THE Chartered Institute of Marketing’s 'The Pitch' competition, sponsored by Edgewell Personal Care, owners of the global brand Wilkinson Sword, and Mintel, is now open for entries.
The Pitch is open to all second year and above undergraduate students studying at university across the UK, including Northern Ireland, who are either studying marketing or completing a course with marketing as a module.
Students are asked to develop a 2,500-word written marketing plan in teams of two or three, and then 12 short-listed teams will be asked to do a face-to- face pitch in Moor Hall, CIM's headquarters in Berkshire - the home of marketing - next March.
Watched closely by the marketing industry, short-listed teams can expect not just a boost to their bank balance (a £2,500 prize is up for grabs for first price and second place receiving £1,000) but also increased employability prospects as the event will be covered in the press, on the CIM website and in a social media campaign.
The views of finalists on the night will be captured and reported on, meaning the event will help put attending students firmly in the eyes of future employers and the market in general.
As CIM is the largest professional marketing organisation in the world, the event offers students the chance to step into the spotlight and not only compete with others from across the UK but also secure some valuable personal PR.
The benefits don’t stop there, with students able to secure valuable life skills through having the chance to present in front of judges from CIM, Unilad, Mintel and Student Universe, to name just a few leading brands already confirmed.
Alongside this, if local students are short-listed, the Ireland CIM board will support them further with a special event to recognise their achievement.
This year’s brief explores changes in young people’s shaving habits and asks students how can Wilkinson Sword step change the recruitment of young men and women into their shaving range and so build a band of advocates.
Lots of changes in shaving have taken place over the years, and in the era of the bearded hipster or Game of Throne extra (I must confess I sometimes find it hard to tell the difference). it is a fair challenge to students to see how they facilitate a big brand to explore new markets including novel ways of applying old products in different ways and regions.
I would urge every student who qualifies to enter The Pitch and take advantage of this valuable opportunity. To find out more visit www.cim.co.uk/events/the-pitch and register before December 15.
:: Carol Magill is CIM network manager for Ireland
