The Bolton Alumni Network

The Bolton Alumni Network continues to grow and the free Business Directory, which offers self-employed Alumni the opportunity to promote their businesses and services, enables us to present a networking community that spans the globe. With nearly 3,000 registered users in the UK, Australia, the USA, Canada, the Far East, Europe and beyond, the Bolton Alumni Network offers a diverse spectrum of support for Old Boys, Old Girls and Former Staff in a variety of sectors.

In the last six months, 69% of users have indicated they are willing to help those within the Bolton Alumni Network community, whilst we have seen a steady rise in the number of users seeking help via the network. The most commonly sought advice is around work experience and reviewing CVs and users are most likely to offer advice around mentoring and recruitment.

• 1,762 users are willing to answer industry-specific questions belonging. The reinvigorated Friends of Bolton School will aim to find a place for all who wish to be associated with the School, whether former or current parents or Alumni, to maintain those important connections.

Our sense of togetherness across the Foundation at School has been in evidence in three notable School events recently. The Bridgewater Hall concert was an excellent example where pupils from the very youngest to the outstanding Year 13 musicians all played their part on the stage. The Primary Division choir, for many, stole the show. Our collective fundraising efforts across all parts of the School for Malawi, jointly supporting an initiative begun at Hesketh House, is another. A final example is the joint audience from Boys’ Division, Girls’ Division and Primary Division who attended the Alumni of the Year Awards. My theme that morning was that we should try to find reasons to say ‘Yes’ rather than ‘No’ to opportunities that come along. If you are an avid reader of the alumni magazines, but have yet to attend an event, then might I encourage you to think about saying ‘Yes’ – even if at first you know no one, it will soon be very clear there is a shared heritage. I look forward to seeing even more of you and hearing even more of those tales of School life.

Philip Britton, MBE Head of Foundation

The use of the Bolton Alumni Business Directory as a free tool to showcase services to an active network has proved very popular, as has using the platform to offer benefits directly to members. The network of registered users can also be used as a free recruitment tool and we actively welcome any members of the Alumni community who work within, or are responsible for, recruitment to make use of the varied and engaged pool of potential candidates. Over the last six months, 20% of users who have visited the main directory page have gone on to interact with the offer from the relevant business. For advice on how to advertise a vacancy or search for a mentor within the network please see the informative ‘How to’ videos in the Resources tab. We also welcome any Alumni who are keen to post a careers skills video specific to their industry to contact the Development Office.

• 1,474 are willing to introduce other alumni to their connections

• 1,603 are happy to offer advice

• 1,236 have offered to review CVs

• 298 currently offer work experience or internships

If you are not yet a member of the Bolton Alumni Network, you can join today by signing up at www.boltonalumninetwork.com with your LinkedIn, Facebook or Google Account or with an email address.