Effective Date: 25 October 2025
Last Updated: 25 October 2025
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains how Digital Elite (digitaleliteday.co.uk), operated by Freshfield Digital Ltd, uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website.
This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
By using our website, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy. If you do not agree to our use of cookies, you should change your browser settings accordingly or refrain from using our website.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.
Cookies allow websites to:
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Improve your browsing experience
- Understand how you use the website
- Provide relevant content and advertising
Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser settings to decline cookies if you prefer.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
We use the following categories of cookies on our website:
3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
Purpose: These cookies are essential for our website to function properly. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility.
Examples:
- Session cookies that remember your actions as you navigate the site
- Security cookies to authenticate users and prevent fraudulent use
- Load balancing cookies to distribute site traffic efficiently
Legal Basis: These cookies are necessary for the legitimate operation of our website and do not require your consent.
Can you disable them? No. Without these cookies, services you have requested (such as accessing secure areas) cannot be provided.
3.2 Analytics and Performance Cookies
Purpose: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting information about pages visited, time spent on the site, and any error messages encountered.
Examples:
- Google Analytics cookies that track page views, session duration, and user behaviour
- Performance monitoring cookies that help identify technical issues
What we learn:
- Which pages are most and least popular
- How visitors navigate through our site
- Where visitors are located (country/city level only)
- What devices and browsers visitors use
- How our content performs
Legal Basis: We use these cookies with your consent (via our cookie banner) or based on our legitimate interest in improving our website.
Can you disable them? Yes. You can opt out via our cookie settings or browser settings.
Data retention: Analytics data is typically retained for 26 months.
3.3 Functionality Cookies
Purpose: These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your language or region) and provide enhanced, personalised features.
Examples:
- Cookies that remember your cookie preferences
- Cookies that remember if you’ve dismissed notices or popups
- Cookies that remember your accessibility settings
Legal Basis: These cookies improve your user experience and are used based on your consent or our legitimate interest.
Can you disable them? Yes, but doing so may affect website functionality and your user experience.
3.4 Targeting and Advertising Cookies
Purpose: These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners (if applicable). They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites.
What they do:
- Track your browsing activity across different websites
- Create advertising profiles based on your interests
- Deliver targeted advertisements
- Measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns
Third parties who may set these cookies:
- Google AdSense (if we use display advertising)
- Social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) if we use their remarketing pixels
- Affiliate networks (Bark/ThirstyAffiliates tracking)
Legal Basis: These cookies require your explicit consent under UK law.
Can you disable them? Yes. You can opt out via our cookie banner, browser settings, or third-party opt-out tools.
Note: As of October 2025, we primarily use affiliate tracking cookies for our Bark partnership. We do not currently use extensive third-party advertising cookies, but this may change in future.
4. Specific Cookies We Use
Below is a list of specific cookies you may encounter on our website:
WordPress Cookies
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| wordpress_test_cookie | Tests if cookies are enabled in your browser | Session | Strictly Necessary |
| wordpress_logged_in_* | Keeps you logged into WordPress (admin only) | 14 days | Strictly Necessary |
| wp-settings-* | Customises WordPress interface (admin only) | 1 year | Functionality |
Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics)
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years | Analytics |
| _gid | Distinguishes unique users | 24 hours | Analytics |
| _gat | Throttles request rate | 1 minute | Analytics |
Affiliate Tracking Cookies (ThirstyAffiliates)
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ta_* | Tracks affiliate link clicks for Bark referrals | 30 days | Targeting |
Third-Party Cookies
When you use our quote service or interact with embedded content, third-party cookies may be set:
Bark Platform:
- When you click through to Bark, their cookies track your quote request
- See Bark’s cookie policy: [insert Bark policy URL if available]
Social Media:
- If we embed social media content, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn may set cookies
- These cookies are controlled by those platforms
5. How to Manage Cookies
You have several options for managing cookies:
5.1 Cookie Banner
When you first visit our website, you’ll see a cookie banner allowing you to:
- Accept all cookies
- Reject non-essential cookies
- Customise your cookie preferences
You can change your preferences at any time by clicking [Cookie Settings] in our website footer.
5.2 Browser Settings
Most browsers allow you to:
- Block all cookies
- Block third-party cookies only
- Delete cookies when you close your browser
- Accept cookies only from specific websites
How to manage cookies in popular browsers:
Google Chrome:
Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
Firefox:
Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
Safari:
Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data
Microsoft Edge:
Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
5.3 Third-Party Opt-Out Tools
You can opt out of targeted advertising cookies via:
- Your Online Choices: www.youronlinechoices.com/uk
- Network Advertising Initiative: www.networkadvertising.org/choices
- Google Ads Settings: adssettings.google.com
Note: Opting out doesn’t mean you won’t see ads – it means ads won’t be targeted based on your browsing behaviour.
5.4 Do Not Track (DNT)
Some browsers have a “Do Not Track” setting. We respect DNT signals where technically feasible, but note that there is no universal standard for DNT implementation.
6. Impact of Disabling Cookies
If you disable cookies, some features of our website may not function correctly:
Strictly necessary cookies disabled:
- You may not be able to access secure areas
- Forms may not work properly
- Your preferences won’t be saved
Analytics cookies disabled:
- We won’t be able to improve our website based on user behaviour
- We won’t know which content is most helpful
Functionality cookies disabled:
- You’ll need to reset your preferences each visit
- Personalised features won’t work
Advertising cookies disabled:
- You’ll still see the same amount of advertising (if applicable)
- Ads won’t be tailored to your interests
7. Cookies and Personal Data
Some cookies collect personal data as defined under UK GDPR. For information on how we handle your personal data, please read our Privacy Policy.
What we collect via cookies:
- IP addresses (anonymised in analytics)
- Pages visited and time spent
- Browser and device information
- Referral sources
- Click behaviour on affiliate links
What we DON’T collect via cookies:
- Names, email addresses (unless you submit forms)
- Payment information
- Precise geolocation (only country/city level)
- Sensitive personal data
8. Third-Party Websites
Our website contains links to third-party websites (including Bark and SEO agencies). We have no control over cookies placed by these websites.
When you leave our website, we recommend reading the cookie policies of any websites you visit.
9. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect:
- Changes in cookie technologies
- New cookies we implement
- Updates to legal requirements
- Feedback from users
Last updated: 25 October 2025
Check for updates: We recommend reviewing this policy periodically. Material changes will be highlighted on this page.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
Email: admin@digitaleliteday.co.uk
Website: digitaleliteday.co.uk
Operator: Freshfield Digital Ltd
For data protection enquiries, you can also contact us using the details in our Privacy Policy.
11. Your Rights
Under UK data protection law, you have rights regarding data collected via cookies, including:
- Right to access: Request what data we hold about you
- Right to erasure: Request deletion of your data
- Right to object: Object to processing for direct marketing
- Right to withdraw consent: Change your cookie preferences at any time
To exercise these rights, email admin@digitaleliteday.co.uk or adjust your cookie settings via our cookie banner.
12. Complaints
If you’re unhappy with how we handle cookies or your data, you can complain to:
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Website: ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113
Address: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Last updated: 25 October 2025
This cookie policy complies with UK GDPR, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), and the Data Protection Act 2018.