Mhari Ross
2026 Saltire Scholar
Works Delivery Off-Track Drainage Project Intern, Network Rail
Environmental Science, UHI
Hi! My name is Mhari Ross, and I’m going into my fourth and final year studying BSc (Hons) Environmental Science at UHI Inverness. This summer, I worked as a Project Intern within Network Rail’s Works Delivery Off-Track Drainage team in Perth.
Coming from the Highlands, moving to Perth for ten weeks was a big step outside my comfort zone. It was my first experience of living and working away from home for an extended period of time, and although I was nervous at first, it quickly became one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. I was thrown into a completely new environment, surrounded by new people and working within an industry I had very little previous experience of. Looking back now, I think that was one of the best parts of the experience.
The team I was based in is responsible for replacing, maintaining, refurbishing, and installing drainage assets across the railway, helping to reduce the risk of flooding and keeping the railway network safe and running efficiently.
During my ten weeks, I was lucky enough to work on two very different projects.
My main project was focused on improving the team’s Power BI drainage dashboard. The team already had a dashboard, but it had been developed externally and wasn’t fully meeting the needs of the people using it. My task was to redesign it into something that was more practical, easier to understand, and aligned with how the team actually worked.
The biggest challenge was that I had very limited experience with Power BI when I started. I had used it a little before, but nothing close to the level required for this project. I had to teach myself a lot of the software as I went, troubleshoot problems, and work out how to turn what the team wanted into a reporting tool that would genuinely be useful.
I worked closely with the Works Delivery Manager throughout the project to understand what information the team needed to see and how they used the existing reporting. I also worked with the Systems Support Manager (Asset Management) on the backend development.
I redesigned the dashboard into a concise five-page reporting solution. I worked on how the information was presented, how users could navigate between different areas, and how the data could be used to give the team a clearer picture of their drainage programme.
There was a lot of trial and error involved. I had to investigate issues with the data, work out why things weren’t displaying correctly, and continually go back to what the team actually needed. At the start of the internship, I definitely didn’t expect to spend so much time working with Power BI, but it ended up being one of the skills I developed and enjoyed the most.
What made this project so rewarding is knowing that I’ve left something behind that the team can continue to use after I’ve finished. It wasn’t just something I completed as part of my internship; it became a long-term reporting solution that will be used daily by the team going forward.
My second project was very different. I wanted the opportunity to work on something more closely connected to my Environmental Science/ Geography degree, so I spoke to my line manager about whether there were any projects I could get involved in. This led to me developing the foundations of a long-term biodiversity management plan for a newly acquired site.
As part of the project, I carried out an ecological desktop study, produced GIS mapping, identified protected and ecological features, and developed recommendations for future surveys and management prescriptions. This gave me the opportunity to take knowledge and skills that I’ve developed at university and apply them to an actual site, which was exciting.
With biodiversity continuing to decline, it was really rewarding to work on something that could contribute to improving the ecological value of Network Rail’s land.
As well as my two projects, one of the best parts of the internship was getting out and seeing different parts of Network Rail and the railway across Scotland.
I had the opportunity to attend contractor meetings in Glasgow, visit sites and see drainage issues out on the network. Being able to see the work I was dealing with on a computer actually happening on the ground made a huge difference to my understanding.
I also attended several Saltire Scholar activities organised by the Early Careers team. Some of the highlights included seeing the Fife Electrification project, learning about operations at the West of Scotland Signalling Centre, visiting the Larbert Training Centre and getting a tour of Glasgow Central Station and its museum.
Because I was based in Perth, it was also great to travel to Glasgow and catch up the other NR Saltire Scholars. With the interns working in different parts of Network Rail, hearing about their experiences gave me a much better understanding of how many different areas come together to keep the railway operating.
Looking back, one of the biggest impacts of the Saltire Scholar programme has been personal.
Moving from the Highlands to Perth, living somewhere new, starting a new job and meeting so many new people pushed me well outside my comfort zone. There were definitely moments at the beginning where I felt nervous and unsure of myself, but as the weeks went on, I became much more comfortable.
I gained confidence speaking to people in professional environments, contributing in meetings and asking questions.
The biodiversity project was a perfect example of this. I mentioned that it was something I was interested in, and that conversation led to me being given the opportunity to take it forward. It really showed me that you never know what opportunities might come from simply asking.
I’ve also come away from the internship with a much better understanding of what I’m capable of. I started the summer with very limited Power BI experience and finished having redesigned a dashboard that the team will continue to use. I started unsure of what working in the railway would actually be like and finished with a much clearer idea of the types of roles I could see myself doing.
I definitely wouldn’t have gained that perspective from staying within my comfort zone!
The Saltire Scholar programme has given me much more than I expected. I came to Perth wanting to gain work experience and learn more about the railway, but I’ve left with new skills, new experiences and a completely different perspective on what I could do after university.
Going into my final year at UHI Inverness, I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned with me and to see where it can lead next.
If you’re thinking about applying to the Saltire Scholar programme, I’d say just go for it!! You don’t have to know exactly what you want to get out of the experience before you start. You might surprise yourself with what you enjoy, what you’re capable of, and where the experience takes you.
If you have any questions, I’m always open for a chat; please feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn :)
