Cookie Policy

Effective: 3 September 2025 • Version: 4

Introduction

Thames Williams Limited ("we", "us", "our", or "Thames Williams") understands that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how information is collected when you visit our website. We are committed to being transparent about our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies.

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them on our website, and how you can control them. Please read this Cookie Policy carefully and ensure that you understand it.

By continuing to use our website, you are acknowledging our use of cookies in accordance with this policy. If you do not accept our use of cookies, you should adjust your browser settings or stop using our website.

Who We Are

Thames Williams Limited
Company Number: 09716945
Registered Office Address: UNIT 21A, 57 Frederick Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, B1 3HS

We are a controller for the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation, which means we are responsible for deciding how we use cookies and similar technologies on our website.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer, tablet, or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners about how their sites are being used.

Cookies allow websites to recognise your device and remember certain information about your preferences or past actions. This helps us provide you with a more personalised and efficient browsing experience.

Types of Cookies by Duration

Session Cookies: These are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your web browser. They help maintain your session as you navigate through our website.

Persistent Cookies: These cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. They remember your preferences and actions across multiple visits to our website.

Types of Cookies by Source

First-Party Cookies: These are cookies set directly by our website and can only be read by our website.

Third-Party Cookies: These are cookies set by domains other than the one you are visiting. They are typically used by third-party services that appear on our website.

How We Use Cookies

Thames Williams Limited uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and improve our website's functionality. We use cookies for the following purposes:

Website Functionality

  • Ensuring our website works properly across different browsers and devices
  • Remembering your preferences and settings during your visit
  • Maintaining your session as you navigate through different pages
  • Providing security features to protect your information

Performance and Analytics

  • Understanding how visitors interact with our website
  • Identifying which pages are most and least popular
  • Analysing traffic patterns and user behaviour
  • Monitoring website performance and identifying technical issues
  • Improving our website design and user experience

Communication and Marketing

  • Delivering relevant content and information
  • Measuring the effectiveness of our communications
  • Understanding which resources and services are most useful to visitors
  • Personalising content based on your interests and behaviour

Categories of Cookies We Use

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for our website to function properly and cannot be disabled in our systems. They are usually set in response to actions you take, such as setting privacy preferences, logging in, or filling in forms.

Examples of what these cookies do:

  • Enable core website functionality and navigation
  • Provide security features and prevent fraudulent activity
  • Remember your privacy and cookie preferences
  • Maintain your session during your visit

Legal Basis: Legitimate interest - these cookies are necessary for the website to function.

Retention Period: These cookies are typically session cookies that expire when you close your browser, or persistent cookies that expire within 24 hours to 12 months.

You cannot opt out of these cookies as they are essential for the website to work properly.

Performance and Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This information helps us improve how our website works.

We may use cookies from the following services:

  • Google Analytics to track website usage and performance
  • Other analytics tools to monitor user behaviour and website performance

Information these cookies collect includes:

  • Number of visitors to our website
  • Which pages visitors go to most often
  • How long visitors spend on different pages
  • Where visitors come from (e.g., search engines, direct visits, referral sites)
  • Technical information such as browser type, screen resolution, and device type
  • General geographic location (country or city level)

Legal Basis: Legitimate interest in analysing and improving our website and services.

Retention Period: These cookies typically expire after 26 months for Google Analytics, though some may expire sooner.

Third-Party Privacy Policies:

  • Google Analytics: https://policies.google.com/privacy
  • For other analytics services we use, please contact us for specific information

Functional Cookies

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.

Examples of what these cookies do:

  • Remember your language or region preferences
  • Provide enhanced features like live chat or contact forms
  • Remember choices you make to improve your experience
  • Enable social media features (if applicable)

Legal Basis: Legitimate interest in providing enhanced user experience, or consent where required.

Retention Period: These cookies may be session cookies or persistent cookies lasting up to 12 months.

Marketing and Advertising Cookies

These cookies may be used to deliver advertisements that are more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and help measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

We may use these cookies for:

  • Remarketing to visitors who have previously visited our website
  • Delivering targeted advertisements on other websites
  • Measuring the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns
  • Building profiles of user interests for advertising purposes

Third-party services that may set these cookies include:

  • Google Ads for remarketing and advertising
  • LinkedIn advertising (if applicable)
  • Other advertising networks we may use

Legal Basis: Consent - we will ask for your permission before using these cookies.

Retention Period: These cookies typically expire after 13 months, depending on the specific service.

Opting Out: You can opt out of these cookies through our cookie consent tool or by adjusting your browser settings.

Third-Party Cookies and Services

Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services that we use to enhance our website's functionality or analyse its performance. We do not control these third-party cookies, and they are governed by the privacy policies of the respective third parties.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to help us understand how our website is being used. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information about your use of our website. This information is used to compile reports and help us improve our website.

The information generated by the cookie about your use of our website (including your IP address) may be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf.

For more information about Google Analytics cookies, visit: https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/cookie-usage

Other Third-Party Services

We may also use other third-party services that set cookies, such as:

  • Social media platforms (if we embed social media content)
  • Live chat services (if applicable)
  • Email marketing platforms for tracking campaign effectiveness
  • Content delivery networks for website performance

For detailed information about cookies used by specific third-party services, please refer to their respective privacy policies.

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several options for managing cookies on our website:

Cookie Consent Tool

When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner that allows you to:

  • Accept all cookies
  • Accept only essential cookies
  • Customise your cookie preferences by category
  • Learn more about each type of cookie we use

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the cookie settings link, which can be found in our website footer.

Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can usually find these controls in the 'Options' or 'Preferences' menu of your browser. You can set your browser to:

  • Block all cookies
  • Block only third-party cookies
  • Block cookies from specific websites
  • Delete cookies when you close your browser
  • Warn you before accepting cookies

How to Control Cookies in Major Browsers

Google Chrome:

  1. Click the three dots menu → Settings
  2. Click "Privacy and security" → "Cookies and other site data"
  3. Choose your preferred cookie settings

Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Click the menu button → Settings
  2. Select "Privacy & Security" from the left panel
  3. In the "Cookies and Site Data" section, choose your settings

Safari:

  1. Click Safari → Preferences
  2. Click the "Privacy" tab
  3. Choose your cookie and website data settings

Microsoft Edge:

  1. Click the three dots menu → Settings
  2. Click "Cookies and site permissions"
  3. Click "Cookies and site data" and choose your settings

Important Note About Disabling Cookies

Please note that if you choose to disable cookies, some features of our website may not function properly. Essential cookies are necessary for basic website functionality, and disabling them may prevent you from using certain parts of our website effectively.

Specific Opt-Out Options

Google Analytics Opt-Out

To opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites, you can:

  • Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
  • Use browser settings to block Google Analytics cookies

Advertising Cookie Opt-Out

To opt out of interest-based advertising cookies, you can visit:

  • Your Online Choices (Europe): http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/
  • Network Advertising Initiative (US): http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/
  • Digital Advertising Alliance (US): http://www.aboutads.info/choices/

Mobile Devices and Apps

When you access our website through mobile devices, we may also use cookies and similar technologies. The same principles described in this policy apply. You can manage these through your mobile browser settings, which are typically found in the browser's menu under settings or privacy options.

Changes to Our Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

  • The cookies we use
  • Legal or regulatory requirements
  • Our business practices
  • Technology developments

When we make changes, we will:

  • Post the updated policy on our website
  • Update the "Last Updated" date
  • Notify you of significant changes through our website or by email where appropriate

We recommend that you review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about our use of cookies and related technologies.

Your Rights Under Data Protection Law

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), you have certain rights regarding the personal data we collect through cookies:

  • Right to be informed about our cookie practices (this policy provides that information)
  • Right of access to personal data collected through cookies
  • Right to rectification of inaccurate data
  • Right to erasure in certain circumstances
  • Right to restrict processing
  • Right to data portability
  • Right to object to certain types of processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.

Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us at:

Thames Williams Limited
UNIT 21A, 57 Frederick Street
Birmingham, West Midlands
England, B1 3HS
Email: privacy@thameswilliams.com
Phone: +44 121 798 9805

For technical questions about cookies or website functionality, you may also contact: technical@thameswilliams.com

Complaints

If you have a complaint about our use of cookies, please contact us first so we can address your concerns. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.org.uk

More Information About Cookies

For more general information about cookies, you can visit:

  • All About Cookies: http://www.allaboutcookies.org/
  • Information Commissioner's Office guidance on cookies: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/

Last Updated: 03 September 2025