Cookie Policy

1. Purpose of this Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how CSSential ("CSSential", "we", "us" or "our") uses cookies and similar technologies on our website. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect and process personal data more generally.

We use essential technologies to make our website operate properly. We will always ask for your consent before placing non-essential cookies or using similar technologies for purposes such as analytics, enhanced functionality, advertising or social-media tracking, unless an applicable legal exception applies.

2. What Cookies and Similar Technologies Are

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help the website remember information about your visit, such as your preferences, session state or device details.

Similar technologies can include pixels, web beacons, tags, scripts, local storage (HTML5), device identifiers and fingerprinting techniques. In this policy, we use the term “cookies” to cover cookies and similar technologies where appropriate.

Cookies may be set directly by us (first-party cookies) or by another organisation whose service or feature is integrated on our website (third-party cookies).

3. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies only for the specific purposes described below. The exact cookies in use can change over time as our website, suppliers and integrations evolve. Our cookie consent banner and cookie settings area allow you to view the current non-essential categories and make or adjust your choices at any time.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are needed for core website functions, such as security, network management, fraud prevention, load balancing, remembering your cookie preferences, or delivering a digital service you specifically request. They cannot normally be switched off through our cookie settings. Blocking them through your browser settings may prevent parts of the website from functioning properly.

Preference or Functionality Cookies

These cookies remember choices you make—such as language, region, form inputs or display preferences—so the website can provide a more tailored and convenient experience. We will request consent where required before setting non-essential functionality cookies.

Analytics and Performance Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website—such as which pages are visited, how users navigate between sections, whether error messages occur, and which traffic sources bring visitors to us. We use this information strictly to improve website performance, user journeys and our services. We will not set these cookies until you give active consent, unless they qualify for a relevant legal exception.

Advertising and Social Media Cookies

These cookies may be used by us or third parties to measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, limit repeated adverts, build target audiences, show more relevant content, enable social-media sharing features, or track activity across external websites. We will never set these cookies without your affirmative consent.

4. Your Choices and Consent

When you first visit our website, you are presented with options to accept all non-essential cookies, reject all non-essential cookies, or manage your preferences on a category-by-category basis. Options to accept and reject non-essential cookies are presented with equal prominence, and non-essential cookies are never pre-selected.

You may withdraw or adjust your consent choices at any time by updating your cookie preferences or contacting us directly. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out prior to withdrawal, but will stop future non-essential cookies from being set via our website where technically possible.

If you reject non-essential cookies, you can still fully navigate and use all core functions of our website, though certain optional third-party integrations or interactive tools may operate with limited functionality.

5. Cookie Details & Categories

Our cookie consent tool is structured to prevent non-essential scripts and cookies from executing until positive consent has been recorded. The standard categories maintained on our website include:

• Necessary Cookies: Required for the website to work properly. They support security, page routing, consent management, and fundamental operations.
• Preference Cookies: Store settings you actively choose, such as region, display themes, or preferred configurations.
• Analytic Cookies: Collect aggregated metrics on site usage, page interaction times, bounce rates, and navigation paths to assist our ongoing platform optimization.
• Advertising / Social Media Cookies: Measure campaign performance, assist in retargeting or tailored advertising, and support external social integrations.

6. Third Party Services

Some cookies and embedded assets are set by third-party providers whose services appear on or are connected to our platform. These organisations process the information collected by their cookies in accordance with their own independent privacy and cookie policies.

Where a third party processes personal data for its own commercial purposes, it acts as an independent data controller. We identify third parties in our cookie register or consent settings where applicable. We recommend reviewing each provider’s individual privacy notice for full transparency on their data practices and international data transfers.

7. How Long Cookies Last

Cookies have different lifespans depending on their operational purpose:

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that expire and are automatically deleted as soon as you close your web browser.
• Persistent Cookies: Remain stored on your device for a predetermined validity period or until you delete them manually through browser controls.

We aim to retain cookies for no longer than strictly necessary for their stated purpose, and we regularly audit our cookie inventory to ensure proportionate lifespans.

8. Managing Cookies in Your Browser

Most internet browsers provide built-in controls allowing you to view, manage, restrict, or clear stored cookies and local data. Please note that disabling all cookies via browser settings may prevent essential functions of CSSential (and other websites) from operating as intended.

To find out more about managing and deleting cookies in popular browsers, consult your browser's official support documentation or visit aboutcookies.org or allaboutcookies.org.

Note: Clearing cookies or switching to a different browser/device will clear your saved consent choices, and you will be asked to re-confirm your preferences on your next visit.

9. Personal Data and International Transfers

Where cookies or related identification technologies capture information that qualifies as personal data, we process that data in strict compliance with the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and our Privacy Policy.

Some service providers or software vendors may process data on servers located outside the United Kingdom. In such instances, we implement appropriate data transfer safeguards (such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement / Addendum or standard contractual clauses) to ensure your data receives equivalent legal protection.

10. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in our website features, external integrations, technology vendors, or relevant legal obligations. Any updates will be published directly on this page with a revised effective date.

If a material update introduces a new non-essential cookie or changes the purpose of processing in a way that requires fresh consent, we will prompt you via our cookie banner before activating the relevant technology.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, comments, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or our broader privacy practices, please reach out to us: