Ways to volunteer

There are plenty of ways to volunteer at Liverpool Business School (LBS), whether you’re a new recruit or an industry leader.

You can choose the option that suits your personal circumstances and make a meaningful impact in the lives of students.

Join the Mentorship programme

The LBS Mentoring Programme connects alumni working across all sectors with LBS students. The aim is to help them navigate the complexities of academic life and achieve their personal and professional goals.

We have three mentorship schemes which you can join:

Features of the Mentorship Programme

• Mentorship meetings can take place in person, by phone, online (via Microsoft Teams) or through a hybrid approach.
• Meetings are usually held once a week for about an hour, but you can agree a different schedule with your mentee.
• The mentorship runs for one academic year, from October to May or June. There are breaks during the academic year including winter and summer.
• You will take part in an initial mentor training session. It introduces you to the programme and gives you the chance to meet the LBS Alumni Team and other mentors.
• At the start of the relationship, you and mentee will complete a mentoring agreement. This outlines the expectations and structure of your mentorship relationship.
• You will help your mentee set and track their goals throughout the programme. These should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Specific). Goals may be updated as the mentorship develops.
• Mentoring reports are an important part of the process. They help both mentor and mentee identify goals, review progress, record actions, and highlight areas for further growth.

Register to become a Mentor

Provide work placements

Many LJMU degrees offer students the chance to take part in a work placement during their studies. Placements are a great way  for students to develop employability skills. You can also gain insight into an industry or sector of interest.

Alumni can support students by offering internships, work placements, and graduate roles. By sharing your industry experience and connections, you can help students gain valuable practical experience.

Our Placement Support Unit can help your organisation in connecting with talented and motivated students. The team can advertise your vacancies free of charge and can promote them to both current students and recent graduates.

To discuss placement opportunities, please get in contact with the Business and Law Placement Support Unit:

• Telephone: 0151 231 3448
• Email: psu@ljmu.ac.uk

Collaborative teaching and curriculum development

Integrating alumni into practical teaching can significantly enhance the learning experience by providing real-world insights and career guidance.

We invite alumni to share their experience through guest lectures, workshops and practical demonstrations. This allows students to learn from professionals who have successfully navigated their field. These individuals have gained knowledge that goes beyond what is found in textbooks.

For example, a Digital Marketing graduate could lead a workshop on search engine optimisation tools. Or an Event Management alumnus could discuss running a successful event.

We will match you with a module that aligns with your professional experience. You will collaborate with the module leader to:

• provide insights into industry trends, challenges, and opportunities. You will help students prepare for their future careers,
• offer guidance and feedback on practical projects, ensuring students develop relevant skills,
• review project proposals, provide feedback on projects, or participate in project presentations.

Incorporating alumni perspectives in the curriculum development helps equip students with the skills employers demand. It ensures e they are prepared for the challenges of today’s workplace.

As a collaborator, you will help to:

• provide valuable input on curriculum development, ensuring that the content is relevant to current industry practices and future career needs.
• participate in curriculum review committees or providing feedback on course content.

If you are interested in collaborative teaching and curriculum development, please complete this form so that we can match you with a module that fits your specialisation.

Provide career guidance and support

Our ‘conversations’ initiative connects current students with experienced professionals. The aim is to provide guidance and support from alumni who have direct experience in the industries students are interested in.

It allows students to gain real-world insights into job searching, skills development and career paths.

How you can help current students

If you would like to join our database of alumni willing to provide career advice and support, please complete the form below.

Join our Conversations database