Hi – I am Ethan, and I study Politics and International Relations at the University of Strathclyde. I applied to the Saltire Scholars Programme to gain more experience, coming from a degree that has less traditional obvious career paths, and to gain confidence going into the world of work. If this is what you want to gain as well, hopefully sharing my experience will help you do something similar.
I took part in a 10-week project management internship at Network Rail within the Works Delivery (Off Track) team, and was also able to spend some time with the Strategy and Investment and Town Planning teams, which are areas I also have an interest in. Within the Works Delivery team, alongside assisting with the delivery of boundary renewal and vegetation management projects, I worked on a project that aimed to improve the social value of our works. In Strategy and Investment, I contributed to key presentations on ongoing route upgrade proposals in line to receive capital investment. This was something very different from my degree, though there were good opportunities to apply some of the theoretical knowledge I had picked up, as well as experience gained through my society committee positions. Although this made me quite nervous going into the internship, it really helped to push me out of my comfort zone and realise that once you have picked a degree you are not restricted to any one area.
My social value project looked at areas where the Works Delivery team experienced challenges regarding delivering social value, and where there were opportunities to do more. Social value is “the positive change in opportunity and wellbeing experienced by individuals, communities and society at large due to the actions of Scotland’s Railway” and is at the heart of every Network Rail project, so this project had a very wide scope. As part of my project, I organised a volunteering day, collaborated with colleagues from other parts of the organisation to understand the wider picture of social value, and oversaw the installation of benches at Troon Primary School, among other actions. Within the team, this led to a greater embodiment of social value, increased collaboration, lowered the likelihood of complaints, improved relations with communities on our railway, and led to a reputational boost for Network Rail, while also aligning with Network Rail’s core strategic themes. The most rewarding part of the whole experience was the opportunity to collaborate and talk with people from around the organisation, building a wide base of knowledge and connections for my professional future.
In many ways the internship pushed me. I am not a naturally outgoing person, and I do not like to get in the way of people. Taking part in the programme helped me to realise that you do not have to be outgoing to make connections and to do well, and when you ask for help or for something to work on that people really want to help you. This has absolutely opened my eyes to a range of opportunities I would have never considered before, particularly the range of roles available in Scotland’s Railway that you might have never even imagined exist.
So, if you are considering applying for the Saltire Scholars Programme but are unsure: go for it, take the plunge! Regardless of how far you get, it is an incredibly rewarding opportunity to develop your skills, confidence, meet others, and gain experience. That would be my advice for the whole programme – take any opportunity you can get and do not be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Everyone is there to support you and to help you grow, so take advantage of the fantastic opportunity that presents itself to you.
