Students reach final of national CIM competition

​Having already set up their own marketing agency – Squash and Coriander – the University of Brighton duo are responding to a live client brief from global technology giant Samsung, coming up with creative ways to market its new foldable mobile phones to Gen Z.

In the final, Eloise and Jasmin will be up against eight other university teams facing a Dragons’ Den-style live pitch to a high-powered panel of industry judges. They include Samsung’s Head of Brand (Mobiles, Wearables & Hearables) Alex Conaway, and the company’s Marketing Director Sharon Hegarty.

Alongside her Marketing Management Bsc(Hons) studies at Brighton Business School, Eloise has  been working with local companies Silicon Brighton and James Chase Solutions. Jasmin, meanwhile, has complemented her Bsc (Hons) Business Management with Marketing course with a job at Brighton marketing agency MPB.

Speaking about her time at Brighton, Eloise said: “I really didn’t know much about marketing when I started my degree in 2018. By the middle of first year however, I had learned enough to land a part-time marketing role. I’ve had some really amazing tutors along the way: Dan Bennett, who took a chance on me; Sarah Cork, who inspired me to want to make a difference in terms of sustainability; and Liz Hawkins, who has pushed me to achieve things I never thought I could.”

Jasmin said: “I’ve been working for MPB for the past 4 ½ years. In my first years there I got my first insights into social media marketing and working for a small enterprise. This inspired me to do the degree to deepen my understanding of marketing and how a business works. By continuing to work for MPB 3 days a week I was able to apply what I have been learning at uni first hand – and although it has been challenging at times to juggle both things, I wouldn’t do it any other way.”

Gemma Butler, marketing director at CIM, said: “The calibre of applications for The Pitch remains high, and with this year’s competition having to take place virtually for the first time, all the students will be required to draw even more upon their communication and presentation skills. Despite the ongoing challenges, it’s been fantastic to see the student talent across the UK.”