As part of the Kent Business School’s Pitch It! student programme, the Dean of Rochester Cathedral, The Very Revd Dr Mark Beach, set a challenge to our students; to devise a coherent marketing and communication strategy to support the strategic aims of Rochester Cathedral of better leveraging the building and its place in the community.
“We are delighted to have young people engaging with the Cathedral. It is a really useful exercise that will allow us to better understand how the Cathedral places itself against its competitors.”
The Very Revd Dr Mark Beach, Dean of Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest Cathedral in the country, established in AD 604, but is often overshadowed by Canterbury Cathedral. Beyond its premise as a place of worship, the Cathedral wishes to be seen as an outward facing and ‘open-minded’ space to foster shared public life and enhance communities.
Following several weeks of reflection and research, student teams presented their analysis work as well as innovative and practical recommendations back to the Dean and his colleagues during a live pitch session. Students looked at ways of getting visitor numbers up, and get more people engaging with the Cathedral and exploring the history, the heritage, the music, the social action, and worship activities.
“We’ve built up our own marketing plan for the first time, researching different areas, pulling together different ideas, and then delivering the presentation today in front of a panel. This has taken us out of our comfort zone as students but the experience has proved very valuable.”
James Love, BA Business Studies with Year In Industry
“I would recommend the Pitch It! challenge to other students. I think it enhances the skills you learn at University. Working with others and doing a presentation in front of an external organisation was a very valuable experience and I would thoroughly recommend it.”
Kevin Moore, BA Business Studies
Pitch it! is a great way to get new ideas, both highly innovative and practical for organisations to consider back at base. In the past, business pitches have looked at human resource management, strategy, branding, market segmentation analysis, media & communication plans.
For more details about Pitch it! and other student projects and opportunities to partner with Kent Business School, visit the Pitch it! Webpage