future-pro: Bringing together local professionals and local undergraduates to look towards a local future

Why should you participate?

There are more details about future-pro below but here's the quick answer as to why you might want to participate:

• it's an immensely rewarding event for you:

• from the personal perspective - you will really enjoy the event, just ask anyone who has done one before!

• from the professional angle - it gives you the opportunity to meet with potential new employees and encourage students to work locally

• it's a brilliant event for the students

• and the more of us that are there, the better it gets for them

future-pro events really are mutually rewarding events and I would encourage you to volunteer and come along.

So what actually is future-pro?

The professional services sector in North Staffordshire recognises that it is important to retain and develop local talent. Through working closely with our local universities, finest aims to encourage Staffordshire’s students to stay in the area and work for one of its many highly respected professional service sector firms.

finest and futurefinest have been delivering future-pro events in conjunction with local universities since 2008. During that time, over 850 undergraduates have attended future-pro events to help them gain a better understanding of the profile of the professional services sector in North Staffordshire.

Our next future-pro events will take place at:

• Keele Hall, Keele University, Thursday 2nd November from 5.30pm – 7.30pm
• Staffordshire University (BUILDING TBC), Monday 13th November from 5:30pm - 7:30pm

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Mellor+Building,+Stoke-on- Trent+ST4/@53.0100409,-2.1825184,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487a6833f852f81b:0xede050c20588a5f5!8m2!3d53.0099944!4d-2.1803942

Digital Kiln, 5th Floor Mellor Building, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent

Who will be attending?

future-pro is aimed at final year students who are considering a career in the professional services sector in Staffordshire. It is anticipated that students from other years may also wish to come along also.

The event will be facilitated by the Careers Departments from the Universities and supported by finest members and futurefinest members.

It is expected that 40 – 50 students will attend.

Event objectives

• To enable undergraduates to meet with local professional services sector businesses and young professionals, helping them and to find out about the wide range of skills and expertise that exists here.

• To provide the opportunity for undergraduates to develop networking skills and to meet with potential employers.

• To use the expertise of local professional services employers to offer advice and guidance to undergraduates relating to their chosen career plans.

• To create opportunities for potential work placements for undergraduates.

How can you get involved?

finest and futurefinest members are encouraged to join fellow members at the networking event. Following a couple of short interviews with futurefinest members, there will be the opportunity for open networking with students. These students will be interested in finding out about the organisation you work for and your specific career path. To help the undergraduates with their networking, mini biographies and photographs of finest & futurefinest members supporting the event are required. These will be provided in advance to all students registering for the event, enabling them to research the employers represented and to identify those they wish to network with on the evening. Logos of participating firms will be included on the university marketing material.

If you are interested in participating in either or both of the events, or would like more details, please contact Brian MacLagan on 01782 202222 or brian.maclagan@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Comments from undergraduate evaluation forms from previous events

‘It was a good experience in learning how to network with people and how to approach people. Thank you for this great opportunity.’
‘Very good way of meeting people who could be possible future employers and associates.’
‘A great event! As a first year undergraduate it’s encouraging to meet friendly people in the local area where I eventually want to progress into a professional career. I received some great advice.’
‘Everyone was approachable and the evening was relaxed, it would have been interesting to hear from each finest member.’
‘Was a good event, hope to see more pportunities like this.’
‘I enjoyed meeting some very interesting people who showed the same passions and drive as me.’
‘I met a number of people from areas of industry I wouldn’t have before – it was invaluable.’
‘The highlight for me was being able to talk comfortably after initially being nervous and learning from the experiences of successful people.’