Business students represent Strathclyde at UK University Sales Competition

Strathclyde Business School undergraduate students Adam Matchett and Owen Macdonald took part in the UK University Sales Competition (UKSC), representing the University at the recent event which saw students from across the UK put their top sales pitches to the test.

Strathclyde was one of nine universities taking part at the event which ran from January 31-February 1 at Abertay University and aimed to prepare participants for careers in sales, marketing and business by giving them an opportunity to practise professional selling skills and techniques.

The participants were tested in various ways including a mock sales meeting event  and crafting sales pitches to convince recruiters to hire them during a series of speed-selling sessions.

Both Adam and Owen found the experience to be a very beneficial experience. Adam, who is studying Business, said, "This event developed skills surrounding speed selling and B2B sales. This proved to be a very worthwhile and rewarding experience that really  pushed the boundaries of my comfort zones. In addition to this, having the opportunity to meet professionals surrounding the sales industry proved invaluable."

Owen - an International Business and Spanish student - said that he had become aware of the competition through his interaction with Strathclyde Inspire's Exploring Entrepreneurship Challenge and was encouraged to take part. He added, "The sales competition was certainly challenging and I put a lot of pressure on myself to make the most out of the two day event during which I met lots of interesting and knowledgeable people. The speed sales pitch gave me great practice for the future and gave me great insight into where I currently do well and what I should work on. The two mock sales meetings really pushed me to research and prepare well on the case study and think quickly on my feet under pressure. I really appreciated the feedback and conversations with the judges during and after these tasks and it was a great opportunity to work with and share stories with so many other students and mentors from all over the UK."

Thomas Devaney, Strathclyde University's Entrepreneurship and Employability Lead, said, "The UKSC offers a significant opportunity for students to enhance their sales skills and network, and the achievements of Adam and Owen highlight their dedication and professionalism. Their participation in both the Speed Sell competition and Sales Meeting role-play challenge demonstrated respect, maturity, and resilience, reflecting the values that are central to our ethos at the University of Strathclyde."

Thomas added, "Looking ahead, we encourage our students to engage with this opportunity. Applications for UKSC 2025 open in autumn, available to penultimate and final year undergraduates from all faculties. It's a chance not to be missed for those aiming to excel in their personal and professional development."