February and March is one of our busiest periods of the year when it comes to welcoming alumni volunteers onto campus to share their career experiences with current students.

Their input makes a huge contribution to Nottingham's reputation for enabling students to fulfil their potential. Our graduates are number one out of all universities in the country for entering 'highly skilled employment' according to HESA's Graduate Outcomes survey.

Here's a quick snapshot of some of our activities which have taken place over the first period of 2026 - if it inspires you to get involved then you can fill in our 'register your interest' form at the bottom of the page! 

Volunteering 800x

Alumni and students at our recent Economics Alumni Careers Showcase.

Learn with a leader

We're incredibly fortunate to be able to call on alumni who have been hugely successful in their respective careers, reaching the pinnacle of their professions. Our 'Learn with a Leader' sessions enable students to receive unique insights from these alumni on what it takes to be successful and really thrive in your chosen field.

We welcomed back Andy Bell (Mathematics with Statistics, 1987), who shared the story behind building AJ Bell from a start-up into one of the UK’s leading investment platforms, alongside his other achievements across a range of sectors. 

Students heard from Steve Holliday (Mining Engineering, 1978), who spent over 40 successful years in the energy sector, including nearly a decade as CEO of the National Grid between 2007-2016.

Another returnee was Jonathan Neale (Physics, 1984), who has over 35 years’ experience across Formula 1, automotive technology, aerospace, defence and telecommunications. Jonathan has led high-performance teams at the very top of engineering-led industries, including the McLaren Group and McLaren Racing.

Volunteering spring 2026 A Volunteering spring 2026 E Volunteering spring 2026 D Volunteering spring 2026 F

Where are they now?

Our other regular volunteering activity sees alumni who have more recently graduated return to campus to participate in panel sessions with students, helping them with insight into the world of work today.

The Faculty of Engineering really pushed the boat out with no less than 32 alumni returning to take part in six concurrent panel sessions in one evening, with over 200 students in attendance - the complementary pizza playing a vital role!

The School of Architecture welcomed back Matthew Drewitt (Architecture, 2016), Matthew (Hiu Yuen) Yip (Architecture, 2017), Jenny Kendall (Architecture, 2021) and Estella Haynes (Architecture and Environmental Design, 2022).

The school also ran an online session, with Esmé Buxton (Architecture, 2024), Rohan Humphrey (Architecture, 2023) and Julia Kinga Herman (Architecture and the Built Environment, 2025) sharing their immediate post-graduation journeys, sharing the ups and downs of securing a first job as an architectural assistant.

Volunteering spring 2026 G Volunteering spring 2026 C Volunteering spring 2026 I Volunteering spring 2026 H

AOB

We welcomed eight alumni speakers back for our 'Languages beyond the obvious' event and four alumni took part in our Economics careers showcase. Last, but by no means least, Sir John Sawers (Physics and Philosophy, 1976) returned for a unique audience with over 200 staff, students and alumni as he shared his advice for the younger generations on how to survive and thrive in today's changeable world.

Inspired to share your career journey with our students?

Fill in our short form to register your interest in volunteering for the university, our team will contact you if there is a suitable opportunity.

Register your interest >