Taylors Snacks is a Scottish, family-run food business rooted in four generations of farming in Errol, Perthshire. The Taylor family began producing crisps in 2009, later expanding the range to include popcorn and lentil waves.
For 14 years, the business operated in partnership with Mackie’s of Scotland. In 2022, the Taylor family took full ownership of the operation, marking the start of a new chapter under the Taylors Snacks name. The rebrand, rolled out across the full product range in 2023, reflects sole family ownership while retaining the same recipes, quality, and production standards customers know.
Today, Taylors Snacks continues to build on its heritage as an independent Scottish manufacturer, with a growing focus on responsible growth, product consistency, and sustainability across the business.
As Taylors looked ahead to the next phase of its growth, the business identified B Corp certification - an independent standard covering governance, environmental impact, employee wellbeing and community engagement - as an opportunity to formalise its commitment to responsible business.
For Taylors, pursuing certification was about more than achieving a badge. It required a detailed review of existing practices, engagement across multiple teams, and a structured approach to meeting rigorous external standards.
While the ambition was clear, the process itself was complex and time intensive. Progressing the work at pace required dedicated focus - something that was difficult to resource internally without diverting teams away from day-to-day operations.
To move the project forward, Taylors engaged the Saltire Scholars Programme to bring in a focused student intern who could take ownership of the B Corp project while working closely with stakeholders across the business.
Through the programme, Taylors were matched with a motivated, pre-vetted student with the skills and mindset needed to support a complex, cross-functional initiative.
Taylors Snacks were matched with University of Strathclyde Student, Josh, who joined the business in Summer 2024 as a B-Corp Programme Co-Ordinator intern, working on the business’s B-Corp certification project.
His role involved:
Over the course of the internship, Josh helped establish a clear and structured pathway towards B-Corp certification. By engaging teams across the organisation, he brought visibility to areas of strength as well as opportunities for improvement.
Speaking about his Internship, Josh said:
“I’ve been given a big project with meaningful and important outcomes. There’s real responsibility, which has helped me thrive.”
From a business perspective, hosting a Saltire Scholar Intern allowed Taylors to progress a strategically important sustainability initiative without placing additional pressure on existing teams.
Taylors Snacks said:
Josh’s work at Taylors exemplifies the impactful role that young, passionate professionals can play in driving sustainability initiatives. His efforts have not only set the stage for our B-Corp certification but have also inspired a culture of continuous improvement. We’re excited about the future and look forward to continuing this journey with Josh.
Beyond the immediate outcomes, the placement also created longer-term value for both parties. Josh identified the opportunity to base his Product Design dissertation on a live project within Taylors, strengthening the relationship and extending the impact of the work.
For Josh, the experience also provided clarity and confidence about his future direction:
“Taking part in this internship has made me think more clearly about what I want to build and where I want to go next.”
After the initial 12-week internship, Josh was hired by Taylors Snacks to continue the project on a part-time basis.
Taylors’ experience highlights how hosting a Saltire Scholar can support businesses to tackle complex, strategic challenges - from sustainability and compliance to organisational change - while developing the next generation of talent.
By bringing in focused capability at the right time, the business has taken meaningful steps towards B-Corp certification, while creating an environment where emerging talent can take ownership, learn quickly, and contribute real value.
Host companies partner with us because we have a robust selection process that identifies individuals who are consistently cited as the top talent within Scottish universities. Discover the benefits of hosting a Saltire Scholars..
The Saltire Scholars Programme is Entrepreneurial Scotland's flagship programme designed to find, grow and connect students with the ambition and potential of becoming future leaders for Scotland.