Shortlist announced for global student marketing competition

• The Chartered Institute of Marketing’s The Pitch competition shortlists top undergraduate and postgraduate teams from universities around the country
• Sponsored by Dogs Trust, the competition challenged students with create a real-life marketing plan that will help grow the Dogs Trust’s Companion Club
• Winners will receive CIM’s ‘Marketers of the Future’ award, a one-year CIM membership and the opportunity to name a litter of puppies from Dogs Trust

20th February 2025: The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has announced the shortlist of 10 postgraduates and 10 graduate teams going through to the final round of its global student competition, The Pitch. The global student competition is designed to provide experience that equips students for their first professional role in marketing.

Now in its fourteenth year, the competition challenges aspiring marketers from across the globe to react to a brief from a top organisation. It sees students from leading universities compete to address a real-life marketing challenge, in a bid to win the title of 'Marketers of the Future'.

This year’s competition is run in partnership with Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity. In today’s economic climate, it is increasingly vital for charities to leverage effective marketing strategies that not only attract but also engage their target audiences.

Participants this year were challenged to create a marketing plan that will help grow the Dogs Trust’s Companion Club, with undergraduates and postgraduates competing in separate competitions.

The shortlisted teams include:

Postgraduates:

• Paw-tential – University of York
• Paws-itive impact – Lancaster University
• Pawsitive impact – University of Birmingham
• Paws and Claws Crew – University of York
• Tai-Phoons – King’s College London
• Pitch Perfect – University of Wolverhampton
• A Bone to Pitch – University of Sheffield
• VN Team - University of York
• Fur Mosa – King’s College London
• The IRS – Lancaster University

Undergraduates:

• AdEd – King’s College London
• Agency Contenu – City University of London
• The Canine Care Crew – Leeds Beckett University
• LMZ – University of Portsmouth
• Paws-attive Marketers – Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Aston – Aston University
• The Powerpuff Pitchers – Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology
• The Paw Promoters – University of Strathclyde
• Farren and Haether The Pitch Perfects – University of Strathclyde
• Furry Foundations – University of Portsmouth

Maggie Jones, director of qualifications and partnerships at CIM said:

“Selecting a shortlist for The Pitch is increasingly challenging each year. The students showcased an exceptional level of talent, and every team should feel immensely proud of their achievements.

“I’m very much looking forward to watching the teams present their pitches to our judging panel at the live final on 13^th and 14^th March. Good luck to all our finalists.”

Stacey Conway-Jones, Interim Group Head of Individual Giving at Dogs Trust commented: “The ambition, enthusiasm and creativity we’ve seen from students all over the world has been remarkable. We thank everyone for their hard work in putting together such brilliant proposals for Dogs Trust’s Companion Club.”

“Dogs Trust have loved being part of this collaboration so far, the proposals we have seen will be pivotal for helping us reach new supporters, retain existing ones, and boost the charity’s income. We wish the finalists the very best of luck and cannot wait to see you all in action in the final.”

The top 20 teams are invited to a live virtual judging final on 13^th (undergraduates) and 14^th March (postgraduates) to present their idea to judges from across the industry. The ultimate winners will be announced at the end of the final.

Not only will the winners be crowned CIM’s ‘Marketers of the Future 2025’, but they will also receive a whole host of prizes including a team voucher for CIM training, a one-year complimentary CIM professional membership for each team member, and even the opportunity to name a litter of puppies from Dogs Trust.

For more information on The Pitch, please view here:

https://www.cim.co.uk/events/the-pitch/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

For CIM media enquiries
For further media information please contact the Chartered Institute of Marketing press office at Good Relations on CIMTeam@goodrelations.co.uk

For CIM enquiries
James Delves 
CIM Head of PR, Content and Community 
James.Delves@cim.co.uk  

About CIM
For over 100 years, CIM has been the universal voice of marketing, championing our industry and its positive impact on organisations, economies and the wider society. Today, we play a more significant role than ever in supporting, developing and representing our members and the profession around the world. Always on top of the latest developments, we offer inspiring insights and thought leadership to generate transformative discussion and ideas.

On an individual level, marketers at every stage of their career find us a trusted and people-centred provider of clear guidance, training and professional qualifications – especially on their path to being accredited as a Chartered Marketer. If it carries a CIM stamp, it’s taken seriously: proof of the essential skills that boost long-term success for any business.

We’re at the forefront of all that’s exciting about marketing. Our services build careers and boost businesses. We continue to speak out for our industry, working alongside like-minded organisations to bring on the latest generations of talent and set professional standards for the entire marketing ecosystem. Find out more about CIM by visiting https://www.cim.co.uk/.

About Dogs Trust 

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and normally cares for around 14,000 dogs across its network of 21 rehoming centres in the UK and one in Dublin. Dogs Trust has a non-destruction policy and will never put a healthy dog to sleep. The charity also focuses its efforts on understanding dogs and sharing that knowledge with the wider public to prevent problem behaviours that can result in relinquishment or abandonment. We are working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.