Spring Faculty of Social Sciences volunteering update

A key highlight was the launch of the Future Connections Programme at the end of 2024. Alumni from organisations including PwC, BCLP, and Foresight Group welcomed students for industry visits and networking sessions. This programme forms part of the university’s Access and Participation Plan, which supports greater equality of opportunity for students from underrepresented backgrounds. A huge thank you to all the alumni who took part – your support continues to make a real difference.

2025 got off to a strong start with the Nottingham Economics and Finance Society (NEFS) hosting its annual Careers Conference. The two-day event brought together over 300 students and dozens of alumni speakers, offering insights into careers in finance, banking, consulting, and a range of alternative pathways. Designed to inspire and inform, the conference provided valuable networking opportunities and real-world advice from professionals across the sector.

Other NEFS activities included talks from industry leading alumni, including Mike Dennis (Partner at Ares Management Corportation), Jon Moore (CEO of BloombergNEF) and Raj Kothari (Executive Director at JP Morgan). 

Over in Nottingham University Business School, Alumni Volunteering Manager Emma Winter hosted a networking event for MSc Marketing students in March, ahead of the 'Encounters with Big Beasts' event. This provided a fantastic opportunity for them to practice their networking skills and gain insights from alumni in a relaxed setting.

A special thanks to our alumni Deepak Kataria, Linh Dinh, Mamoon Malik, Rehab Taru, Sreyashee Kundu, Hongyan Li and Zainab Qaiser for sharing their experiences and advice.

Hosted by the Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research (STTAR) Centre, 'Encounters with Big Beasts' was a truly fascinating evening, with attendees hearing behind-the-scenes stories of wildlife filmmaking – from working with Sir David Attenborough to navigating angry seabirds – which proved to be both inspiring and nostalgic!

In February, we launched Pathways to Practice – a new law mentoring scheme designed to support students exploring careers in the legal sector. The programme pairs Law students with alumni solicitors for virtual mentoring, offering tailored guidance and career insights.

Many students also had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, including firm visits and court shadowing, thanks to the generosity of their mentors. The scheme will return this autumn and will expand to include barrister mentors for those interested in a career at the Bar.

If you're a barrister or solicitor interested in supporting the next generation of legal professionals, we’d love to hear from you – you can register your interest with the team. We also saw a range of barristers return to campus to support activities for the Bar Society and Mooting Society, with careers talks, mooting competitions and more.

Across February and March, dozens of alumni volunteers returned to campus to support our annual alumni careers conferences in the School of Politics and International Relations, and the School of Economics respectively – showcasing careers in finance, consulting, government, media and much more. Over 200 students attended these events, with fantastic student feedback across both days. 

A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible volunteers who’ve contributed to activities across the Faculty of Social Sciences this term – and throughout the year.

Your time, support, and expertise make a real difference. The positive impact on our students’ experiences and future careers is invaluable, and it simply wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our alumni community.