Purpose of this Cookie Statement

This Cookie Statement explains how Smart Awards Ltd (“Smart Awards”, “we”, “us” or “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit or use our website. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information. We are committed to respecting your privacy and providing clear information about the technologies used on our website.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, tablet or other device when you visit a website. Cookies allow websites to recognise a user’s device and may be used to remember preferences, enable website functionality, understand how visitors use a website and improve the overall user experience. Some cookies are deleted when you close your browser (session cookies), while others remain on your device for a specified period or until you delete them (persistent cookies).

How Smart Awards uses cookies

Smart Awards may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• ensure our website operates securely and correctly;
• provide functions and services requested by users;
• remember choices and preferences;
• understand how visitors navigate and interact with our website;
• identify and resolve technical problems;
• monitor and improve website performance;
• analyse website traffic and usage; and
• support other optional functionality where you have provided consent, where consent is required.

We will not use non-essential cookies unless you have provided the appropriate consent.

Categories of cookies

Cookies used on the Smart Awards website may fall within the following categories.

4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are required for the website to function correctly and securely. They may support functions such as security, authentication, session management and remembering your cookie preferences. Because these cookies are necessary to provide the website or a service you have requested, they do not normally require your consent.

4.2 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies allow the website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced or personalised functionality. Where these cookies are not strictly necessary for a service you have requested, they will only be activated where the appropriate consent has been obtained.

4.3 Analytics and Performance Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors use our website, for example which pages are visited most frequently, how users navigate between pages and whether users encounter errors. The information obtained can help Smart Awards monitor and improve the performance and usability of its website. Where required by applicable data protection and electronic communications legislation, these cookies will only be placed or activated after you have provided consent.

4.4 Marketing Cookies

If used, marketing cookies may be used to understand the effectiveness of campaigns or provide content that is more relevant to users. Smart Awards will only use marketing or advertising cookies where appropriate and where the required consent has been obtained.

Cookies used on our website

Smart Awards will maintain information about the cookies and similar technologies actually deployed on its website. Where appropriate, our cookie management tool will provide details including:

• the name of the cookie;
• the organisation or provider responsible for the cookie;
• its purpose;
• the category of cookie;
• whether it is a first-party or third-party cookie; and
• how long the cookie remains on your device.

The cookies operating on the website may change as website functionality and service providers are updated.

Your consent and cookie choices

When you first visit the Smart Awards website, you may be presented with a cookie banner or consent management tool. Where non-essential cookies are used, you will be given an appropriate choice about whether to accept them. You should be able to:

• accept non-essential cookies;
• reject non-essential cookies; and
• manage your cookie preferences by category, where applicable.

Strictly necessary cookies may operate without consent where they are required to provide the website or a service specifically requested by you. Choosing not to accept optional cookies should not prevent you from accessing the core functions of the Smart Awards website, although some optional features may not operate as intended. You can change or withdraw your consent to non-essential cookies through the cookie preference facility provided on our website.

Third-party cookies and services

Some functionality on our website may be provided by third parties. These services may place or access cookies on your device. Examples could include website analytics, embedded content, videos, maps, security services or other website functionality. Where third-party cookies are used, Smart Awards will take appropriate steps to ensure that users receive suitable information and that consent is obtained where required. Third-party providers may process information in accordance with their own privacy and cookie policies.

Managing cookies through your browser

Most internet browsers allow you to view, manage, delete or block cookies through browser settings. You can normally configure your browser to:

• delete existing cookies;
• block all or selected cookies;
• notify you when a website attempts to place a cookie; or
• delete cookies automatically when you close your browser.

Please be aware that blocking strictly necessary cookies may affect the operation of some website functions. Browser providers maintain their own guidance on managing cookies, and users should refer to the current instructions provided by their browser provider.

Personal data and cookies

Some information collected through cookies may constitute personal data or become personal data when combined with other information. Where this occurs, Smart Awards will process that information in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and our Privacy Policy. Depending on the circumstances, information collected through cookies may include:

• IP address;
• browser or device information;
• website usage information;
• pages visited;
• approximate location derived from technical information;
• session identifiers; and
• user preferences.

Legal framework

Smart Awards manages cookies in accordance with applicable UK privacy and electronic communications requirements, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR), as amended from time to time. Where consent is required for the use of a cookie or similar technology, Smart Awards will seek consent before the relevant technology is activated. Consent must be capable of being withdrawn as easily as it is given.

Changes to this Cookie Statement

We may update this Cookie Statement from time to time to reflect:

• changes to our website;
• changes to the cookies or technologies we use;
• changes to third-party services;
• changes to our business activities; or
• changes to applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

The current version will be published on the Smart Awards website with the relevant effective or last updated date.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this Cookie Statement, our use of cookies or how Smart Awards processes personal information, please contact Smart Awards using the contact details published on our website.

Smart Awards Ltd

For further information about how we process personal data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.