How it works

More from the relationships you already have

We build your college's network from its own leaver records, keep it useful every month, bring former students back when they're ready, and show you what happened. We do the work; you approve what goes out.

Your first year

What happens after you say yes. The steps marked Your part are the main points where we'll need your team.

  1. Agreement signed

    We agree dates and your offer to former students.

  2. Leavers file

    Up to three years of leavers, sent encrypted.

    Your part

  3. Your network site goes live

    Your IT team adds one DNS record.

    Your part

  4. Welcome email

    Every former student hears how the college is still useful to them.

  5. First monthly bulletin

    Then every month. You approve each one.

    Your part

  6. First quarterly report

    One page, written to be forwarded.

  7. Re-enrolment count

    Each autumn, with your MIS team. No enrolment data leaves the college.

    Your part

What's included

Open any part for the detail.

Build the network

Each year, we add your latest cohort of former students.

What happens

We clean and import your leavers file and welcome everyone new. From then on we look after the list: bounces, unsubscribes, and anyone who asks not to be contacted.

What you see

Network size and growth, every quarter.

When

Up to three years of leavers at the start, then every September.

Keep in touch

A monthly bulletin, a website in your college's branding and a LinkedIn presence.

What happens

A monthly bulletin from The [College] Network, a website of its own on your web address, and a LinkedIn group that keeps things going between issues.

What you see

Every bulletin before it's sent, to sign off. How it's doing, in the quarterly report.

When

Every month, from the first issue.

Bring them back

Your offer, course campaigns, stories and the Next-Step Check.

What happens

Your offer to former students, kept current. Up to four course campaigns a year, to your brief. The Next-Step Check: six questions, real routes back and, if requested, a warm lead passed to your admissions team.

What you see

Campaign results, leads passed, and what former students are looking for by subject and level.

When

Campaigns with three weeks' notice. The Check from the start date we agree.

Report

A quarterly report, and each year a count of who came back.

What happens

A one-page report each quarter. Each autumn, a count of how many new enrolments are former students in the network. A written review of the year.

What you see

Clear results for your leadership team, and a plan for next year.

When

Quarterly; the count each autumn, with your MIS team.

Beyond recruitment

The same network gives your marketing team real stories, and your current students contacts in work.

What happened next

Short stories from former students, in their own words and cleared for your marketing.

Placements and apprentices

Former students now running teams, invited to offer work experience or take on an apprentice.

Longer testimonials

Former students willing to say more, for prospectuses, case studies and inspection evidence.

Wrenfield is a fictional example. Each network carries the college's branding.

Your college's own network

Former students receive a bulletin and visit a network site in your college's name, colours and voice, built for people who've moved on. Think Alumni builds and runs both on your behalf.

Questions colleges ask

Who owns the data?

You do. We work as joint controllers under a written agreement, and your records are returned and deleted if the service ends.

Do we approve what goes out?

Yes. Every bulletin and campaign comes to you for sign-off first.

What does our IT team need to do?

Add one DNS record so your network site sits on your own web address. We host and maintain everything else.

What about leavers who went on to university?

They stay in the network, and nothing we send tries to pull them away from their degree. Their route back usually comes later: a professional qualification, a higher-level module, a change of direction.

How does the Next-Step Check work?

Six short questions about where they are now and what they'd like to change, then a summary of real routes back from your own course pages. It matches; it never advises or promises eligibility. Nothing reaches your adviser unless they choose to send it.

How long is the agreement?

Service years run August to July, matching your academic year. We'll explain the renewal arrangements in your proposal.

Talk to us about your former students

We'll get back to you, usually within one working day. Or email hello@thinkalumni.com

Talk to us