We use the information collected through cookies for the following purposes:

• Website operation: Enabling essential features such as navigation, security, and form submission.
• Performance improvement: Analysing which pages are most visited and how visitors navigate our site, so we can improve content and usability.
• Preference memory: Remembering your settings (language, accessibility) so you don't need to re-enter them each time you visit.
• Security and fraud prevention: Protecting our website and visitors from unauthorised access and malicious activity.
• Website diagnostics: Identifying and resolving technical errors or broken links.

We do not use cookies to:

• Track your activity across other websites (cross-site tracking).
• Build a personal profile for advertising purposes.
• Sell your data to third parties.
• Identify you personally (except where you have provided your details through a form, which is covered by our Privacy Policy).

5. Third-Party Cookies

In some cases, we may use services provided by third parties that set their own cookies on our website. We carefully select third-party providers and ensure they meet our data protection standards.

5.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. Google Analytics sets the _ga and _gid cookies to collect aggregated, anonymised usage data. Google may transfer this data to servers located outside the UK/EEA, subject to appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses.

We have configured Google Analytics with the following privacy-protective settings:

• IP anonymisation: IP addresses are truncated before storage to prevent individual identification.
• Data retention: Analytics data is retained for a maximum of 26 months.
• No data sharing: We have disabled Google's data sharing settings, so your data is not used by Google for advertising or shared with third parties.
• Consent mode: Google Analytics only activates after you have given consent for analytics cookies.

You can learn more about how Google uses data at Google's Privacy & Terms page. You can also use the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on to prevent Google Analytics from tracking your visit to any website.

5.2 Google Maps

Our Contact Us page includes an embedded Google Maps widget showing our office location. This widget may set cookies that allow the map to function and remember your location preferences. Google's cookies are controlled by Google's own privacy policy.

5.3 Font Services

We use Google Fonts to display typography on our website. When fonts are loaded from Google's servers, Google may set cookies or collect data about font requests. This data is used solely to serve font files and is not linked to your identity.

5.4 Our Commitment

We regularly review the third-party services we use and the cookies they set. We only include third-party services where they provide clear benefit to our website visitors. If a third-party service changes its cookie practices in a way that we consider inconsistent with our privacy standards, we will review and potentially remove that service.

6. How to Manage Cookies

You have several options for managing cookies on your device. You can accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or delete existing cookies at any time.

6.1 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner that explains the types of cookies we use. You can choose to:

• Accept all cookies — Allows all cookies to be set on your device.
• Accept essential cookies only — Only strictly necessary cookies will be set. Analytics and preference cookies will be disabled.
• Manage preferences — Allows you to selectively enable or disable specific cookie categories.

Your choice is stored in a cookie and remembered for 6 months. After this period, or if you clear your cookies, the consent banner will appear again.

6.2 Browser Settings

You can also control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Most web browsers allow you to:

• View all cookies currently stored on your device.
• Block all cookies (or only third-party cookies).
• Block cookies from specific websites.
• Delete all cookies when you close your browser.
• Set rules for which websites can set cookies.

The process for managing cookies varies by browser. Below are links to the cookie management guides for the most common browsers:

6.3 Impact of Disabling Cookies

If you choose to disable non-essential cookies, the core functionality of our website will continue to work normally. You can still browse our pages, view our services, read our portfolio, and contact us. However, some features may be affected:

• Analytics cookies off: We will not collect data on how the website is used, which may limit our ability to improve the site.
• Preference cookies off: Your language and accessibility preferences will not be remembered between visits.
• Google Maps off: The map on our Contact page may not load or function correctly.

Essential cookies cannot be disabled, as they are required for the website to operate. If you block all cookies (including essential ones), some parts of the website may not function properly.

7. Your Consent & Choices

Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and the UK GDPR, we are required to obtain your consent before setting non-essential cookies on your device, unless the cookie is strictly necessary for the provision of a service you have requested.

When you visit our website for the first time, you are presented with a cookie consent banner that provides clear information about the types of cookies we use and allows you to make an informed choice.

7.1 Withdrawing Consent

You can withdraw your consent for non-essential cookies at any time. To do so:

• Click the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of any page on our website.
• Alternatively, delete the jcb_consent cookie from your browser settings. The consent banner will reappear on your next visit, allowing you to make a new choice.
• You can also clear all cookies from your browser, which will reset your preferences.

Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred before withdrawal. It simply means that non-essential cookies will no longer be set on your device going forward.

7.2 Your Rights Under UK GDPR

As cookie data may constitute personal data under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights:

• Right to access: You can request a copy of the cookie data we hold about you.
• Right to erasure: You can request that we delete any cookie data associated with you.
• Right to object: You can object to the processing of your data for analytics purposes.
• Right to withdraw consent: You can withdraw consent for non-essential cookies at any time.

For more information about your data protection rights, please see our Privacy Policy.

8. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our website practices. Changes may include:

• Addition of new cookies (e.g., if we adopt a new analytics tool or add a new website feature).
• Removal of cookies that are no longer in use.
• Changes to cookie durations or purposes.
• Updates to reflect changes in UK GDPR or PECR regulations.
• Clarifications or improvements to the wording of this policy.

Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Effective Date" at the top. If we make material changes to the types of cookies we use, we will update the cookie consent banner and, where appropriate, re-request your consent.

We recommend that you review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies. The version number at the top of this page indicates the current version of the policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy, how we use cookies, or how to exercise your rights regarding cookie data, please contact us:

If you are not satisfied with our response, or if you believe we have not handled your cookie data in accordance with the law, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):