A WEBSITE design company set up by two North-East graduates has not had to venture far to find clients in its first year.

Itchyrobot was set up by University of Teesside graduates Ben Timney and Rob Adams in March 2010.

The business is based at the Innovation Centre, on Redcar’s Kirkleatham Business Park run by UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE), the business support subsidiary of Tata Steel for the regeneration of communities affected by changes in the steel industry.

Itchyrobot is now responsible for all UKSE’s IT support to tenants at The Innovation Centre and is also working with some of the other 40 companies based there, creating websites or providing IT support for them or their clients.

Mr Adams said: “It was a real bonus to get premises, support and some contracts for our services all under one roof.”

Other clients secured by the firm include an RAF radar base, as well as customers in the retail, training and charity sectors.

Mr Timney said: “We are very pleased with the way our first year has gone as we haven’t really had to actively seek work – it has come to us.

“Now we feel ready to move the business on to the next stage in its development.”

Mr Adams added: “Now we have a new business plan in place for 2011 and will be specifically targeting small and medium-sized businesses in the North East.

“Many of them now have elderly and rather dated websites, but feel they cannot afford to spend thousands of pounds re-developing them at a time when budgets are stretched.

“With well-developed systems and tested methods in place, we now feel able to offer deals that will give companies a bespoke website.

“It’s a strategy that we believe will bring us clients in sufficient numbers to grow our business right through the year.”

Simon Hamilton, regional manager for UKSE, said: “Some people were more cautious about starting new ventures in 2010, but Ben and Rob bring such complementary skills sets and talents to Itchyrobot and work so hard that we knew they would make it. We are delighted that our support has helped them make such a strong start.”

UKSE Innovation Centres, at Kirkleatham Business Park, near Redcar, and on Hartlepool’s Queens Meadow Business Park, currently house about 80 Tees Valley businesses.

A £4.7m extension at the Innovation Centre in Hartlepool is due for completion this year.