Strathclyde Business School students have set out on an experience of a lifetime thanks to the Saltire Foundation's entrepreneurial Scholars programme.
There are 21 students from the business school who have been successfully awarded a scholarship which will enable them to gain valuable work experience over the summer with companies around the world. Approximately two-thirds of all the students will go international and the other third will operate in Scotland. Regardless of where they are based, they are all being given the chance of valuable work experience with world leading businesses.
Of the 21 Strathclyde Business School students, 15 are travelling overseas to the USA, Zambia, Germany and Switzerland to work with companies such as Bayer Medical, Barclays, Jabil Circuit while Scotland-based students are interning with The Edrington Group and Edinburgh Airport.
Accounting and finance student Leah McGarry is with Jabil Circuit in St Petersburg, USA. She said, "Being in my penultimate year at Strathclyde and being on a particularly competitive course I was determined to make the most of my summer internship. I wanted to expand what I already knew on numerous levels, I wanted to challenge myself both academically and socially, and most of all I wanted an internship that stood out to prospective employers. When I heard about the Saltire Foundation I thought it was too good to be true. It ticked every box and more. Their mission is to inspire, fuel and spark future Scottish leaders and giving young students the amazing journey of a Saltire Internship certainly does. I wanted to go overseas and immerse myself in a new culture while learning valuable skills. The fact that everything is paid for through the Saltire Foundation also took away any money worries – which are usually a big problem for a student! Being granted an Internship with Jabil Circuits through the Saltire Foundation is my greatest achievement to date.
"When I found out I was given the internship I couldn't believe it - I'm still pinching myself sitting in Florida right now! As the Financial Reporting Intern at Jabil I will get the opportunity to work in every section of financial reporting. I will be getting to see first-hand what gets done on a daily basis and will be given my own personal projects which will add value to the company and give me invaluable experience. This was exactly what I wanted from my internship as it allows me to see all the theory I learn at Strathclyde put into a real life scenario and connect it all together.
"I already feel like I've gained so much. I'm currently working with the consolidations aspect of financial reporting and I am finding it so interesting. I've learnt that day to day working requires constant problem solving skills. I feel that I can see my University work really coming into context which is so helpful. I have had the opportunity to have lunch with the CFO of Jabil – Forbes Alexander and having the opportunity to speak with somebody so successful was amazing and he gave me lots of career advice that I will always remember."
Fellow SBS student Elizabeth Irvine added, "Hearing about the amazing experiences from previous scholars really urged me to research and apply to The Saltire Foundation. The scholars I had spoken to not only praised the internship experience, but also the range of opportunities opened up to them after being selected. The process itself was long, but worthwhile. It allowed applicants to gain interview experience as well as experience in writing cover letters and preparing for job applications.
"I will be a business support associate in Zambia, supporting organisations with their business operations, financial management and their sales and marketing. The company I will be working with will have limited resources and possibly unfamiliar with formal business practice."
The Saltire Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Entrepreneurial Scotland (ES) and the Saltire Scholars represent 13 universities across Scotland. It is the first time that the Scholars programme has taken place under the umbrella of ES and, in recognition of their efforts, the Scholars will be awarded membership of Future Leaders of Entrepreneurial Scotland for the duration of their scholarship and for the remainder of their 2015/16 academic year.
Future Leaders is a new network category of Entrepreneurial Scotland which launched in April this year and aims to attract enthusiastic, talented people in Scotland, or internationally, who want to see Scotland become the most entrepreneurial society in the world.
Sandy Kennedy, chief executive of Entrepreneurial Scotland, said, "This year sees another record intake of Scholars, of outstanding calibre, drive and ambition. For the first time, Scholars will now join our growing network of current and Future Leaders of Entrepreneurial Scotland – people who are committed to inspiring, developing and connecting with each other, to ignite economic growth in Scotland."
More information on the Saltire Foundation is available on their website (www.saltirefoundation.com) and you can read a blog by Leah McGarry on the Strathclyde Business School Engage blog.