This Cookie Policy explains how Swift Web Design (“we”, “us”, “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies on our website, swiftwebdesign.co.uk (“our website”). It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains how we use personal data more generally.

By using our website, you can choose which non-essential cookies you allow. You can change your choices at any time.

What changed in this update: section 4 now describes our technical logs more fully and lists the device check our site uses to choose lighter animations. Choosing “Necessary only” now turns off the speed and form measurements and the device check. We still use Google Analytics only, and only after you accept analytics cookies.

1. What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your computer, tablet or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the site owner.

Technologies that work in a similar way to cookies, such as local storage, tracking pixels, tags and scripts, also fall under the same rules and are treated in the same way in this policy.

Cookies can be:

  • First-party cookies – set by the website you are visiting;
  • Third-party cookies – set by another organisation (for example, analytics or social media providers).

Cookies can also be:

  • Session cookies – which expire when you close your browser;
  • Persistent cookies – which remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them.

2. How we use cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • make our website function properly and securely;
  • remember your cookie choices and basic preferences;
  • understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it;
  • support marketing and (where used) social media features.

Under UK law (the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and UK GDPR), we must:

  • tell you about the cookies we use;
  • explain what they do and why we use them; and
  • obtain your consent before placing any non-essential cookies on your device.

We do not need your consent for cookies that are strictly necessary for the website to work.

3. Types of cookies we use

We group the cookies we use into the following categories.

3.1 Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are essential for our website to operate and cannot be switched off through the cookie banner. They are usually only set in response to actions you take, such as:

  • navigating the site;
  • submitting a form;
  • remembering your cookie consent choices;
  • protecting the site from misuse and security threats.

Without these cookies, parts of our website would not function correctly. We do not ask for your consent to use them.

3.2 Performance and analytics cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors use our website so we can measure performance and improve content and usability. For example, they may collect information about:

  • which pages are visited;
  • how long visitors stay on each page;
  • links clicked and navigation flows;
  • approximate geographic location (based on IP address).

We use Google Analytics for this purpose. Any analytics cookies we use are not essential and will only be set if you choose to allow them through our cookie banner or cookie settings.

3.3 Functionality cookies

Functionality cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your light/dark theme, or a pricing calculator selection) and provide enhanced features.

If we use them, they are intended to make your experience more convenient, but the website would still work without them. Where a functionality cookie is only ever set in direct response to you using that feature (for example, clicking the theme toggle), we treat it as strictly necessary to that feature and it is not gated behind the analytics banner. Where a functionality item is used more broadly, such as remembering which campaign brought you to the site, it is treated as non-essential and only set if you consent. The one exception is the device check in section 4, which runs unless you choose “Necessary only”.

3.4 Advertising and social media cookies

We do not currently use any advertising or social media cookies, and none are set on the live site. We don’t see a reason to load anything on your device we don’t actually need. If that ever changes, for example if we add a Facebook or Google Ads pixel, it will:

  • only load after you accept it through our cookie banner or settings, in the same way Google Analytics is gated today;
  • be added to the cookie table on our Policies page before it goes live; and
  • trigger an update to this policy.

3.5 Third-party cookies

We may use third-party services that set cookies on our website, for example to provide:

  • analytics;
  • embedded content (such as videos or maps);
  • social media integration.

These third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies, which we recommend you read. Where possible, we will provide links to these in our cookie settings.

4. Cookies we use in practice

The exact cookies used on our website may change from time to time as we improve or add features.

Our cookie banner and “Cookie Preferences” link in the footer give you access to this policy at any time. The full, up-to-date list of every cookie and browser-storage item we use, grouped by category, with the name of each item, who sets it, what it does, and how long it lasts, is published on our Policies page. That keeps the detailed list accurate without you having to check this policy every time we make a technical change.

We also keep technical logs to help us keep the site working well: how fast pages load, script errors, broken pages and, if you leave one of our forms unfinished, which form it was and the last field you used. These use no cookies and no browser storage on your device. We don’t store your IP address with them. To stop abuse, we keep a scrambled code made from it that changes every day, and error reports include your browser type. They are deleted automatically after 90 days. If you choose “Necessary only”, we stop the speed and form measurements. Error reports still run, because we need them to find and fix faults.

Device check. When you visit, our site checks your device’s graphics and processing power (the graphics chip, processor cores and memory your browser reports) to decide whether to show lighter animations. The answer is kept in your browser’s session storage as swd-gpu. It is never sent to us, and it is cleared when you close the tab. If you choose “Necessary only”, we skip the check and always show the lighter version.

For strictly necessary cookies, our legal basis for using them is our legitimate interest in operating a secure and effective website and providing the services you request.

Our speed and form measurements and the device check (section 4) don’t need your consent, because the law allows them for improving a website and how it looks and works, as long as we tell you and you can say no. Choosing “Necessary only” turns them off.

For all other cookies and similar technologies, such as Google Analytics, our legal basis is your consent. We obtain consent through our cookie banner and settings, in line with UK GDPR standards of consent. This means:

  • non-essential cookies are not set until you have chosen to allow them;
  • you can choose “Accept all” or “Necessary only” through our banner (there is no category-by-category toggle; if we add more optional items, we will add one);
  • you can change your mind at any time using the “Cookie Preferences” link in the footer.

We store a record of your consent choices so that we do not ask you again on every visit. Your preferences are stored for up to 6 months, after which you may be asked to review them again, or sooner if we significantly change how we use cookies.

6. How to manage or disable cookies

You can manage cookies in several ways:

6.1 Our cookie banner and settings

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

  • accept all non-essential cookies; or
  • reject non-essential cookies (“Necessary only”).

At any time, you can change your choices by clicking the “Cookie Preferences” link in the footer of our website.

6.2 Browser settings

Most web browsers allow you to view, delete or block cookies on all or specific websites. You can usually find these controls in your browser’s “Settings” or “Preferences” menu.

If you choose to block some or all cookies via your browser, our website may not function correctly, and some features may not be available.

6.3 Third-party opt-outs

Some third-party providers offer their own tools to opt out of their cookies or tracking. Where applicable, further information is available in those providers’ own privacy and cookie policies.

7. Data collected through cookies

Cookies and similar technologies may collect:

  • IP address and approximate location;
  • device type and operating system;
  • browser type and version;
  • pages visited and links clicked;
  • time spent on pages and navigation paths.

We typically use this information in an aggregated or anonymised way for analytics and website improvement. However, some data may be considered personal data under UK GDPR, particularly when combined with other information about you.

For details on how we use personal data, and your rights under data protection law, please see our Privacy Policy.

8. Changes to this Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, for example, to reflect:

  • changes in the cookies and similar technologies we use; or
  • changes in legal or regulatory requirements.

When we make significant changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page, and we may also show a notice on our website or cookie banner.

9. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies and similar technologies, please contact us at:

Email: info@swiftwebdesign.co.uk

You can also find more general information about cookies and your rights on the Information Commission (ICO) website.

We encourage you to review this page occasionally to stay informed.