A WEB solutions company expects to increase its profits fivefold thanks to an award-winning student.

Visualsoft UK, in Middlesbrough, said profits were likely to jump from about £50,000 to £250,000 a year after university student Ali Zaidi created a web directory system for one of its clients.

The Internal Search Engine Optimised Directory System restructured the client's website into topics, categories and subcategories and Mr Zaidi made each page more accessible by adding search engines.

The system has since been sold to other clients.

Mr Zaidi, 26, who studies web development at The University of Teesside, worked on the project arranged by the Teesside STEP Agency.

Earlier this month, he won the Shell STEP award for the Most Enterprising Student in the North-East and will represent the region at the national finals next month.