Rave reviews from industry professionals

The judging panel consisted of:

• Tom Knox, Chair of Trustees at the History of Advertising
• Ross Richardson, Brand Manager Ginsters
• Sabina Usher, Executive Communications Strategist Ace of Hearts
• Orlando Wood, Chief Creative Officer System1

The team received great praise from the whole panel, having impressed them with their creativity, delivery and professionalism.

David Clampin is the Education and Outreach Specialist at the History of Advertising Trust. He championed the team’s professionalism and creativity to the brief, saying: "The Newcastle University undergraduate team, Proper Pasty, did an excellent job in a very close fought final. Their professionalism and knowledge shone through in the face of the very senior industry practitioners making up our judging panel.

"Not only did they keep a close focus on the brief, they presented well-reasoned, creative ideas which really appealed to the representative from the Ginsters marketing team."

Tom Knox was equally impressed with the team’s standard of thinking and presentations.

Echoing David’s statement, he said: "It was great to see HAT’s educational charitable purpose being delivered so powerfully thanks to our friends at Ginsters and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)."

This positive feedback from respected leaders across the creative and marketing industry is a brilliant testament to the team’s talent, collaboration and hard work.

Real industry experience

The competition gave students valuable insights into the advertising industry. It allowed them to work on a live brief and gain first‑hand experience of professional standards and expectations.

For Violet, the challenge reinforced her fascination with the field of marketing.

"It still feels slightly surreal to say that our team, Proper Pasty, won the undergraduate level of the Ginsters and History of Advertising Trust Student Competition," she said.

"What made the experience particularly valuable was not simply the outcome, but the opportunity to present our thinking in front of such experienced figures from the marketing and advertising industry.

"Presenting in that environment pushed me well outside my comfort zone, yet it was probably the most rewarding part of the entire process."

Georgie emphasised how their project evolved the brand whilst not losing what Ginsters stand for.

"A massive thank you to my team," she said. "This experience was truly inspirational for me personally, having the privileged exposure to an impressive panel of judges."

Meaningful collaboration benefits all involved

The team’s reflections highlight the value of meaningful collaboration between students and businesses. This is a core value at the Business School, which aims to create inspiring, inclusive education experiences that help students fulfill their potential.

Kirk Dodds is the Director of Education at Newcastle University Business School. He said: "It’s been a pleasure to work in partnership with History of Advertising and Ginsters. These opportunities provide our students with meaningful, real-world experience through active learning, exactly the approach we champion at Newcastle University Business School."

Kirk reinforced how opportunities like the competition allows for active-based learning, allowing students to apply their insights and research skills to develop practical solutions.

He continued: "It’s a true win–win; our external partners gain fresh perspectives, while our students and the University create genuine value.

"Experiences like this inspire our students to aim higher and do more. Seeing our team earn the opportunity to present their work to such a high-profile client is fantastic. It allows them to develop essential transferable skills, including communication, presentation, and organisation. I’m delighted to see them succeed."