Since 2017, Capital Connections has offered Lancaster University students a unique opportunity to step beyond campus and into the professional world. Delivered by the GROW Your Future (GYF) team within Lancaster University Careers Service, in collaboration with the Alumni Department, the Capital Connections programme illustrates how alumni engagement can transform students’ confidence, networks and career trajectories.

GROW Your Future is a widening participation careers initiative supporting over 1,100 students each year. Students come from underrepresented backgrounds, including students from lower socio‑economic backgrounds, first‑generation students, care‑experienced students, students with a disability, global majority student, refugees, and many others who often face additional barriers in the graduate labour market. GYF offers an opt‑in community that provides tailored, inclusive and sustained careers support, helping students develop career plans, employability skills, professional confidence and networks. It recognises that students’ identities and experiences are intersectional, with participants typically holding an average of 2.3 widening participation characteristics.

One of GYF’s flagship initiatives is Capital Connections. Each year, 60 students are selected through a competitive recruitment process to take part in free two‑day trips to Manchester or London. Designed to demystify graduate careers and expand students’ horizons, the programme allows participants to visit organisations, meet employers, explore new cities and, crucially, connect with Lancaster alumni working across a wide range of sectors.

Across the two days, students visit multiple organisations, hear directly from graduates at different stages of their careers, and gain insight into how businesses and institutions operate day to day. Many of the employer visits are hosted or attended by Lancaster alumni, giving students a relatable window into life after university and tangible examples of what is possible.

A highlight of each trip is the alumni networking evening held on the first day. These events bring together current students and alumni in an informal, welcoming environment that encourages open conversation. Alumni share honest reflections on their career journeys – including challenges, setbacks and changes in direction – as well as practical advice on applications, interviews and early career decisions. For many students, this is the first time they have spoken to professionals who were once “in their shoes”, and the impact is profound. The GYF team are also around to support students who may find networking challenging, to support conversations and build confidence.

Student feedback reinforces the importance of alumni involvement. When asked about the most useful elements of the trip, 83% of participants said that hearing from alumni – and meeting fellow GYF students – was “very useful”, with the remainder finding it “somewhat useful”. The same proportion ranked hearing from employer staff and visiting employer offices as very useful. One student described Capital Connections as “a no‑brainer opportunity that you’ll never get again”, while another reflected: “Just sat in skyscrapers looking over London with life‑changing advice from people who were once in positions similar to mine.”

The measurable impact is striking. Following the 2025 programme, students reported a 57% increase in confidence about their future careers, a 58% increase in confidence making applications and attending interviews, and a 90% increase in connections within their chosen fields. Every participant said Capital Connections helped develop their confidence and supported their career decision making, with nearly 80% saying it helped “a lot”.

The benefits are long term. Students are contacted again 12 months after completing Capital Connections, and many report sustained and life‑changing outcomes. One former participant shared that after visiting Unilever on the trip, they went on to secure a year‑long placement with the organisation. Others describe increased confidence in applying for competitive roles, considering locations they had never previously imagined, and recognising that “employers and recruiters are humans too”. Many alumni who attend the evening event have also been part of GYF and Capital Connections as students.

Capital Connections sits within a wider ecosystem of GYF support, including 1-1 careers guidance, micro‑internships, employer visits, and a Careers Bursary that addresses financial barriers to interviews and work experience, including offering financial support for professional clothing, access by many Capital Connections attendees. Together, these interventions ensure that talent and ambition, rather than background, shape students’ futures.

For alumni, Capital Connections offers a powerful way to give back. By sharing time, insight and encouragement, alumni help students see what is possible and play a direct role in widening access to graduate opportunities. As one student put it: “Capital Connections completely shattered the ceiling of what I thought I could achieve.” It is a testament to the enduring value of the Lancaster community – and to the futures that alumni help grow.