Hallam students succeed in national sales competition

7th March 2017

Two Sheffield Hallam University students have proved themselves as the next generation of sales stars after triumphing at a national competition pitching to corporate executives.

Victoria Wright and Libby Wales, final year marketing students in the University's Business School, were the overall winners of the Scottish Open Sales Competition 2017 held at Abertay University in Dundee. Twenty-four students from six universities in Scotland and England took part in the competition which saw them challenged to sell under real life conditions to executives from San Francisco-based software and enterprise firm Salesforce and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The competition consisted of two different challenges - a role play session where students took part in a seller-buyer meeting and a timed two minute speed sell to test nerves under pressure. The students received candid feedback on their abilities and the overall winners were announced at the end of the two-day event. Victoria and Libby will now go head-to-head against the best in Europe at a contest to be held at Edinburgh Napier University this summer. One of the winning students, Libby Wales, said: "It was very daunting to pitch to six senior business executives. We pitched for two minutes then were given instant feedback, so it was hard not to take their criticism to heart, but then you moved on to the next to pitch to so you couldn't dwell on it for long. "It felt amazing to win, as I genuinely thought I'd come last. Winning the whole event for Hallam felt great - it's made me reconsider a career in sales and has definitely given me something different to talk about in future job interviews." Dr Paul Johnston, marketing course leader in Sheffield Business School, said: -I am delighted for Victoria and Libby; this is a brilliant achievement and they have done themselves and the University proud. "To have the confidence and ability to successfully pitch to senior corporate executives is very impressive and shows the calibre of our students. -It is so important in today's fast changing business environment that our students have the opportunity to learn and practice the important presentation, listening, questioning and negotiating skills that will help equip them for their future career." Featured Image: (L-R) Victoria Wright and Libby Wales.