Published by 
We are absolutely delighted to have been named in the shortlist for the ‘Third Sector Website of the Year’ at the UK Dev Awards 2023. This is such a fantastic achievement for our website development team. The recognition is a testament to their hard work and dedication.
This website means a lot to us as an agency as the positive impact it will have, and has already had for refugees seeking education throughout the UK, is amazing and so worthy of the recognition it is receiving.
But, who are we?
We are Hewitt Matthews, a digital marketing agency based in Portsmouth. We started our journey from two college friends with a passion for web and marketing. Since then, the agency has become a trusted partner to a range of household brand names, exciting start-ups and truly impactful organisations around the world in providing award-winning web and marketing services.
How did the project come about?
Refugee Education UK (REUK), STAR & Universities of Sanctuary (UoS) approached us to create an online platform making it easier for refugees to search and apply for higher education placements as, due to the war in Ukraine and the Taliban invasion of Kabul, universities had seen a large increase in student applications.
Thanks to this new interactive directory and application platform, providers can now highlight course information and key support on their own online profiles.
The platform, created by Hewitt Matthews, is the first of its kind in the UK and offers a valuable resource for both refugees and higher education establishments. Universities and colleges can provide information and support on their courses through their own online profiles, making it easier for refugees to access the information they need to make informed decisions about their education.
The site has had over 56 signups from universities (and counting) including, King’s College London, Birmingham City University, University of Bath, University of East Anglia, & more in just a matter of weeks.
Reece Matthews, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Hewitt Matthews, said ‘the agency was honoured to be nominated for the award. He noted that the project was inspiring and offered a lifeline to students who have had their studies disrupted due to conflict.’ Carl Hewitt, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, added that ‘working with the three organisations was a privilege and that we are proud as an agency, to have created an accessible platform that was valuable to both students and higher education establishments.’
Feedback from the client has been overwhelmingly positive, with Siobhan Coskeran, Campaigns & Communications Manager at Student Action for Refugees (STAR), praising the agency for its friendly and responsive team and the end result of the project.
The web development team is looking forward to attending the awards ceremony in February and celebrating this fantastic achievement, alongside other finalists.
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
