Bringing on tomorrow's marketing maestros

Winners of the IDM Student Direct Marketing Competition 2008

"We need to be attracting the best graduates into the direct, data and digital marketing profession every year"

Kate Burnett F IDM
Director of Graduate Services

It shouldn't be a problem because, for example, more than 630,000 students will obtain a higher education qualification in the UK alone this year. Some 95,000 of these will be in business and administration. For these, we need to ensure they provide a high standard of education in the direct, data and digital marketing disciplines.

Mission of the IDM educational trust
To educate and inspire the most talented students to enter the direct, data and digital marketing profession.

Vital skills shortages in marketing

The marketing profession needs a regular supply of new talent every year. If the profession continues to grow at its current rate, we will be facing shortages. A marketing career can promise excitement, achievement and a fast track to senior management.

Direct marketing is no longer a branch line of the marketing network. It's a proven route for any product, any service, any brand. Ninety percent of British companies use it in some form. And they will continue to use it, gradually refining its power, constantly re-tooling to embrace its technological advances.

The IDM is in contact with the major UK universities and higher education colleges and has an ever-growing database of educators, lecturers and career advisers.

A strategy for the future

The IDM Education Programme The IDM's educational strategy has three strands:

To help educators to teach modern marketing
To teach students today's professional best practice with a regular supply of up-to-the-minute experiences and materials
To form a partnership with businesses because they will profit directly from the IDM's pioneering work

What's in it for you?

For educators, we can:

Provide resources and programmes to help you bring your courses to life
Offer you free training and events to help keep you up to date on marketing practice
Offer a 50% discount on IDM membership

For students, we've developed a dedicated graduate services and careers website, urthebrand.co.uk, to help you take your first steps towards a rewarding career.

Finally, your business can get involved by developing links with local universities, participating at careers events or becoming an IDM Patron.

For several years, the Royal Mail has kindly supported our education programme and we would like to encourage others to play their part.

	"Attracting new talent into direct marketing is vital for the future development of the profession. Royal Mail fully supports the IDM's Education Programme and the valuable work it does with the next generation of marketers. "
	Tim Lees M IDM, Dip DM Media Development Manager, Royal Mail