How We Use Cookies
Cookie Policy
Last updated: December 2025
This Cookie Policy explains how Import Export Services Ltd. (“IES”, “we”, “us” or “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies on our website www.ies.co.uk
By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with this Cookie Policy. If you do not agree to our use of cookies, you should change your browser settings accordingly or refrain from using our website.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone or tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners.
Cookies can be:
- Session cookies – temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies – cookies that remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them.
Cookies can also be:
- First-party cookies – set by the website you’re visiting
- Third-party cookies – set by a third-party service operating on the website.
How We Use Cookies
We use cookies to:
- Ensure our website functions properly
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Understand how visitors use our website
- Improve your browsing experience
- Analyse website performance and traffic
- Enable certain website features and functionality
Types of Cookies We Use
1. Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. Without these cookies, certain services you have requested cannot be provided.
|
Cookie Name |
Purpose |
Duration |
Type |
|
__cfuvid |
Set by HubSpot’s CDN provider (Cloudflare) for rate limiting purposes. |
Session |
First-party |
|
__cf_bm |
Bot management cookie set by Cloudflare for security and bot protection. |
30 minutes |
First-party |
|
hs_inital_opt_in |
Prevents the banner from displaying repeatedly when visitors browse in strict mode |
7 days |
First-party |
|
hs_opt_out |
Remembers user’s choice not to be tracked. Used with opt-in privacy policy |
6 Months |
First-party |
|
lidc |
Routing cookie used for load balancing. |
1 day |
Third-party (LinkedIn) |
2. Performance/Analytics Cookies
These cookies collect information about how visitors use our website, such as which pages are visited most often. All information collected by these cookies is aggregated and anonymous.
|
Cookie Name |
Purpose |
Duration |
Type |
|
_hstc |
Main visitor tracking cookie. Contains domain, visitor token (hubspotsutk), initial timestamp (first visit), last timestamp (last visit), current timestamp (this visit), and session number. |
6 months |
Third-party (HubSpot) |
|
hubspotutk |
Keeps track of a visitor’s identity. Passed to HubSpot on form submission and used for contact deduplication. Contains unique identifier (GUID) for the visitor. |
6 months |
Third-party (HubSpot) |
|
hssrc |
Set whenever the session cookie changes. Used to determine if the visitor has restarted their browser. If absent, HubSpot considers it a new session. |
Session |
Third-party (HubSpot) |
|
_ga |
Main user identification cookie. Contains a unique Client ID to distinguish users across visits. |
2 years (browser-limited to 400 days in Chrome, 13 months effective) |
Third-party (Google Analytics) |
|
ga<container-id> |
Session state cookie specific to each GA4 property. Stores session ID, session count, engaged session indicator, last hit timestamp, and other session-related data. |
2 years (browser-limited to 400 days in Chrome) |
Third-party (Google Analytics) |
|
_hjSession_<site_id> |
Holds the current session data so Hotjar knows a session is active. |
30 minutes |
First-party (Hotjar) |
|
_hjSessionUser_<site_id> |
Identifies a returning user so Hotjar can link sessions over time. Does not store personal data |
1 year |
First-party (Hotjar) |
|
wc_visitor |
Identifies unique visitors and maintains consistent tracking across multiple visits for lead attribution purposes. |
Approximately 6-12 months (persistent) |
First-party (WhatConverts) |
|
wc_client |
Stores marketing attribution data (source, medium, campaign, keyword) to track which marketing efforts generate leads and conversions. |
Approximately 6-12 months (persistent) |
First-party (WhatConverts) |
|
wc_client_current |
Tracks current session attribution data for the active visit, providing real-time marketing source information for lead tracking. |
30 minutes to session end |
First-party (WhatConverts) |
3. Functionality Cookies
These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your username, language, or region) and provide enhanced, personalised features.
|
Cookie Name |
Purpose |
Duration |
Type |
|
li_gc |
Stores consent for cookies used for non-essential purposes. |
2 years |
First-party (LinkedIn) |
|
bcookie |
Browser identifier used for identifying devices accessing LinkedIn services. |
2 years |
Third-party (LinkedIn) |
4. Marketing/Targeting Cookies
These cookies are used to deliver advertisements relevant to you and your interests. They may also be used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.
|
Cookie Name |
Purpose |
Duration |
Type |
|
gcl_au |
Conversion linker cookie. Used by Google Ads to track conversions and attribute them correctly, especially across domains. |
90 days |
Third-party (Google Ads) |
|
ANON |
Contains an anonymous identifier used for advertising, personalisation, and operational purposes. Preserves user opt-out preferences for interest-based advertising. |
Approximately 5-6 years (persistent) |
Third-party (Microsoft Ads) |
|
MUID |
Microsoft User Identifier that tracks unique browsers across Microsoft sites. Used to deliver relevant advertisements, measure campaign effectiveness, and sync user tracking across Microsoft domains |
1 year (persistent) |
Third-party (Microsoft Ads) |
|
NAP |
Stores encrypted demographic and location data (country, postal code, age, gender, language, occupation) from Microsoft account profile for personalised content delivery. |
Approximately 4-5 months (persistent) |
Third-party (Microsoft Ads) |
Third-Party Cookies
We use services from third-party providers that may set cookies on your device when you visit our website. These providers include:
Google Ads
We use Google Ads to measure advertising performance and deliver relevant ads to users. Google Ads cookies record ad interactions and support conversion tracking and remarketing.
For more information: Google Ads Privacy Policy
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to analyse website traffic and user behaviour. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect anonymous information about how visitors interact with our website.
For more information: Google Analytics Privacy Policy
Hotjar
We use Hotjar to understand how users interact with our website. Hotjar uses cookies to provide anonymous analytics such as heatmaps, session recordings and feedback responses.
For more information: Hotjar Privacy Policy
HubSpot
We use HubSpot for customer relationship management, marketing automation, and website analytics. HubSpot sets cookies to track visitor behaviour, manage form submissions, and personalise user experience.
For more information: HubSpot Privacy Policy
We use LinkedIn to measure the effectiveness of our marketing and to deliver relevant advertising. LinkedIn cookies help track ad performance, enable retargeting and support analytics.
For more information: LinkedIn Privacy Policy
Microsoft Advertising
We use Microsoft Ads for advertising and remarketing purposes. These cookies help us measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and deliver relevant advertisements based on your interests. The information collected is anonymised and used to improve advertising relevance.
For more information: Microsoft Advertising Privacy Policy
WhatConverts
We use WhatConverts to track and attribute leads from form submissions back to their marketing sources. WhatConverts uses first-party cookies to identify visitors, track their journey through our website, and connect conversions to specific marketing campaigns, keywords, and channels. This helps us understand which marketing efforts are most effective and improve our return on investment.
For more information: WhatConverts Privacy Policy
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies.
Browser Settings
You can control and/or delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View what cookies are stored and delete them individually
- Block third-party cookies
- Block cookies from specific sites
- Block all cookies
- Delete all cookies when you close your browser.
Please note that if you choose to block or delete cookies, some features of our website may not function properly, and your user experience may be affected.
Browser-specific instructions:
Cookie Consent Tool
You can also manage your cookie preferences using our cookie consent tool, which appears when you first visit our website. You can change your preferences at any time.
Opt-Out of Third-Party Cookies
Google Ads: You can control personalised advertising across all Google services
Google Analytics: You can opt out using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
Hotjar: Hotjar respects the “Do Not Track” setting in your browser. When enabled, Hotjar will not collect any data about your visit to any website using Hotjar. For more information, see the Hotjar Do Not Track Guide.
HubSpot: HubSpot uses first-party cookies only, so data is not shared across websites. You can manage HubSpot privacy preferences.
LinkedIn: For LinkedIn members: Manage Advertising Preferences. For non-members: LinkedIn’s Opt-Out Page.
Microsoft Advertising: You can opt out of interest-based advertising from Microsoft: Microsoft Advertising Opt-Out
Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date.
We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
Data Protection Team
Import Export Services Ltd.
1 Portview Road
Avonmouth
Bristol
BS11 9LS
United Kingdom
Email: dataprotection@ies.co.uk