Latest news: The right pitch

Student marketers are being invited to demonstrate their business acumen by taking part in an apprentice-style challenge. 14/10/2011

The Diabetes Awareness Group and The Chartered Institute of Marketing are making a final call for entries for ‘The Pitch’. Students must develop an innovative diabetes awareness campaign and pitch it to a panel of leading industry judges shortly after World Diabetes Day (14 November 2011).

The competition aims to support the group’s collective goal to raise awareness of diabetes, and is open to marketing students across England, including The Chartered Institute of Marketing’s studying members. There will be 45 teams of three students battling it out to deliver a pitch using a real-life business scenario to develop a marketing solution, to support the Department of Health’s ambition, which will then be pitched to the judging panel. 

Teams must use their marketing skills to draw upon resources as they compete to deliver the brief, provided by Diabetes Awareness Group. Contestants must use creative flair, strategic thinking and financial expertise, putting their skills to the test. Marketing students have the opportunity to prove their worth in a real business context, showcasing their skills to some of the industry’s biggest players.

‘Diabetes is a serious illness which can cause disability and early death. However, much can be done to prevent these poor outcomes and Type 2 diabetes itself can often be prevented. For this to happen, it is vitally important that everyone is aware of what diabetes is and why it matters. I am delighted that The Pitch has chosen diabetes for this year's competition and I wish everyone luck,’ said Dr Rowan Hillson, National Clinical Director for Diabetes.

Winners of The Pitch will be announced at the Diabetes UK Conference in March 2012; rewards for the winners include membership to The Chartered Institute of Marketing for a year, campaign entry into The Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Marketing Excellence Awards and their studying institution will receive the Institute's Shield for a year.

‘The Pitch 2012 is set to be bigger and better than ever before. It is set to be an exciting and fiercely fought competition which will help students gain valuable experience whilst raising the diabetes cause across England,’ added Diane Earles, Regional Director of The Chartered Institute of Marketing.

The deadline for entries is 31 October 2011.

For further information or to download an entry form, visit The Chartered Institute of Marketing.