GTB challenge students with live automotive client pitch

University of Northampton students will be given the chance to pitch a real-life client project for one of the world’s major automotive brands.

Final year Advertising & Digital Marketing BA (Hons) students will be put through their paces by UK Marketing Agency GTB, as they build a live client brief from scratch for a global car manufacturer.

The live ongoing client project, which lasts over six months, includes interactive sessions, tutorials and insight days at GTB’s UK head office on the Southbank, London.

The project culminates in a ‘Dragons Den’ style pitch to the agency’s top executives, including their European president, Paul Confrey and a senior marketer from the client team.

Katherine Francis, managing partner at GTB, said: “We are proud to partner with the University of Northampton on this project. Nurturing young talent is critical to the future of the industry and we are always surprised and impressed by how creatively minded the students are and their willingness to get stuck into the brief. Knowing we played a part in their journey into Marketing is incredibly rewarding.”

“This is about bringing the agency world to the students” says Visiting Professor, Allan Fraser-Rush. “Students can read textbooks and take exams, which are great, but nothing can prepare you for agency life other than experiencing the real thing. The students are getting thrown in at the deep end, and it is up to them to adapt, soak in all the information handed to them and make the right decisions along the way.

“The experience is also beneficial for the students as they embark on their career, at their first interview they can say they pitched to one of the UK’s leading agencies on a client project for an automotive giant.”

The University of Northampton has built strong partnerships with leading marketing and advertising agencies for several years to offer students real life industry experience.

Sally Laurie, Senior Lecturer in Marketing and final year tutor, said: “The relationship with these external organisations has benefited both staff and students over the last 16 years.  It is a fantastic opportunity for students to experience meeting with high profile clients, and we appreciate the commitment and generosity which always has been shown by everyone involved.”

For more information on Advertising & Digital Marketing BA (Hons), you can visit the course page.