An internship scheme designed to foster Scotland’s next generation of business leaders has opened up for new applications.
Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Saltire Scholar programme is aimed at undergraduate students from Scottish universities who are in their penultimate year of study and are fully funded.
The scheme gives individuals the opportunity to work with leading organisations and captains of industry to get the experience required to establish their careers.
Famous Grouse and The Macallan owner Edrington has been a Saltire host company since 2012.
In total, it has offered places to 28 scholars across its Scottish sites and at its New York base.
The company introduced its own in-house graduate programme in 2013 and four Saltire Scholars have gone on to complete that scheme 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 will enter the graduate scheme later this month.
2012 Saltire Scholar Alice Leyshon urged other talented individuals to consider the internship scheme.
“My Saltire internship helped me gain the initial experience required to start my career,” she said.
“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.”
Scott McCroskie, managing director for The Macallan, said the group was committed to developing new talent.
He said: “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.
In 2016, 142 students from 16 Scottish universities entered into the scheme.
Once accepted Saltire Scholars are then able to apply for specific internship projects with host companies all over the world.
Sandy Kennedy, CEO of Entrepreneurial Scotland, said: “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.”