Building an alumni network

Building an alumni network: tips for schools

Creating an alumni network is another good way of accessing diverse local employers. Alumni networks are fantastic resources for schools, connecting pupils to former students who have a wealth of information at their fingertips.

Why build an alumni network?

Traditionally, private schools and university have led way with alumni, creating powerful networks to which alumni belong for life. But increasingly state schools are creating alumni networks either independently or through organisations such as Future First. Benefits for schools who engage their former students include a raised school profile and strengthened school community, fundraising opportunities, access to work experience and improved careers advice.

How do you build an alumni network?

Building an alumni network from scratch can be a daunting task. But with a process in place and after some initial intensive outreach, schools can easily benefit from all that an engaged and lively alumni network can bring.

Tips for building a network

Collect contact details from pupils as they leave the school. It is much easier to engage people as they leave rather than to find them once they have left

Dedicate some intensive time to search for alumni. Finding alumni is time intensive, but if you invest time at the early stages, it is a great deal easier later on.

Have one lead contact person for alumni. If alumni hear from many different people from a school, correspondence becomes confusing and off-putting.

Contact alumni through media that they already use. If targeting younger alumni, social media is an easily and readily utilised platform. For older alumni, social media may be less effective, with local newspapers potentially more useful.

Actively manage and update your network. Alumni need frequent contact to keep them engaged and interested. If they are contacted infrequently or erratically, they will drift away.

Get alumni involved in the school. Alumni are far more willing to engage if they can see the benefits of their engagement.

Create networking opportunities for alumni. This adds a further incentive for alumni to engage.

Want to learn more?

To learn more about alumni networks, contact the Education and Employers Taskforce. To see a successful network in action or to get further advice about making alumni networks an integral part of your school, contact Future First:

www.futurefirst.org.uk and info@futurefirst.org.uk tel: 0207 812 0540.

This alumni section was kindly supplied by Jess Cordingly, Managing Director at Future First.