Cookie Policy
How we use cookies and similar technologies on our website.
Last updated: September 2026
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet or phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, to remember choices and to give website owners information about how their site is used. Websites can also store information in your browser's local storage, which works in a similar way.
Our Choices at a Glance
Our cookie banner gives you two separate choices. You can change either of them at any time with the "Cookie settings" link at the foot of every page.
| What | Uses cookies? | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Anonymous site statistics (Vercel Web Analytics) | No | On. You can switch it off. |
| Google Analytics | Yes | Off. Only runs if you click "Accept". |
Essential storage
We do not set any cookies of our own for visitors. We store your cookie choices in your browser's local storage (see "Local Storage" below) so we do not ask you on every visit. If you are a member of our team and sign in to our content system, your sign-in session is also kept in local storage. None of this needs your consent because it is strictly necessary for the site to do what you ask.
Anonymous Site Statistics (Vercel Web Analytics)
We count visits with Vercel Web Analytics, provided by Vercel Inc., which also hosts our website. It uses no cookies and stores nothing on your device. It gives us totals only, such as how many people visited a page and where they came from, so we can see which pages are useful and improve the site. We use it for nothing else: it does not build a profile of you, it is not used for advertising and it is not linked to any quote or enquiry you send us.
Vercel recognises a visit using a hash worked out from the incoming request rather than a cookie. The hash is discarded after 24 hours and does not follow you across other websites. Before anything is sent we remove any part of the web address that could identify you, such as email addresses, tokens or quote references. The following may be recorded with each page view:
| Data point | Example |
|---|---|
| Time of the page view | 2026-09-25 09:06:30 |
| Page address | /packages |
| Page type | /knowledge/article/[id] |
| Referring website | https://www.google.com/ |
| Campaign parameters (utm_*, ref and r only) | ?utm_source=linkedin |
| Approximate location | GB, England, London |
| Operating system and version | iOS 19 |
| Browser and version | Safari 19 |
| Device type | Mobile, tablet or desktop |
| Analytics script version | 2.0.1 |
We rely on the exception in the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations for collecting statistics to improve our website, as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. Vercel acts as our data processor under its Data Processing Addendum. More detail is in Vercel's Web Analytics privacy information.
How to switch it off: click "Cookie settings" at the foot of any page and switch off "Anonymous site statistics". It is free and takes effect straight away: we stop counting your visits from that moment. We remember your choice in local storage on that browser.
Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics)
If you click "Accept", we also use Google Analytics (tracking ID: G-GPGB5MCSNX) to understand in more detail how visitors use our website, including which pages lead people to request a quote. Google Analytics is not anonymous. It stores a randomly generated identifier in cookies on your device so it can recognise you on later visits and link your page views together. We allow it to use analytics storage only: advertising signals stay switched off and we do not use Google Analytics for advertising.
Before you choose, or if you choose "Essential only", Google Analytics sets no cookies. Google's tag still loads and may send Google a basic signal that a page was viewed, without any cookie or identifier.
Once you accept, Google Analytics sets the following cookies:
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique visitors by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. | 2 years |
| _ga_GPGB5MCSNX | Maintains session state and tracks how you use the website across pages. | 2 years |
How to withdraw consent: click "Cookie settings" at the foot of any page and choose "Essential only". Google Analytics stops collecting straight away and we delete its cookies from your browser. You can also install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on to block Google Analytics on every website.
For more information about how Google handles your data, please visit Google's Privacy Policy and Google Analytics Data Safeguards.
Local Storage
We use your browser's local storage to remember your choices, so we do not need to ask you each time you visit:
- sj-cookie-consent - whether you accepted Google Analytics or chose "Essential only".
- sj-stats-objection - present only if you switched off anonymous site statistics.
Local storage does not expire automatically. You can clear it at any time through your browser settings, after which we will ask you again.
Managing Cookies in Your Browser
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically find these in the "Options", "Settings" or "Preferences" menu of your browser. The following links provide guidance for the most common browsers:
Blocking cookies does not switch off our anonymous site statistics, because they do not use cookies. To switch those off, use "Cookie settings" at the foot of any page.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this cookie policy from time to time to reflect changes in our use of cookies or for other operational, legal or regulatory reasons. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Email: info@smithjohnson.co.uk
- Company: Smith & Johnson
For more information about your privacy rights and how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.
Have a question about our use of cookies?
Email us and a member of the team will get back to you.