A group of friends who all studied together and went on to set up a multi-media company have celebrated graduating and receiving an award in recognition of their entrepreneurship.

Emily Dodd studied wildlife media and with adventure media student Alex Fowkes and Sam Burton, who studied photography at the University of Cumbria’s Institute of the Arts, collaborated to set themselves up in business in 2015.

A year ago, Tomco became a private limited company and alongside their studies, the team has been working on projects inside the university and for external organisations.

They joined hundreds of other Institute of the Arts graduates in receiving their awards from the university.

Praising the university for their support Alex said clients have developed an interest in their work which has seen them secure some high profile commissions.

He said: “We’ve just been asked to work with the United Nations on a project while closer to home we’re also working with M-Sport.”

The company is poised to expand with students from the university likely recruits.

Roddy Hunter, director of the Institute of the Arts, said: “We prepare and support our students to enter industry but they’re also so entrepreneurial.

“We really need to harness that creative potential in Carlisle to help us develop this city as a culturally vibrant place.”