The Pitch 2025: Why you should seize every opportunity

Congratulations to this year's winners!

A huge well done to the undergraduate winners Elliot Davey and Demir Timura from team AdEd, the postgraduate winners Sandra Xu and Zephyr Zhang from team Paws and Claws Crew and all the finalists of The Pitch 2025 competition! After months of throwing themselves into creative thinking and marketing planning, this year’s competition has officially wrapped up, and the talent on display has been staggering. It’s inspiring to see the level of innovation, dedication and teamwork shown by the next generation of marketers.

The Pitch gives individuals invaluable practical knowledge and a chance to step outside of their comfort zone by applying their creativity and passion to a real-life marketing challenge. Teams of university students are presented with a marketing challenge from a leading organisation, and they must think outside of the box to come up with an imaginative solution. During the final, shortlisted teams get the opportunity to present their ideas to an expert panel of judges.

For this year’s competition, CIM partnered with Dogs Trust, who set the finalists the task of coming up with a marketing plan to grow their Companion Club membership. The winning teams not only won the title of ‘Marketers of the Future’, but also a £600 team voucher to spend on a CIM qualification, one year’s free CIM membership and the opportunity to name a litter of puppies from Dogs Trust. 

Whether you win or lose, you receive a wealth of career-boosting benefits that will support your future employability, giving you the chance to grow your confidence, both personally and professionally.                             

Stepping outside your comfort zone

Putting yourself forward for something new, especially early in your career, can feel incredibly daunting. It’s normal to have doubts about whether you’re going to be good enough to try or even to think that other people will be better than you. The reality is that most people only get better at what they do by putting themselves forwards for opportunities they aren’t 100% ready for, It’s how we grow.

The finalists in this year’s competition didn’t wait until they had “enough” experience to enter. They took on the challenge anyway and came out the other side with skills, confidence, and connections that will benefit them for years to come. On top of this, they’ve now got first-hand experience of pitching and presenting to bolster their CV.  

Marketing as a career is fundamentally built on innovation and trying new things. Taking the leap, and even failing helps you learn and deepens your knowledge and levels of resilience. Entering a competition like The Pitch might push you outside of your comfort zone, but there are so many benefits on offer from taking part that it’s worth the risk. And as I like to say, if you weren’t ready for the opportunity, it wouldn’t be in front of you.

The power of real-world experience

There’s only so much you can learn about marketing without putting that knowledge to the test. The real experience comes when you can apply the theory to a real life project, address challenges, and adapt your ideas based on feedback; which is why we are seeing a positive evolution in marketing education that emphasises the importance of blending formal learning with practical experience.

That’s exactly why The Pitch exists. As a bridge between education and experience, it’s a chance to enhance your employability and practical marketing skills by developing and presenting your ideas to leading industry experts from well-renowned brands.

Participating in The Pitch gives you the opportunity to receive valuable guidance and constructive feedback from mentors and judges which will help you evaluate and refine your ideas, transforming them into actionable plans. Feedback that challenges the way you think is crucial for career growth, as it pushes you to rethink your approach and adapt to new perspectives. Learning from experienced professionals who have built successful campaigns and marketing strategies can be particularly enlightening, providing insights that will shape your future career trajectory.

Networking that actually matters

One of the biggest benefits of getting involved in opportunities like The Pitch is the chance to network with leading industry experts, future marketing peers, and potential mentors, all of which can help support your career long term.

By taking part, entrants to The Pitch get direct access to marketing professionals who can offer advice and career guidance. Where most networking opportunities can feel daunting for young professionals, The Pitch offers a unique platform that also facilitates networking.

But networking isn’t just about who you meet, it’s also how you present yourself. This is where personal branding comes in. Whether it’s on LinkedIn, building your own portfolio, or even how you communicate your ideas, building a personal brand around what you enjoy helps people to remember you for all the right reasons.

Final thoughts

Whether you competed in The Pitch this year, thought about applying, or are considering it for the future, know that taking part in opportunities like this can genuinely make a difference in your career.

So, the next time an opportunity comes up, whether it’s a competition, a networking event, or a project that you’re not sure you can tackle, say yes anyway. You won’t regret giving yourself the chance to develop as a young professional and build experience that set you apart.

Your future self will thank you for it.

If you want to start shaping your career now, why not consider a membership with CIM? Whether you’re just starting your marketing career, or wanting to stand out to future employers, we are here to provide the support you need to continue your professional development. Members also get access to exclusive content and join a global network of marketing professionals.

Find out which membership is right for you here