TWO teams of rival Cirencester College students will be going head to head in an Apprentice style challenge to win the chance to be web designers for a local business.

Linda Purvis, owner of Encore designer clothes agency in Cirencester, approached the college to see if any students wanted to take part in the challenge, based on the BBC One show starring Lord Alan Sugar.

The pupils, aged 16 to18, are all part of the college’s Business Career Academy programme, and have split into teams called Prestige and Elite to create a new website for Encore.

For many of them, this is the first time they have entered the world of business, and they are being coached by chairman of the Business Career Academy board Mike Hellens and lecturer Ian McLarty.

“Both teams will present their ideas to Linda in February and she will decide which one to go with,” said Mike. “Then they will get together to launch the website in Easter this year.

“The business academy builds the bridge between theory and reality. They get good work experience.”

Student Becca Gellar said she thought the project was fantastic fun so far, adding: “It’s good because it is putting what you have learned in class into practice.”

Each team of five students is now working hard to beat their rivals and impress Linda with their website designs.

“Working with the students so far has been a fantastic experience,” said Linda. “They have really taken the ideas we’ve given them and run with them.

“This is Encore’s 18th year and we wanted to celebrate that. The shop has just had a great makeover for our relaunch this year and going live with a wonderful website designed by emerging local young talent is a wonderful opportunity.”