Hi! My name is Matthew and I recently graduated from the University of Strathclyde in Chemical and Process Engineering. This summer I was keen to get first-hand experience in industry, to better understand where my degree could take me. Through the Saltire Scholars Programme I managed to secured a 10-week internship with the Highland Spring Group as a Manufacturing and Operations Support Intern. My role focused on supporting the Operations team, identifying causes of downtime within the bottle production lines to improve performance.
I was happy to start alongside another Saltire Scholar, Cameron, and we both found the team at Highland Spring very welcoming and genuinely enthusiastic to talk about their work. Everyone helped us settle in quickly and get up to speed with the systems we would be using in our respective roles. My role focused on data analysis, particularly identifying trends in machine downtime and considering causes and potential solutions. Most of this work was based on one of the fastest bottle production lines in Europe, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 2017. Being trusted to analyse such an important line was exciting, as even small improvements could have a significant impact. Within the first few weeks I had been to the factory floor multiple times, speaking with operators and seeing how the water bottle production lines worked. I gained valuable experience in food-safe manufacturing and had the chance to use my problem-solving and data analysis skills to identify areas of loss across the lines before presenting my findings to the Operations team. I was also introduced to Lean Manufacturing Principles and how they are used to improve efficiency and reduce waste. These are skills I will take forward in my career, and the experience has changed how I approach engineering problems.
Although my internship was mainly based at the Blackford site, we also had the opportunity to visit Highland Spring’s Lennoxtown site for a day. This allowed us to meet another intern and learn about his experience so far. A welcome day was organised, where colleagues from different departments explained their roles, the work Highland Spring does, and the company’s ambitions for the future. This included a tour of the Ochil Hills, where the water is sourced, to see one of the boreholes and learn how the land is managed. Hearing from different departments gave me a better understanding of how a large company operates, and how everyone’s job interlinks; from Packaging and Operations to Finance and Marketing.
My advice to students considering the programme: apply as soon as you can! The process is a fantastic way to gain valuable industry experience with a major organisation, something employers really value. Applying before your final year also gives you more than one opportunity to try again if you are unsuccessful. However, if you leave it until your final year, as I did, don’t let that put you off. It is still an excellent opportunity to build your confidence, expand your network, and develop skills that will support you beyond university.
