Saltire Foundation internship scheme targets record growth

The Saltire Foundation, which focuses on developing the next generation of business leaders in Scotland, is marking its tenth anniversary with its “biggest-ever” scholarship programme for next year.

Chief executive of Entrepreneurial Scotland Sandy Kennedy. Picture: submitted

The organisation – the charitable arm of Entrepreneurial Scotland – is looking to recruit a record 160 undergraduate students currently in their penultimate year at Scottish ­Universities.

That compares to just six scholars who took part in the Saltire scholars undergraduate internship programme when it started in 2007.

The scheme gives promising undergraduate students, most of whom may not otherwise have access to such opportunities, “challenging” work experience at very successful firms or high growth entrepreneurial companies.

So global is the scheme that 70 per cent of its placements are abroad, last year sending 137 interns to five continents, and those in Scotland are with “globally-minded” organisations.

Sandy Kennedy, chief executive of Entrepreneurial Scotland, said the programme marks the “opportunity of a lifetime,” and he described its growth, with the aim to continue this rate over the coming decade, as “remarkable”.

He said: “Entrepreneurial Scotland regards the Saltire scholarship programme as vital in developing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders who will help us to realise our ambition for Scotland to be the most entrepreneurial society in the world. Instilling a global perspective in our scholars is important in ensuring Scotland increases its standing on the world stage.”