Cookie Policy
We use cookies to make Skillspotter work, understand how it's used, and provide support. Here's exactly what we use and why — and how to control it.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website or use an app. They help the platform remember your preferences, keep you logged in, and understand how people use our services.
Cookies are not viruses or harmful programs. They cannot access other files on your device or collect information beyond what's described in this policy.
How we use cookies
Skillspotter uses cookies for the following purposes:
- To keep you logged in and maintain your session securely
- To remember your preferences and settings
- To understand how users navigate and use the platform (analytics)
- To provide live chat and customer support functionality
- To detect and prevent fraud and abuse
We do not use cookies for advertising or to track you across other websites. We do not sell cookie data to third parties.
Types of cookies we use
These cookies are strictly necessary for the platform to function. They enable core features like user authentication, session management, and security. The platform cannot work without them and they cannot be disabled.
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| ss_session | Skillspotter | Maintains your login session | Session |
| ss_csrf | Skillspotter | Protects against cross-site request forgery | Session |
| ss_prefs | Skillspotter | Stores your cookie preferences | 1 year |
| __stripe_mid | Stripe | Fraud prevention for payments | 1 year |
| __stripe_sid | Stripe | Fraud prevention for payments | 30 minutes |
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with Skillspotter — which pages are visited, how long people spend on them, and where users drop off. This data is anonymous and used solely to improve the platform. We use Google Analytics for this purpose.
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics | Maintains session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes users within 24 hrs | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Throttles request rate | 1 minute |
These cookies are set by Tawk, our live chat and support tool. They allow the chat widget to function, remember your previous conversations, and help our support team assist you more effectively. If disabled, the live chat feature will not be available.
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| TawkConnectionTime | Tawk.to | Tracks chat connection time | Session |
| twk_idm_key | Tawk.to | Identifies returning chat visitors | 6 months |
| twk_uuid_* | Tawk.to | Unique visitor identifier for chat | 6 months |
Your preferences
You can manage your cookie preferences at any time using the toggles above, or use the buttons below. Your choice is saved for one year. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are required for the platform to function.
You can also manage cookies directly through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to view, block, or delete cookies. Note that blocking certain cookies may affect the functionality of Skillspotter.
Third-party cookies
Some cookies on Skillspotter are set by third-party services we use. These providers have their own privacy and cookie policies:
- Stripe — stripe.com/gb/privacy
- Google Analytics — policies.google.com/privacy
- Tawk.to — tawk.to/privacy-policy
We do not permit any third-party advertising cookies or tracking pixels on the Skillspotter platform.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this policy, please get in touch:
Email us at
hello@skillspotter.co.uk