Over the course of the week, we’ll be highlighting some of the fantastic initiatives that wouldn’t be possible without the support of our inspiring alumni. Over the past academic year alone, around 700 volunteers have supported more than 7,000 students. This includes more than 100 International Alumni Ambassadors based across 24 countries, who bring our global alumni network to life by connecting communities, hosting events and inspiring the next generation of students to choose Nottingham.
Our first volunteer spotlight is on the Future Connections Programme, which supports Nottingham students from underrepresented backgrounds by providing them with exposure to professional environments and connecting them with sector-leading alumni working in the city.
28 students took part in this year’s programme – consisting of an introductory workshop and professional skills session with university careers advisers, an industry insight day visiting various professional firms in London, followed by ongoing careers support. At these firms, students met with sector-leading alumni, networked with talent acquisition teams, and took part in workplace simulation exercises.
This year, the trip saw students visit the London offices of Microsoft UK & Ireland and BloombergNEF, before culminating at EY in Canary Wharf. You can hear more about the importance of this programme from our alumni hosts Darren Hardman, Jon Moore and Errol Gardner here.
Future Connections is a collaborative effort between the Development and Alumni Relations Office and the Careers and Employability Service that reinforces the university’s commitment to improving equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in and progress from higher education.
In the video below, you can go behind the scenes of the day to hear from our alumni hosts and students as they share their perspectives on the latest programme.