Alumni volunteering - your impact in 2024/25

Future Connections

The Future Connections Programme 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.

21 students took part in the programme – consisting of a introductory workshop and professional skills session, an industry insight day in London and a post-event reflection session.

Following the programme 60% of students went on to participate in services provided by the university’s Careers and Employability Service.

40% of students reached out to the alumni they met on the programme for further discussions over email or Microsoft Teams calls, including senior leaders across a range of firms.

52% of the students applied for internships, work experience or vacation schemes, with 42% securing a place.

Black Industry Connections and Empowerment Programme

The Black Industry Connections and Empowerment Programme (BICEP) aims to reduce the Black/White attainment gap by supporting the personal and professional development of Black heritage students by connecting them with successful Black professionals through structured mentoring and inspirational events.

This was the final of a three year pilot, engaging 72 undergraduate students through a mix of in-person and virtual events. Students also attended three group mentoring sessions, with 50 total sessions led by 23 Black professionals from diverse industries, focusing on leadership, career development, and workplace navigation. 

International alumni networking

Bringing you together to build your networks with other Nottingham alumni is one of our key roles – and our cohort of International Alumni Ambassadors is on hand to help!

From North America to Africa and Asia, our ambassadors support the global networking events we host throughout the year. In 2024/25 alone we held over 20 events, with many of our 104 ambassadors playing supporting roles as we welcomed hundreds of alumni in attendance.

University Radio Nottingham (URN) - Where are they now?

URN is a unique and highly successful student-run radio station, offering experience beyond academic study. In May we joined forces with the outgoing Station Manager, Margot Howell, to organise a special celebratory event marking the station’s successful return to the airwaves following a significant refurbishment – funded by alumni.

The retURN of University Radio Nottingham – Where Are They Now, URN? brought together seven successful URN alumni, all now working across various sectors of the media industry, to share their journeys and insights with current members at a unique networking event as well as giving the alumni an opportunity to see the new facilities and reminisce.

Hosted just down the corridor from the URN studio at Portland Coffee, the event created a real buzz of excitement. 15 students had the rare opportunity to gain insider knowledge, ask candid questions and hear first-hand the lived experiences of those who once stood in their shoes and who have gone onto forge successful careers in the industry.

What's more, the connections made on the evening have directly led to two students securing opportunities in the workplaces of our alumni attendees; one at Heart Radio and one at LBC - the perfect demonstration of our supportive community!