Reigate-based Canon helps students develop winning campaigns

London, 30th March 2010: A team of three students from Reigate Sixth form College - Tanisha Robinson, Lailah Robinson (not related) and Taf Nzou - was awarded first place in the nail-biting finals of Canon’s month-long Marketing Initiative, held at their prestigious headquarters on Cockshot Hill in Reigate.

Over one hundred A2 Applied Business Studies students from Reigate College took part in this eye-opening event, now in its second year.  Teams of students were asked to come up with a real-life promotional campaign for one of five national chains.  Briefed and guided by Canon’s highly experienced Sales and Marketing Managers, students were given an insight into working in a Marketing role within this global technology company.

Tanisha Robinson, who is studying Business, I.T. and Health and Social Care at Reigate College and is hoping to start her own business one day, commented:  ‘It was awesome.  The three of us worked really well as a team and there were only a few heated discussions along the way!  Chris Burgess, our Canon Key Account Manager, taught us a huge amount and I’d like to thank him on behalf of my team.’

Jonathan Higton, Retail Channel Manager at Canon, who oversaw the month-long initiative enthused, ‘The project gives our Sales and Marketing Team direct contact with teenage consumers and the marketers of the future.  It’s a great collaboration which demonstrates our corporate philosophy of kyosei –living and working together for the common good, and gives us the opportunity to see how far creative minds can stretch when they’re not given too many restrictions.  The winning team delivered a creative, well thought out presentation including all of the key principles of a promotional plan.  The guys worked well together and each showed individual flair when it came to the live presentation. Well done to the winning team and all the other students who took part in the campaign.’

The winning team was closely followed by teams working on promotional briefs for other leading high street retailers.’

Alistair McCleod, Business Studies teacher at Reigate College added:  ‘The partnership seems to work for everybody.  Our students finish the initiative with a far clearer understanding of how to put promotional campaigns together and they learn just how important it is to fine-tune their presentation skills.  I thought Tanisha, Lailah and Taf’s idea of creating large cardboard cut-outs of cameras for shoppers to have their pictures taken inside was ingenious.

Their prizes of swanky new Canon cameras will be a fitting reminder of the success they’ve achieved.  Thanks to everyone at Canon for making this partnership such a highlight of our students’ year.’

Canon is a world leader in imaging products and solutions for the digital home and office.  Reigate College based on Castlefield Road in Reigate, was recently ranked 7th out of 400 colleges in the UK.

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