A YOUNG woman who grew up near Chop Gate and now designs web sites on the country's aristocrats has graduated with an MBA.

Nina Hugill, 25, works on various computer-related tasks for the famous Burke's Peerage and Gentry series. And she does it all from an office on Stokesley industrial estate.

Burke's is completing a project on Scottish aristocracy and planning new books about the English regions. Sadly, Miss Hugill couldn't supply the D&S Times with updated any information on Cleveland and North Yorkshire's top families.

She attended Chop Gate and Stokesley schools, then took an HND and degree in business studies at New College Durham.

Following that, she joined Burke's in 1999 and studied for her MBA while working at its Stokesley office, where there is a staff of seven.

She grew up at Hallgarth Farm, Raysdale, with parents Eddy and Shena, and brothers Fraser, 29, and 21-year-old Alistair. The family also operates Whitehouse Farm, Great Broughton.

Speaking about her internet role, she said: "I don't have a background in history or genealogy. We have other researchers and editorial staff who are experts. I mainly concentrate on the web sites. Having said that, I suppose it's a rather unusual job."

"I heard about it through some friends, who said the firm was looking for a new member of staff."

The Stokesley office is involved with both web site and book projects, and staff liaise with editors and staff elsewhere. The famous books, and now the web site, trace the history of aristocratic families, some with histories going back 1,000 years, Miss Hugill said.

On her MBA success, she said: "The company sponsored my studies with the International Management Centres Association in Buckingham. My course was on a part-time basis over three years. I had tasks involving problem-solving, and learning more about the company and the markets in which we operate.

"The course was held on-line, so I had an on-line library and on-line discussions, rather than face-to-face discussions."

Her graduation ceremony took place at Winton House, near Edinburgh, which is home to Sir Francis Ogilvy.

The last national edition of Burke's Peerage was published in 1999, so an updated version is in the pipeline for next year. It would be the 107th edition.

"It's basically a who's who of the great families - it's like a mini-history of Britain," she said.

Away from work, she enjoys walking on the Cleveland Hills and socialising with friends in Great Ayton.

Although many of her old school pals now lived elsewhere, particularly London, she said modern computer technology and e-business meant it was increasingly easier for young people to work almost anywhere