When I applied for the Saltire Scholar Programme, I knew exactly why I wanted to take part, I needed real life professional marketing experience before graduating. As a Marketing and Tourism student at the University of Strathclyde, I’d learned so much in theory, but I was eager to put it into practice.
I was fortunate to be offered a 10-week summer internship with s1jobs, one of Scotland’s leading recruitment job board and part of the Newsquest Media Group. In my very first week, I was tasked with creating print adverts for The Herald newspaper to promote s1jobs on the graduation pages. A week later, I attended my own graduation and on the same page as my name, were the adverts I had designed. It was a full circle moment: from starting university as a first year with no idea where I’d end up, to graduating four years later with my work featured alongside my achievements. It was one of the highlights of my internship.
Throughout the internship, my role was incredibly varied. I created content for social media channels, wrote career advice blogs to support jobseekers, and gained valuable experience in email marketing. I also learned how to interpret marketing analytics and use the insights to tailor campaigns and strategies. Very quickly, I picked up practical skills with different software tools to create and publish content, which had been one of my personal goals since these hands on skills aren’t always taught at university. Later on, I had the chance to work on a B2B marketing campaign, which was completely new to me. This experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me broaden my knowledge, giving me a more rounded understanding of marketing in both consumer and business contexts. Another highlight was the chance to meet people from different roles across the business. From sales to editorial, I gained a deeper understanding of how a large organisation like Newsquest is run and how different departments collaborate to achieve shared goals.
I had the opportunity to interview various industry professionals for an upcoming mini-series. This not only gave me valuable career insights and advice from people with years of experience, but it was also a fantastic way to network and build connections that I know will benefit me in the future. One of the standout moments of the internship was visiting Newsquest’s printing centre in Cambuslang. Seeing how newspapers are produced and watching work created in the office come to life in print, was fascinating and gave me a new appreciation for the media industry.
Overall, my time at s1jobs was exactly what I needed: a chance to put theory into practice, learn practical marketing skills, and build confidence in a professional environment. More than anything, it reinforced my belief that hands on experience is essential when preparing for future roles. For anyone considering the Saltire Scholar Programme, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s an incredible opportunity to gain professional experience, grow your skills, and have experiences that will stay with you long after graduation.
