De Montfort University BA marketing and media postgraduate Emma Neary, 22, was awarded a certificate by the firm at a special prize-giving ceremony after gaining a first-class honours degree.

Sponsorship of the award forges links between the university and GI Solutions Group and followed the recent recruitment of six graduates and two youngsters on placements.

The new staff will work in marketing analytics and new business development for the data and web arm of the direct marketing services support group, GI Insight & Cognesia.

GI Solutions Group has about 275 staff and a £40m turnover. Its three divisions include GI Insight & Cognesia, which handles data, GI Red, which focuses on creative work, and GI Solutions, which handles print and direct mail.

GI Insight head of strategic analytics Phil Matthews said: “Technology and customer expectations are changing by the day and universities are crucial for exposing people to all this new information.

“In the workplace meanwhile they bring a fresh new approach to the way we do things. They have great ideas and want to succeed – an excellent mix of knowledge and excitement.”

University head of marketing Julia Cook said: “Emma did a placement year at Warner Bros and with her theoretical knowledge and practical application has flourished in her final year.”

Neary added: “I really enjoyed my placement year and gained great insight into PR within the film industry. I was able to bring that experience back to university and want to kick-start my career.”

GI Solutions senior group marketing executive and past award winner Matt Lawrenson said: “Four years to the day I was graduating in marketing, from De Montfort University. Emma has excelled.”