Pebble’s path to a strengthened online presence
An innovative Teesside University scheme which benefits businesses and helps graduates is enabling a Darlington web designer to gain vital work experience.
Adam Hogg is completing a DigitalCity Innovation industrial placement with Pebble, which develops financial management software for schools.
The University can arrange DigitalCity Innovation graduate placements for businesses with a specific need such as digital firm Pebble, which wanted to streamline its online presence by redesigning three existing websites to create one main company website as part of its strategic plans for growth and to facilitate its entry into new markets.
The Newcastle firm, which employs 19 people, has taken Adam on a six month placement. Adam, 21, who is two months into his placement, graduated from Teesside University last year with a BA (Hons) Web and Multimedia.
He said: 'I applied for the placement opportunity after seeing it on the University’s website. I had an enjoyable time at Teesside and learned a wide range of skills which prepared me for employment.
'My studies at Teesside revolved around being creative and innovative, with emphasis on creating new and exciting ideas for a range of platforms.'
He added: 'For my placement at Pebble I’ve been assigned the role of web developer, designing for both web and print. My main project is to develop a new website which integrates with three existing sites which Pebble own, making this more appealing to our target audience.'
Janis Green, Pebble chief executive, said: 'With the business growing and developing its websites to meet varying needs, we needed to bring together three very different websites into one. Adam’s role involves being responsible for the design of that one website.
'With the placement we were specifically looking for a design expert to help with the achievement of our strategic goals, which are to gain greater existing market share, to penetrate new markets and provide a platform from which to promote our new product Fund Manager 8, which allows schools to comprehensively manage all their parent payments.'
Janis, winner of the North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 Best Use of Technology award sponsored by Teesside University, added: 'Adam impressed us with his commitment, clear understanding of the brief and real desire to get involved and develop something completely new for us.'
Cheryl Evans, of DigitalCity Innovation, said: 'In response to increasing demand from SMEs operating in the digital sector for extended graduated internships, DigitalCity Innovation is able to offer a cost effective method of attracting high quality graduates into business and help with specific needs by providing a graduate, or postgraduate placement for 26 weeks and provide a subsidy against their salary cost.'
The DigitalCity Innovation and Growth project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, securing £1,865,706 ERDF investment. The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013 is bringing over £300m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.
