The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has launched its 2024/25 global student marketing competition, The Pitch, offering marketing students a real-world creative challenge.
The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students worldwide who are studying marketing or business with a marketing module. Teams have until Monday, 2 December 2024, to submit their entries.
Now in its fourteenth year, The Pitch provides an opportunity for aspiring marketers to showcase their skills by responding to a live brief from a major organisation. This year, the competition is held in partnership with Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity. Participating students will be tasked with developing a marketing strategy to increase the membership of Dogs Trust’s Companions Club, focusing on effective engagement and audience growth.
Dogs Trust, a charity established in 1891, has been dedicated to improving the welfare of dogs in the UK and globally. With a presence across five continents, including countries such as Thailand, India, and the USA, Dogs Trust plays a pivotal role in promoting responsible dog ownership. As economic pressures increase, the charity aims to strengthen its marketing efforts to better connect with supporters, making this year’s competition particularly relevant for students entering the marketing field.
Practical Experience for Future Marketers
The competition offers student marketers valuable practical experience, with finalists invited to present their ideas to a panel of industry experts at the live finals in March 2025. The competition is divided into undergraduate and postgraduate categories, and the top ten teams from each category will compete in separate finals on 13 and 14 March 2025. The winning teams will be announced at the conclusion of the finals, gaining not only the title of Marketers of the Future but also significant prizes.
Debbie Clark, Group Head of Individual Giving at Dogs Trust, expressed the charity’s enthusiasm for the partnership with CIM: “This collaboration offers aspiring marketers a fantastic opportunity to gain practical experience by solving a real-life challenge and developing a marketing plan for Dogs Trust’s Companions Club. It’s a wonderful chance for students to have fun, engage in creative thinking, and showcase their skills which will undoubtedly be beneficial as they embark on their marketing careers.”
The competition is designed to provide students with the opportunity to pitch their marketing ideas in a professional setting, helping them develop skills essential for their future careers. By engaging in this process, students enhance their employability and gain real-world insights into the challenges and rewards of a career in marketing.
Building Confidence and Career Prospects
Maggie Jones, CIM’s Director of Qualifications and Partnerships, highlighted the value of the competition: “The quality of teams entering The Pitch is always impressive. Every year, the innovative ideas and concepts from the participants show the huge potential of student marketers and the value The Pitch provides as a platform for them to develop their skills, build their confidence, and offer them a glimpse at how rewarding a career in marketing can be.”
Jones further noted the benefits of participating in the competition. In addition to the experience gained, winning teams are awarded a year’s CIM membership, discounts on CIM qualifications, and the prestigious Marketers of the Future title. For students, the competition offers a unique opportunity to strengthen their CVs and gain a competitive edge in the job market.
Success Stories from Previous Competitions
Previous winners have praised the competition for its role in their professional development. Last year’s undergraduate winners, The Three Marketeers, from Newcastle University, reflected on their experience: “Embarking on such an exciting challenge and receiving positive feedback from the judges during the live final was a real ‘pinch me’ moment for us. We are immensely grateful to the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Every Youth for the opportunity to showcase our skills in such an interesting and unique competition.”
The postgraduate category winners, StrathStrategists, from the University of Strathclyde, also found the competition rewarding. Lucy Cassels, Lucy Mitchell, and Cara Garvie stated: “Taking part in CIM’s The Pitch was at times difficult but a very fulfilling experience. Working together as a team allowed us to utilise our strengths to overcome any challenges and, in the end, help us improve our professional and personal development.”
The Pitch’s Growing Influence in Education
The competition has grown steadily in popularity, with many UK universities now integrating The Pitch into their marketing degree programmes. The initiative also complements the CIM Accredited Degree partnership programme, which maps marketing and business degrees against the learning outcomes in CIM qualifications. As part of this programme, eligible students can use their competition work to complete the Marketing in Action assessment, leading to a Certificate in Professional and Digital Marketing.
Through The Pitch, CIM is fostering the next generation of marketing professionals by providing students with practical, real-world experience and the chance to engage with major organisations. As the competition continues to grow, it remains a key initiative for students seeking to enhance their marketing knowledge and career prospects.
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