-- Diabetes Awareness Group launches challenge with The Chartered Institute of Marketing -- Students across England battle to pitch a diabetes awareness initiative in front of industry leaders The Diabetes Awareness Group, a collaboration of leading organisations working in the diabetes arena, has today launched an apprentice-style challenge to marketing students, calling on them to demonstrate their business acumen by developing innovative diabetes awareness campaigns and pitching them to a panel of leading industry judges on World Diabetes Day (14 November 2011). The Group, which includes The Department of Health, leading health charity Diabetes UK, Action Kids Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, University of Huddersfield, Novo Nordisk, Oxford University and Oxford Health Alliance, has developed the programme, known as ‘The Pitch’, to hunt for the next generation of leading marketers in association with The Chartered Institute of Marketing. The competition aims to support the group’s collective goal to raise awareness of diabetes, and is open to marketing students across England, including The Chartered Institute of Marketing’s studying members. 45 teams of three students each will battle it out to deliver a pitch using a real-life business scenario to develop a marketing solution, to support the Department of Health’s ambition, which will then be pitched to the judging panel. Teams must use their marketing savvy to draw upon resources as they compete to deliver the brief, provided by Diabetes Awareness Group. Contestants must use creative flair, strategic thinking and financial expertise, putting their skills to the test. Marketing students have the opportunity to prove their worth in a real business context, showcasing their skills to some of the industry’s biggest players. Dr Rowan Hillson, National Clinical Director for Diabetes said: “Diabetes is a serious illness which can cause disability and early death. However, much can be done to prevent these poor outcomes and Type 2 diabetes itself can often be prevented. For this to happen, it is vitally important that everyone is aware of what diabetes is and why it matters. I am delighted that The Pitch has chosen diabetes for this year's competition and I wish everyone luck.” Barbara Young, Chief Executive, Diabetes UK, comments, “In the UK there are almost 3.6 million people living with diabetes, with more than 800,000 of these unaware that they have the disease. We are committed to defeating diabetes, and as part of this we need raise the awareness about the dangers of the disease. Because marketing plays a key role in educating the public about these issues, we’re delighted to be supporting The Pitch and hope to find the next great marketer.” Professor David Matthews, of Oxford University and director of the Oxford Health Alliance said, “We are supporting this competition because the issue of the awareness of diabetes and its early detection is fundamental to saving lives and preventing serious damaging complications. This competition should be great fun, but at its heart is the serious need to tackle one of the 21st century’s devastating epidemics – that of diabetes.” Winners of The Pitch will be announced at the Diabetes UK Conference in March 2012; rewards for the winners include membership to The Chartered Institute of Marketing for a year, campaign entry into The Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Marketing Excellence Awards and their studying institution will receive the Institutes’ Shield for a year. Roderick Wilkes, Chief Executive of The Chartered Institute of Marketing adds, “The Pitch promises to be an exciting and fiercely fought competition, helping students gain valuable experience whilst raising the diabetes cause across England.” The deadline for entries is 18 October 2011 and The Pitch will take place at the venues across England around World Diabetes Day (14 November 2011). For further information, visit www.cim.co.uk/thepitch - Ends -