About this website and cookie privacy notice

This notice explains how OFTEC uses personal data and cookies when you visit and use the OFTEC website.

It applies to information collected when you browse the website, use website features, contact OFTEC through forms or the chatbot, or interact with cookies and similar technologies.

This notice focuses on the use of the website itself.

For full details about OFTEC as a data controller, including contact details, lawful bases for processing and how personal data is used in connection with OFTEC services, please refer to the Privacy Notices available in the Policy section of this website.

Information collected when you use the website

When you visit the website certain information may be collected automatically. This may include:

• IP address
• browser type and device information
• pages visited and interactions with the website
• date and time of visits
• information collected through cookies and similar technologies

If you submit forms, enquiries or messages through the website, the information you provide may also be processed in order to respond to your request.

If you use the website chatbot, you may choose to provide personal information such as your name, contact details and details of your enquiry. This information is used to respond to your request and provide support. Please avoid sharing sensitive personal information through the chatbot as this service is intended for general queries.

The lawful basis for processing this information is our legitimate interests in responding to enquiries and providing website functionality.

Website hosting

The OFTEC website is hosted by Fasthosts.

The hosting infrastructure used for the website is located in the United Kingdom, including data centres in London and Worcester.

This means that information collected through the website is generally processed and stored within the UK. However, some third party services used on the website may involve processing outside the United Kingdom.

Use of cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website.

They allow the website to operate correctly, remember preferences and understand how visitors use the site.

The website uses a combination of cookies set by OFTEC and cookies set by third party services embedded within the website.

Some cookies are necessary for the operation of the website. Others are used to support functionality, monitoring and embedded content.

Where required by law, users may be asked to provide consent before certain cookies are used.

The use of cookies is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 and guidance issued by the Information Commissioner's Office.

Some cookies used on the website are set by third-party services embedded within the site, such as video players or chatbot services. These third parties may collect information about your interaction with the content and may combine it with information they already hold about you. OFTEC does not control how these third parties use the information collected through their cookies.

Categories of cookies used on the website

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are required for the technical operation of the website. They may be used to:

• maintain website sessions
• support secure areas of the website
• ensure the stability and security of website services

Without these cookies some website functionality may not operate correctly.

Functional cookies

Functional cookies allow the website to provide enhanced features and services.

These may include cookies used by the website chatbot service to maintain a live conversation session and ensure the chat service operates correctly.

The website uses a chatbot service provided by Tawk.to, which may set cookies necessary to support chat functionality and maintain the connection during a session.

Performance and monitoring cookies

The website uses tools that monitor website performance and accessibility in order to improve user experience and ensure the website operates correctly.

This includes monitoring services provided by Monsido, which may place cookies used for website governance, accessibility monitoring and performance analysis.

These tools help identify issues such as broken links, accessibility problems and other website quality issues.

Analytics and advertising cookies

Some pages of the website may include embedded content from third party providers.

Where third-party services such as video providers or embedded platforms set cookies, information about your interaction with that content may be processed by those providers outside the United Kingdom in accordance with their own privacy policies.

For example, pages may include videos from YouTube. When these videos are viewed, cookies may be set by YouTube and related services operated by
Google. These cookies may be used by the provider to:

• deliver video content
• measure video usage and engagement
• personalise advertising and content
• support security and service functionality

These cookies are controlled by the third-party provider and may involve the processing of personal data outside the United Kingdom. 

Users should review the relevant third-party privacy information for more details about how those providers use personal data.

Managing cookies

You can manage or restrict cookies through your web browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

• view cookies stored on your device
• delete cookies
• block certain types of cookies

Please note that restricting cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of the website.

Where a cookie preference tool is available on the website, you may also use this to manage your cookie preferences.

Data sharing

Personal data collected through the website may be processed by service providers who support the operation of the website. This may include providers involved in:

• website hosting
• website monitoring and accessibility services
• chatbot services
• embedded media services

These providers process personal data on our behalf to support the operation of the website and related services, in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Some of these service providers may process personal data outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure personal data remains protected in line with UK data protection law.

Your data protection rights

Individuals have certain rights in relation to their personal data. Full details about individual rights, how to exercise them and how to make a data protection complaint are provided in the Privacy Notices available in the Policy section of this website. 

Personal data collected through the website is retained only for as long as necessary.

Changes to this notice

This notice may be updated from time to time to reflect changes to the website or to legal requirements.

The latest version will always be available on the website.

The Privacy Notice was last updated on 25th March 2026