Business students pitch to Cambridge Building Society

Press release issued: 6 March 2012



A group of third year students at Anglia Ruskin University's Lord Ashcroft International Business School were given the unique opportunity to pitch business ideas to the Chief Executive and senior managers of The Cambridge Building Society.

The students have been working on a consultancy project as part of their marketing module and were asked to look at The Cambridge Building Society's growth programme, which included a full rebranding exercise, launch of the e-commerce platform and the Cambridge-based Customer Contact Centre.

They had access to various areas of the Society and developed questionnaires for customers to fill out, which gave them insight into the impact of phase one of the growth strategy.

After all of the groups had been assessed, the one that gained the highest grade and demonstrated a real understanding of the business were given the opportunity to 'pitch' their ideas.

Philip Robinson (Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin) and Carole Charter (Marketing Manager at The Cambridge Building Society)

Philip Robinson and Carole Charter

Philip Robinson, Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin's Lord Ashcroft International Business School, said:

"This assessment was important to the development of the students in their final year.

"Working with a real business, which has implemented such big changes over the past year, allowed the groups to gain a real understanding of how a business can adapt to changing market conditions."

"The presentation was delivered in a professional and well executed manner," said Stephen Mitcham, Chief Executive at The Cambridge. "The students' recommendations gave good insight into what customers and non customers of The Cambridge are looking for, now and into the future. Well done to the team who fully deserve the good grade that they achieved."

Carole Charter, Marketing Manager at The Cambridge, said:

"We have a long-standing relationship with Anglia Ruskin and when they approached us with this project we were keen to further develop the link between the Society and education.

"This has been a good opportunity for the students to gain real insight into how a local, well established business has embarked upon a growth programme and what impact this has on all of its key stakeholders."

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