Newcastle Business School teams lead in national competition

Two teams, from Newcastle Business School (NBS), gained the final two places in IDM competition this year, where the task, as part of their final year module, was to develop a business-to-business direct marketing plan to increase the number of Carbon Trust surveys undertaken by businesses.

First place went to the BA Business Management team, called Total Green Solutions, which included graduating students Simon Burns, Paul Middleton-Walker, Emma Boyle, Nicole Anderson and Anna Drury, supervised by tutor Naomi Kirkup.

They had been chosen, along with runners up, Mosaic Marketing Consultancy – the BA Marketing Management team made up of supervising tutor David Hart and final year students Annabel Jeffs, Laura Faulkner, Rachel Beales, Katie Hall, Danielle Mitchell, and Adam Knox – to go to London and pitch their entries to the competition sponsor TEQUILA\ and their client The Carbon Trust.

The result represents the fourth time in nine years that NBS has produced the winning team in the competition.

As winners, Total Green Solutions received £1,500 with Mosaic Marketing Consultancy collecting the second prize of £800.

Kate Burnett, IDM Director of Graduate Services, said: “The standard of entries was very high and to have a position in the final two is a great achievement.”

The task was to develop an acquisition and conversion B2B direct marketing plan including a fully-costed communications plan to support the Carbon Trust’s business objectives.

BA Business Management group tutor Naomi Kirkup said: “I am tremendously proud of the students, who worked considerably well as a team.  Their success in winning the final demonstrates their commitment to their studies and is testament to their drive to become successful graduates.  Being in the final was a unique opportunity for both teams to network and build connections for their future careers.

BA Marketing Management group tutor David Hart said: “I am absolutely delighted that Newcastle Business School students contested the national final. We have had a fine record in the IDM competition in years gone by, and the students have worked exceptionally hard to develop truly professional campaign ideas for a major organisation.”