COMPUTER coding clubs for children and free training for job-seekers are among the plans for a local entrepreneur.

Chris Ryu has founded The Honest Agency, one of very few digital agencies in the UK to be set up as social enterprises.

It will put its profits back into the community through special training projects.

Operating from premises at Poole and Sturminster Newton, it will raise funds by building websites and mobile apps and providing digital marketing serices.

It says it will use under-used space at the premises of supportive businesses to provide training to candidates from seven to 70.

Mr Ryu is known locally for charity work as well as for his previous role as marketing manager for Poole and Yeovil Audi.

He has also been technical director of the agency Novus Digital and ran his own reef preservation organisation.

Mr Ryu said: “I’m very excited to be able to give back to the community through this new venture.

“I came from a deprived background, but I was very fortunate that Poole Audi gave me a great opportunity seven years ago.

“They helped me to grow and realise my potential – now it’s time for me to give that opportunity to others”.

He added: “We plan on running children’s coding clubs to inspire the next generation and free digital courses for job-seekers to help the current one.

“There will be drop-in clinics helping local businesses to do digital better and some really unique career opportunities for long-term jobseekers”.

The agency is listed on the crowd-funding platform kickstarter.com, in a bid to raise funds for its first community projects while it establishes itself.

It aims to create 10 local jobs this year and provide more than 200 Dorset job-seekers with new skills as well as giving more than 300 local children the opportunity to learn coding.