Cookies Policy

Dated: 25 February 2023

This Cookies Policy explains how HB Associates (“Company,” “we.” “us,” and “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies to recognise you when you visit our website at https://hbassociates.co.uk (“Our Website”). It explains what these technologies are, why we use them, and your rights to control our use of them.

In some cases we may use cookies to collect personal information, or information that becomes personal if combined with other information.

Please read this Cookies Policy carefully and ensure that you understand its contents fully. Your acceptance of our Cookies Policy is deemed to occur if you continue using our website.

If you DO NOT agree to our Cookies Policy, please STOP using our website immediately and delete your browsing history and cache.

Cookies are small data files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used by website owners in order to make their website work or to work more efficiently. Cookies can as well be used to provide reporting information. These small files are placed on your computer/device by our website when you visit certain parts of our website. They can also be placed on your computer/device when you use certain features of our website. 

We use first and third party cookies for several reasons. Some cookies are required for technical reasons in order for our website to operate. We refer to these as “essential” or “strictly necessary” cookies. Other cookies also enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our Online Properties. Third parties serve cookies through our Website for advertising, analytics, and other purposes. This is described in more detail below.

You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. You can exercise your cookie rights by setting your preferences in the Cookie Consent Manager. The Cookie Consent Manager allows you to select which categories of cookies you accept or reject. Essential cookies cannot be rejected as they are strictly necessary to provide you with services.

The Cookie Consent Manager can be found in the notification banner and on our website. If you choose to reject cookies, you may still use our website, though your access to some functionality and areas of our website may be restricted. You may also set or amend your web browser controls to accept or refuse cookies.

The specific types of first and third party cookies served through our website and the purposes they perform are described below. (please note that the specific cookies served may vary depending on the specific Online Properties you visit).

The following first party Cookies may be placed on your computer or device:

Google Analytics – Analytics purposes – Strictly Necessary

Share Social Media Icons – Advertising – Not Strictly Necessary

Akismet – Anti-spam Protection – Strictly Necessary

Our website uses analytics services provided by Google. Website analytics refers to a set of tools used to collect and analyse anonymous usage information, enabling us to better understand how our website is used. This allows us to improve our website and the services offered through it. You do not have to allow us to use these cookies, however whilst our use of them does not pose any risk to your privacy or your safe use of our website, it does enable use to continue to improve our website, making it a better and more useful experience for you.

Before cookies are placed on your computer or device, you will be shown our Cookie Consent Manager banner. As a result, we will request your consent to set those cookies. You may wish to deny consent, if so, please cease use of our website and delete your browser history.

You can control your use of cookies through your computer or device browser. As the means by which you can refuse cookies through your web browser controls varies from browser to browser, you should visit your browser’s help menu for more information. For more information, see below links to mainstream browsers:

Google Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en-GB

Microsoft Internet Explorer: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/278835

Microsoft Edge: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/products/microsoft-edge (Please note that there are no specific instructions at this time, but Microsoft support will be able to assist)

Safari (macOS): https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21411?viewlocale=en_GB&locale=en_GB

Safari (iOS): https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201265

Mozilla Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-Cookies-website-preferences

Android: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&hl=en (Please refer to your device’s documentation for manufacturers’ own browsers)

In addition, most advertising networks offer you a way to opt out of targeted advertising.

Cookies are not the only way to recognise or track visitors to a website. In addition, we may use other similar technologies from time to time, like web beacons (sometimes called “tracking pixels” or “clear gifs”). These are tiny graphics files that contain an unique identifier that enables us to recognise when someone has visited our website or opened an email including them.

This allows us, for example, to monitor the traffic patterns of users from one page within a website to another and to deliver or communicate with cookies. Similarly, it helps us to understand whether you have come to the website from an online advertisement displayed on a third party website. It also helps to improve site performance and to measure the success of email marketing campaigns. In many instances, these technologies are reliant on cookies to function properly, and so declining cookies will impair their functioning.

Websites may also use so-called “Flash Cookies” (also know as Local Share Objects or “LSOs”) to, among other things, collect and store information about your use of our services, fraud prevention, and for other site operations.

If you do not want Flash Cookies stored on your computer, you can adjust the settings of your Flash player to block Flash Cookies storage using the tools contained in the Website Storage Settings Panel. You can also control Flash Cookies by going to the Global Storage Settings Panel and following the instructions (which may include instructions that explain, for example, how to delete existing Flash Cookies (referred to “information” on the Macromedia Site), how to prevent Flash LSOs from being placed on your computer without your being asked, and (for Flash Player 8 and later) how to block Flash Cookies that are not being delivered by the operator of the page you are on at the time).

Please note that setting the Flash Player to restrict or limit acceptance of Flash Cookies may reduce or impede the functionality of some Flash applications, including, potentially, Flash applications used in connection with our services or online content.

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time in order to reflect, for example, changes to the cookies we use or for other operational, legal or regulatory reasons. Any such changes will become binding on you on your first use of our website after the changes have been made. You are therefore advised to revisit this Cookie Policy page regularly to stay informed about our use of cookies and related technologies. 

This website is owned and operated by HB Associates who is a registered accountancy firm with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or other technologies, please email our Data Protection Officer Hayley Jones at [email protected].