Saltire Scholar Internships open for applications

Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Saltire Scholar Internship programme opens the doors for student applications today.

Saltire Scholar internships are open to undergraduate students from Scottish universities in their penultimate year of study and are fully funded.

Saltire Scholar internships provide Scotland’s most talented individuals with the opportunity to work with leading organisations and work alongside global ‘thought leaders’ providing them with the experience required to establish their careers and create the next generation of business leaders for Scotland.

Scottish premium spirits company, Edrington, has been a Saltire host company since 2012, hosting a total of 28 Scholars across its multiple sites in Scotland (Glasgow, Perth, Crieff, Orkney and Speyside) and internationally in New York.

Edrington is home to multiple iconic brands including: The Famous Grouse, The Macallan, Cutty Sark, Highland Park, Brugal rum, Cutty Sark and Snow Leopard vodka.

In 2013, the company launched its own graduate programme and to date four Saltire Scholars have completed the graduate programme and secured full time roles within engineering, brand management, PR and communications and retail management. A further three Scholars are in the midst of the two year programme and one Scholar is due to start the graduate programme later this month highlighting the pipeline of talent progressing through the organisation.

Alice Leyshon, 2012 Saltire Scholar and assistant brand manager for Cutty Sark, said: “My Saltire internship helped me gain the initial experience required to start my career. Following my internship at The Famous Grouse Experience I was accepted onto the Edrington graduate programme. I secured a role as a Graduate Trainee and have since been promoted to Assistant Brand Manager for Cutty Sark. Working on an international brand allows me to work with a wide range of markets all across the globe and gain valuable experience working in a global marketing function. I love my job and hope to work with Edrington for many more years to come.”

Scott McCroskie, managing director for The Macallan, said: “Edrington is committed to developing the next generation of leaders who will continue to grow and nurture our brands. We have benefited from the enthusiasm and passion of Saltire Scholars and we actively engage with Saltire alumni when recruiting for our graduate programme as well as other roles. We look forward to welcoming more Saltire Scholars in 2017.”

In 2016, Scotland’s leading internship programme saw its largest cohort to date of 142 students, representing 16 of Scotland’s 19 universities. Successful applicants will be interviewed and evaluated on their skills and experience on a holistic basis. Once accepted Saltire Scholars are then able to apply for specific internship projects with host companies all over the world.

The Saltire Scholar Internship programme is delivered throughEntrepreneurial Scotland. Saltire Scholars are automatically enrolled into Entrepreneurial Scotland’s network providing world class networking opportunities, mentoring and regular events programme that encourage an entrepreneurial mind-set and behaviours long after their internship has ended.

Sandy Kennedy, chief executive of Entrepreneurial Scotland, said: “Edrington is a fantastic host company and example of an organisation that is using the Saltire programmes to their full potential. Our Saltire Scholar programme is not only about developing individuals at the time of their internships but providing a platform to ignite young people’s ambitions. Our alumni provide a pool of talented emerging leaders that are part of the Entrepreneurial Scotland network and support Scotland in becoming the most entrepreneurial society in the world.”

If you are interested in becoming a Saltire Scholar or a host company please visit: www.entrepreneurialscotland.com/programmes