The Pitch kick-starts marketing careers.
This global competition is designed to give university students real-world experience for their first professional role in marketing. It is open to postgraduate and undergraduate students in their second or third year of study.
In teams of two or three, students apply their learning to a real-life marketing challenge set by a charity, enhancing their employability and practical marketing skills.
Partnered with:



The challenge
There will be two separate challenges for undergraduate and postgraduate students, with each challenge having its own final. And pay attention to this – those who make it through to the virtual final will be able to pitch their ideas to a panel of marketing experts.
Five teams from each category will make it through to the final and have the chance to showcase their talents on 15 March 2024. It is important to note that the Pitch competition does not allow postgraduate and undergraduate students to be on the same team.
Every Youth: Both challenges will be based on EveryYouth, a Charity Partner of Hays, and offers an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in their degree to a real-life challenge. Stand out, impress judges and be a part of the winning team.

Under-graduates
Considering the current economic climate, how can EveryYouth drive a positive online experience to increase engagement.
Post-graduates
Develop a volunteer engagement marketing strategy that is designed to attract and retain volunteers who are committed to the charity's mission. This should include strategies to recruit, train, and retain volunteers, as well as recognition and reward programs.
The Prizes
- Winner of The Pitch 2024 and our ‘Marketers of the Future’ award.
- One-year complimentary CIM professional membership for each team member.
- A complimentary ‘Specialist Award’ qualification by CIM Academy. (CIM Academy terms and conditions apply)
- A virtual one-hour session with HAYS Chief Marketing Officer Inken Khulmann-Rhinnow.
- A virtual CV writing and hints and tips workshop by Hays.
- Case study based on the 2024 Pitch winners participation will be created and posted on the CIM Pitch website until the 2025 campaign.
- A digital winner’s badge/certificate will be supplied by CIM.
- Digital ‘The Pitch 2024 finalist’ badges and certificates.
Supported by

The Pitch 2023 Winners
Anita Marcu, Scarlett Cassidy and Marie Oceane Bax De Keating were awarded the prestigious title and crowned the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s ‘’ Marketers of the Future’’ at the final on 17th March, out of a selection of strong teams from across the UK and internationally.
Anita, Scarlett, and Marie spoke on the experience of winning the competition and said, “We are so proud and honoured to have won ‘The Pitch’ 2023. Throughout this process we have grown as individuals and as a team, playing to our strengths, and overcoming challenges to produce a winning presentation’’
Download their winning presentation here
FAQs
The Pitch is open to undergraduate students in their second or third year who are studying for a marketing degree or a business degree with a marketing module.
The Pitch is open to postgraduate students in their first or final year who are studying for a marketing degree or a business degree with a marketing module.
The Pitch does not allow undergraduate and postgraduate students to be on the same team.
The Pitch is a global competition open to both UK and international students, with the live final taking place virtually.
All presentations for the undergraduate and postgraduate competitions must be submitted by 24 January 2024.
The undergraduate and postgraduate competition finals will be held on March 15 2024. The postgraduate final will take place in the morning, followed by the undergraduate final in the afternoon.
The 2023 Finalists
Congratulations to the nine teams who have secured a place at the virtual live final. Your hard work, dedication and focus on the challenge shone and we can’t wait to see you in March.
- Christine Grace Bautista
- Samantha Lielungaite
- James Reid
- Liberty Morgan-Dykes
- Yasmin Page
- Alexandra Gattenby
- Frida Mahecha Taveras
- Roshni Mistry
- Florence Idi
- Grace Stanley-Davy
- Emma Sandbach
- Kayleigh Groenewald
- Thalia Diaz-Henao
- Farhana Azhan
- Arati Warrier
- Lia Martinez Fernandez
- Michela Spotti
- Wing Wei Leong
- Cheryl Ng
- Jia Pei Tan
- Anita Marcu
- Scarlett Cassidy
- Marie Oceane Bax De Keating