INTERACTIVE Media students from East Durham College have been helping local clothing company Dewhirst Factory Outlet get online.

As part of a social enterprise project, Dewhirst’s Store Manager Kelly Huntingdon briefed students on increasing the company’s online presence.

As a team the whole class helped to create an active social media output for the company through Facebook and Twitter profiles.

But in smaller teams within the class, students were also tasked to design a new website for the company which they then pitched to the bosses at Dewhirst.

AT a Dragon’s Den style presentation, Kelly and her team selected a website design created by students Laura Tupling, Laura Gleghorn, Sophie Gray and Ashleigh Duff.

The website is now in the final stages of being built and is set to go live this week.

Kelly Huntingdon, store manager at Dewhirst Factory Outlet, said: “It has been fantastic and a great opportunity to work alongside lecturer Ruth Cabourne and the students from East Durham College on creating our store’s new website.

“To see the finished project coming together is amazing and I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thanks to everyone who took part in the project.”

East Durham College ICT lecturer, Ruth Cabourne, added: “This has been a brilliant task for the students to be involved in.

“It’s excellent for them to have this opportunity to go out into the local community to help local businesses raise their profile online and get real hands on experience working for a client.

“The class have all worked really hard on the tasks and I hope Dewhirst are delighted with the end product, it was great to work with them.”

For more information on courses at East Durham College visit eastdurham.ac.uk or call the student services team on 0191 518 8222.