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Our alumni team works closely with academic colleagues and support teams across the university to connect students with alumni who are making an impact in their professions and communities.

Throughout the year, we bring these connections to life through a range of in-person and online activities, from inspiring ‘Learn with a Leader’ talks with sector-leading alumni, to ‘Where are they now?’ career showcases, to more structured opportunities such as our ‘Future Connections’ and ‘Pathways to Practice’ programmes.

By sharing their experiences, insights and advice, alumni like you help students explore career possibilities, build confidence and develop valuable professional networks.

Faculty of Engineering 

This year has seen Engineering and Architecture alumni making a real impact by sharing their time, experience, and advice with current students.

In November, six accomplished Engineering alumni returned to support 42 students through a series of interactive roundtable discussions. The sessions gave students the opportunity to strengthen their networking confidence, connect directly with senior professionals, and gain practical insight into succeeding in the industry from alumni leading the way in their fields.

Our annual Where Are They Now? Engineering Showcase in February also proved to be a huge success. 32 alumni volunteered their evening to speak with more than 230 students, offering career advice, industry insight, and honest reflections on their professional journeys. With speakers ranging from recent graduates to senior industry leaders, students benefited from a wide variety of perspectives and experiences. One student attendee shared:

“All the speakers gave extremely insightful presentations that showed me what day-to-day life in industry might be like. I know this will all help me moving forward.”

Meanwhile, in Architecture, three online alumni sessions highlighted the breadth of career opportunities available across the profession, both in the UK and internationally. Covering topics from first steps after graduation to building a long-term career in the sector, the sessions were supported by eight alumni and benefited 43 students. Their openness, honesty, and willingness to share their experiences created valuable and engaging conversations throughout.

A huge thank you to all of our Engineering and Architecture alumni who have supported students this year and continue to inspire the next generation entering the profession.

Business School

This year we were pleased to introduce the MSc International Business Network - an advisory group bringing together industry, alumni and academics to shape the future of international business education.

Our first meeting in March connected members with MSc International Business students and staff to explore curriculum development and share insights on the skills needed in today’s global business environment.

The Network supports the Business School by:

• sharing insight into industry trends shaping the programme
• advising on strategic direction and curriculum development
• strengthening industry connections for staff and students
• championing the MSc International Business community

You can find out more or get involved here.

Faculty of Science

Across the Faculty of Science, alumni volunteers have continued to make a huge contribution through a wide range of activities and events.

The School of Pharmacy marked an incredible milestone this year, celebrating 100 years of excellence in teaching and research. The centenary has been an opportunity to recognise the achievements of alumni who are making an impact across healthcare, industry, and policy in more than 80 countries worldwide.

As part of the celebrations, the School also hosted a special Pharmacy Centenary Webinar featuring alumna Marie-Claire Peakman (Pharmacy, 1990; PhD Physiology and Pharmacology, 1994), offering valuable reflections on her career and experience in the field.

In the School of Computer Science, we were delighted to welcome back alumnus Andy Wilson (Computer Science, 2001) to campus in May for his talk, Getting into Gaming. Andy is Chief Operating Officer at Sledgehammer Games, the studio behind titles in the hugely successful Call of Duty franchise.

The event attracted current and prospective students, alongside alumni and staff, all eager to learn more about careers in the gaming industry. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, Andy shared an engaging overview of the sector, from team structures and project lifecycles to emerging trends within the industry. He also offered practical advice

Faculty of Social Sciences

A flagship activity in the faculty is 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.

Pathways to Practice

The Pathways to Practice Mentoring Scheme is a flagship employability initiative within the School of Law, designed to connect aspiring law students with experienced legal professionals across both solicitor and barrister pathways. Through flexible virtual and in-person mentoring over the course of six months, students receive tailored career guidance, professional insight, interview and assessment support, and access to industry networks and opportunities.

The scheme has delivered significant impact for students seeking to enter the legal profession. To date, more than 130 Law students have been supported by more than 100 volunteer mentors across the Barrister and Solicitor mentoring pathways. The scheme also represents the global reach of a Law education from Nottingham, with mentors coming from over a dozen countries.

A key achievement of the programme has been its success in widening access to professional experience, with more than a quarter of participating students securing valuable work experience opportunities. These have included shadowing their mentors in court, undertaking mini-pupillages, and taking part in insight days and networking opportunities at leading law firms.

^{Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane Norman, pays tribute to all our alumni volunteers over the last year.}