NEXT GENERATION OF MARKETERS: SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED FOR NATIONWIDE STUDENT MARKETING COMPETITION

● The Chartered Institute of Marketing’s The Pitch competition shortlists top ten teams
● Sponsored by Boots, the competition challenges students to help the company tackle a real-life marketing challenge and raise awareness of its partnership with The Prince’s Trust
● £1,500 cash prize, one-year complimentary CIM membership and named the ‘Marketers of the Future’ available for competition winners

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has announced its shortlist of ten teams going through to the final round of their student competition, The Pitch. Now in its eleventh year, The Pitch is an international competition designed to recognise and reward the marketing talent of the future. It sees students from leading UK and international universities compete to respond to a real-life marketing challenge, in a bid to win the title of 'Marketers of the Future'.

This year the competition is sponsored by the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer, Boots. Teams are challenged to develop a consumer creative campaign to raise awareness of the partnership between Boots and The Prince’s Trust, bringing to life the expertise and ‘behind the scenes’ support the retailer provides for young people kickstarting their careers. With a £200,000 budget, the teams must incorporate earned, owned and paid media into ideas.

The top ten teams will pitch their campaigns in a live virtual final in front of business professionals from CIM, Boots and Mintel on Friday, 18 March 2022. The winning team will be named CIM’s ‘Marketers of the Future’ and receive a one-year complimentary CIM membership and a £1,500 cash prize (to be shared amongst the team).

Discussing the competition Pete Markey, Chief Marketing Officer at Boots UK said: “It’s been brilliant to receive entries from across the UK and internationally, and to see the high level of interest from young marketers keen to respond to our brief and putting their marketing skills to the test. We’re grateful to everyone who submitted and look forward to seeing the students present their ideas in the final.”

The university teams shortlisted include:
● Birmingham City University, Team BCUseful
● Bournemouth University, Team M&G
● DeMontfort University, Team NG
● University of Strathclyde, Team Powerpuff Pitchers
● The University of Sheffield & Sheffield Hallam University & University of Leeds, Team SSS-team
● Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Team TARUC yyds
● Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Team Musketeers
● London South Bank University, Team The ARK
● University of Liverpool, Team The Three Marketeers
● University of Wolverhampton, Team Unapologetic Marketers

Gemma Butler, Marketing Director at CIM, said: “The last few years have provided challenges for young people’s careers, so it’s inspiring to see the breadth of talent in the applicants - not just in the UK but across the globe, with two international marketing student teams making the shortlist for the first time.
“With the competition taking place virtually for the second year in a row, the students will need to draw upon their communication and presentation skills more than ever before. We’re very much looking forward to meeting the finalists and watching them bring their ideas to life.”

Jessica Rolph was a student at Leeds Beckett University reading a BA Hons in Marketing and Advertising Management when she entered The Pitch.

Discussing her experience, Rolph said: “Since winning the competition back in March 2021, I was so grateful to have the title of ‘Marketers of the Future’ under my belt. It really helped in job interviews showing how I had done something beyond my degree. Employers were really interested in the fact I had taken part and had been so successful which really boosted my confidence. I am really pleased to now be working with Estée Lauder Companies, in a marketing position.”

For more information on The Pitch, please view here: https://www.cim.co.uk/events/the-pitch/students/ 

ENDS

Notes to editors:
About CIM:
For over 100 years, CIM has supported the marketing sector. With over 20,000 members in more than 100 countries, CIM strives for business leaders and opinion formers to recognise the positive contribution professional marketing can bring to their organisations, the economy and wider society. We support, develop and represent marketers, organisations and the profession all over the world. Our ability to award Chartered Marketer status recognises a marketer’s commitment to staying current and abiding by a professional Code of Conduct. While our diverse range of training courses and world-renowned qualifications enable modern marketers to thrive in their roles and deliver long-term success for businesses. Find out more about CIM by visiting www.cim.co.uk 

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For further media information, please contact the Chartered Institute of Marketing press office at Good Relations on CIMTeam@goodrelations.co.uk

Media contacts
James Delves
CIM Head of PR and External Engagement
james.delves@cim.co.uk

Corinne Lavictoire
PR Executive
corinne.lavictoire@cim.co.uk