Bringing an intern into your organisation isn’t just about giving a student an opportunity, it’s about injecting your team with fresh thinking, energy and impactful results. Through the Saltire Scholars Programme by Entrepreneurial Scotland, businesses across Scotland and beyond have been matched with exceptional undergraduate talent who deliver high-impact projects that add value and deliver tangible outcomes.
From marketing to IT, Saltire Scholar Interns have supported a wide range of business functions across organisations of all sizes and sectors. In this article, we’re showcasing the top five kind of projects Saltire Scholars have delivered and the results that followed.
Marketing drives awareness, trust and ultimately, revenue – yet many businesses don’t have the in-house resources to fully execute campaigns, explore new channels or produce content that speaks to their audience. That’s where a Saltire Scholar Marketing Intern can step in and make a measurable impact.
Saltire Scholars bring the latest skills, digital fluency and a results-driven mindset to marketing projects. Common areas of focus include:
➡️ Social media strategy and content creation
➡️ Brand development and campaign support
➡️ Market research and competitor analysis
➡️ Website optimisation and SEO
➡️ Lead generation and email marketing
Aqualution Systems Ltd, a global leader in the science and production of hypochlorous acid (HOCI), sought to diversify into the skincare market with a new cosmetics range. To support the launch of their new brand ‘Within Skincare’, they partnered with the Saltire Scholars Programme to find a capable intern who could drive their go-to-market efforts.
Aqualution were matched with Katie, a Pharmacology student from the University of Strathclyde, who joined the team as a Marketing Intern for the summer. Over the course of her internship, Katie played a central role in planning and executing the launch strategy. She led on website development and SEO, supported product and packaging decisions, coordinated brand photography, and became the dedicated social media manager for the new brand. Working cross-functionally with the team, she brought a structured, insight-led approach to brand building and digital marketing. Katie did such a great job that she was offered a part-time role as a Brand Executive after her internship.
Strong financial insight is vital for making strategic decisions, but day to day operations can often get in the way of digging into the data. That’s where a Saltire Scholar Finance Intern can make a real impact.
Saltire Scholars are equipped to handle meaningful projects that can help uncover cost-savings opportunities, improve budgeting accuracy, or free up time for senior teams to focus on higher-level decision making. Common finance projects include:
➡️ Financial reporting and analysis
➡️ Budget planning and forecasting
➡️ Accounting audit and support
➡️ Risk management and compliance
Insights, a global people development company, brought in Saltire Scholar Intern Sandy to support their finance team. Sandy, an Accounting and Finance student from the University of Strathclyde, joined the company as a Finance Intern, where he focused on enhancing tax compliance and reporting processes across their global operations.
Over the course of his internship, Sandy built a comprehensive Global Withholding Tax Guide covering 103 countries. This tool provided clarity on international tax requirements, helping Insights optimise their tax planning, identify cost-saving opportunities and make more strategic decisions. In addition, he created a Global Tax Compliance Tracker to improve oversight and streamline filings across multiple legal entities.
Engineering departments are constantly balancing ongoing projects with the need for innovation and operational efficiency. A Saltire Scholar Engineering Intern can help alleviate these pressures by bringing fresh perspectives and technical expertise.
Saltire Scholars are ready to take on challenging projects that support product development, streamline operations and enhance system efficiency. Common engineering internship projects include:
➡️ Mechanical Engineering
➡️ Electrical and Electronics Engineering
➡️ Civil & Structural Engineering
➡️ Product Design Engineering
In 2024, Wessington Cryogenics, a leader in cryogenic gas and pressure systems, leveraged the Saltire Scholars Programme to bring in top engineering talent. Engineering Interns Chloe (Sports Engineering, University of Strathclyde) and Karolina (Mechanical Design Engineering, University of Glasgow) were tasked with improving the efficiency of the company’s Engineering Change Order (ECO) process.
Working collaboratively, they designed and developed a mobile app that drastically reduced the time needed to gather the required information for making engineering changes—from a lengthy one-week process to just five seconds. This innovative solution not only streamlined internal operations but also enhanced the department's ability to implement changes rapidly, contributing to greater overall productivity.
From strengthening cyber security to streamlining operations with data-driven solutions, IT and Technology interns bring valuable expertise. Saltire Scholars studying computing, data science, AI and other technical disciplines can provide hands-on support across a range of specialist areas, whether your organisation needs help with infrastructure, automation or software development.
Common IT and Technology projects include:
➡️ IT support
➡️ Software and app development
➡️ Cybersecurity assessment and support
➡️ Data analytics and AI integration
➡️ Systems integration and automation
At Trtl, a travel accessories brand known for innovation, Saltire Scholar Douglas (Computing Science, University of Dundee) joined the Brand Protection team as a Software Engineering Intern. His project aimed to help the company detect counterfeit listings and brand impersonation online.
Douglas developed automated web scrapers that enabled TRTL to identify infringing content at scale, improving the efficiency of their intellectual property enforcement efforts. His technical skills and results were so valued that he was offered a part-time role as Assistant Software Engineer following his internship.
In a sector where innovation can directly improve lives and patient outcomes, Saltire Scholars in life sciences bring analytical thinking, scientific knowledge and fresh insights to high-impact projects. Whether in the lab or behind a screen, these student interns support work that advances research, drives innovation and ensures regulatory readiness.
Saltire Scholar Interns in life sciences can contribute to:
➡️ Laboratory research and development
➡️ Data analysis and clinical research
➡️ Manufacturing and process optimisation
➡️ Regulatory and compliance support
➡️ Product development and innovation
At LifeArc, a medical research charity accelerating life-changing medical breakthroughs, Saltire Scholar Inaaya (Biomedical Science, University of Strathclyde) joined the team as a Molecular Testing Intern focused on respiratory infection.
Inaaya conducted a competitive landscape review and investigated biomarkers for respiratory disease, providing key insights that helped shape LifeArc’s respiratory diagnostics strategy. Her work directly supported the organisation’s long-term mission to improve patient outcomes through early, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment development.
These are just five examples of how Saltire Scholars are delivering meaningful work for real businesses. With over 28 internship project examples available across a range of business functions, there’s never been a better time to explore how a Saltire Scholar could support your organisation during a summer internship.
Whether you’re filling a skills gap, need extra hands for a new initiative, or building your future talent pipeline, Saltire Scholars are ready to make a difference.
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..
Host a Saltire Scholar Intern and gain access to top student talent across business, finance, engineering, marketing, IT, and more. Drive growth with skilled interns tailored to your company’s needs.