MIKE PEMBERTON devoted many hours of dedicated study to the final year of his degree from Teesside University's School of Computing.

The hard work has paid off, as he prepares to graduate tomorrow with a first class BSc (Hons) Computing and Networks degree. He will also receive two prizes from the school -the Catherine Dummigan Memorial Prize and the Dean's Award.

Mr Pemberton, 23, is originally from Eston, Middlesbrough, and now works as an infrastructure and networks consultant for Waterstons Ltd, in Durham.

He said: "My fiancee, Lizzi, joked that I put in a ridiculous amount of hours in my final year, so I am over the moon to have achieved a first class and won these awards. I am the first in the family to graduate from university and all my relatives phoned me up straight away to congratulate me."

In his new role, he provides consultancy services in IT, including infrastructure and network technologies, to clients across the UK.

He said: "It is really enjoyable; I find it really interesting to see lots of different clients.

There is variety as I am travelling round the country going into organisations and getting to know their technologies. Every day is something different.

"I would recommend the degree, not just the technical aspects, which have really helped with my job, but the social aspect as well.

"I got to work with like minded people and it was nice to talk about the subjects with the lecturers. My people skills really improved. Report writing was also a big feature as well, which has helped in my new business role."

Mr Pemberton is a former student of Sacred Heart RC School, in Redcar, and Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough.