Cookie Policy

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, improve efficiency, and provide information to site owners. Cookies cannot run programmes or deliver viruses to your device.

Sampler uses cookies to:

• Ensure the platform functions correctly and securely
• Remember your preferences and session state
• Understand how users navigate the platform so we can improve it
• Measure the effectiveness of our marketing activity

We do not use cookies to collect sensitive personal data, serve third-party advertising, or sell your data to any third party.

3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the platform to function. They enable core features such as user authentication, session management, and security. You cannot opt out of these cookies as the platform cannot operate without them.

Examples:

• Session tokens (keeping you logged in)
• CSRF protection tokens
• Load balancing cookies

3.2 Functional Cookies

These cookies allow us to remember choices you have made (such as your sector preference or role type) and provide a more personalised experience. They do not track your activity across other websites.

3.3 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the platform — which pages are visited, how long users spend on each section, and where users drop off. This information is used in aggregate and does not identify you personally. We use privacy-respecting analytics tools configured to anonymise IP addresses and not share data with third parties for advertising purposes.

3.4 Marketing and Tracking Cookies

We may use cookies to measure the effectiveness of campaigns run on platforms such as LinkedIn, Meta, or Google. These cookies help us understand whether a user who clicked an advert subsequently registered on the platform. You can opt out of these cookies via our cookie consent banner or through your browser settings. Opting out will not affect your ability to use the platform.

Some cookies on our platform are set by third-party services we use. These include:

• Stripe — payment processing (strictly necessary for transaction completion)
• Analytics providers — aggregated, anonymised usage data
• LinkedIn / Meta / Google — campaign attribution (only where you have consented)

We do not control third-party cookies. Please refer to the relevant third party's privacy and cookie policy for further information.

When you first visit sampler.org.uk, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner. You can:

• Accept all cookies
• Accept only strictly necessary cookies
• Customise your preferences by category

You can change or withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of any page. Please note that withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdrew it.

5.1 Browser-Level Controls

You can also control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

• View cookies that have been set
• Block cookies from specific websites
• Block all third-party cookies
• Delete all cookies when you close the browser

Please refer to your browser's help documentation for instructions. Note that blocking all cookies may affect the functionality of the platform.

Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. The table below summarises our cookie retention periods:

Under UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR):

• Strictly necessary cookies are used on the basis of legitimate interest and platform functionality — no consent is required.
• All other cookies are used only with your explicit consent, which you provide via our cookie consent banner.

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, regulation, or our services. We will notify you of material changes via the platform or by email. The "Effective Date" at the top of this page reflects the most recent version.

If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us at:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.