Andrew Vincent, CEO of QUICKBLOCK shares how the Saltire Scholar Programme acts as talent pipeline for their organisation.
QUICKBLOCK is a Scotland-based start-up with an ambitious team who are passionate about sustainability. The team work with customers across Europe in developing bespoke QUICKBLOCK solutions to solve a number of problems including defence, security, disaster relief, Their vision is to provide a sustainable building solution to solve a variety of problems, reducing waste and contributing to a circular economy.
Andrew Vincent, a passionate alumnus of our previous Saltire Leadership Programmes, recognised the importance of leadership development and saw the Saltire Scholar Programme as an opportunity to pass on his leadership lessons to up-and-coming leaders, whilst using the programme as an essential tool to grow the business:
We host Scholars every year as we view it as a crucial part of our talent pipeline. It gives Scholars a great opportunity to work in a fast-moving start-up on real, tangible projects, but it also allows us to invite some of the brightest talent in Scotland into our team.
Scholars always arrive with an entrepreneurial "go get it" attitude which is what all employers want - this has led to us hiring Saltire Scholars on a full-time basis after the programme.
In 2023, QUICKBLOCK hosted Jessica Pandya, an International Business and Marketing student from the University of Strathclyde, as a Marketing and Content Creation Intern.
During her internship, Jessica kickstarted a new marketing campaign called ‘BLOCKs in Action’, showcasing the innovative ways QUICKBLOCKs can be used to solve a number of challenges. Jessica also raised awareness of their solutions at the Royal Highland Show and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Speaking of Jessica’s impact on the business, CEO Andrew Vincent said:
Jessica joined us in the summer to work on our marketing and communications plan, adding much-needed resource to the team. Jessica excelled from day one, so much so we decided to offer her a permanent role after her internship.”
For Jessica, the internship was a dream come true, having studied QUICKBLOCK as an innovative start-up as part of her university course.
My internship with QUICKBLOCK has had a lasting impact on both my professional and personal development. Professionally it allowed me to gain invaluable marketing experience and take leadership within my social media campaign I ran during the 10-week programme. On a personal level I can say that one of the best things about the internship was the opportunity for both independence and creativity, which is now aiding me well in my final year of university. As QUICKBLOCK is a small company, the exposure I had to all aspects of the business was very insightful in gaining knowledge of the operations of a start-up business.”
Now working part-time as a Marketing Executive for QUICKBLOCK, Jessica is excited to expand her marketing and content creation experience whilst learning more about the commercial and defence sectors QUICKBLOCK operates in.
If you would like to talk to Entrepreneurial Scotland about hosting an intern and how a Saltire Scholar can benefit your business, please get in touch by clicking the button below.