Let's talk cookies
Introduction
This policy applies to all cookies used by Focus Business Solutions Limited ['Focus'] on its websites. For information on how Focus uses your personal data more broadly, please read our privacy policy.
We split cookies into three categories — essential, analytics, and marketing — and you decide which non-essential categories we can use. You can change your mind at any time via the Cookie preferences link in the footer.
What are cookies?
A cookie is a small piece of text that a website saves on your device. When you return, the website can read its own cookies to remember things like your preferences or whether you're signed in.
Some browsers also include similar storage mechanisms (e.g. localStorage). For PECR purposes we treat these the same as cookies, your consent applies to both.
The categories we use
When you arrive on the site for the first time, you'll see a banner asking which categories you allow. Until you decide, only essential cookies are set.
You can:
- Accept all — turn on essential, analytics, and marketing.
- Reject all — only essential cookies are used; nothing else loads.
- Customise — pick categories individually.
Your decision is saved in your browser's local storage under the key `focus_consent`, where it stays until you change your choice or clear browser storage. If we add new services or change categories, we'll re-prompt you.
Essential cookies
These are needed for the site to work. They cannot be turned off, because without them the site can't deliver the features you've asked for (loading pages, submitting forms securely, remembering your cookie choice).
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| `focus_consent` (browser storage, not strictly a cookie) | Focus | Records your cookie category choices | Until you change your choice or clear browser storage |
| Session cookie | Focus | Keeps your session active while you browse | Session |
| CSRF token | Focus | Prevents cross-site request forgery on forms | Session |
Analytics cookies
These help us understand how the site is used so we can make it better. We see aggregate patterns — most-viewed pages, where people get stuck, how fast pages load — never individuals. They are only set if you give consent.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| `_ga`, `_ga_*` | Google Analytics 4 (via Google Tag Manager) | Distinguishes unique visitors and sessions | Up to 2 years |
| `_gid` | Google Analytics 4 | Distinguishes unique visitors | 24 hours |
| `ph_*_posthog`, `ph_session_id` | PostHog (EU cloud) | Anonymised product analytics, session recordings, and in-product surveys. Hosted in the EU. Lets us see how the site and tools are actually used so we can fix what's frustrating and improve what's working. | Up to 1 year |
| `hubspotutk`, `__hssc`, `__hssrc`, `__hstc` | HubSpot | Tracks visits so a form submission can be tied to your prior browsing | Up to 13 months |
We never sell or share analytics data with third parties for their own purposes.
Marketing cookies
These let us measure ad campaigns and embed third-party content like LinkedIn and YouTube. They are only set if you give consent. If you decline marketing cookies, embedded videos may show a placeholder until you allow them.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| `bcookie`, `lidc`, `li_sugr`, `UserMatchHistory`, `AnalyticsSyncHistory` | LinkedIn Insight Tag | Measures LinkedIn ad campaigns and lets us build retargeting audiences | Session – 2 years |
| `VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE`, `YSC`, `PREF`, `CONSENT` | YouTube (Google) | Set when a YouTube video player loads | Session – 2 years |
How long are cookies saved for?
Cookies are either:
- Session cookies — deleted as soon as you close your browser. Used for security and to remember things during a single visit.
- Persistent cookies — kept for the lifetime listed in the tables above, then automatically deleted. You can clear them sooner via your browser's settings.
How do I update my preferences?
There are three ways:
- In the footer. Click Cookie preferences at the bottom of any page on this site to reopen the choice panel.
- Browser settings. Every modern browser lets you block or delete cookies. The exact steps differ by browser, check your browser's help pages.
- Email us. If you'd like us to delete the data we hold about you, contact our Data Protection Officer at dpoffice@focusadvice.tech.
Changes to this policy
We update this policy whenever we add or remove a service that uses cookies. When we make a material change, we re-prompt you via the cookie banner the next time you visit.