Nawal Ahmed
2026 Saltire Scholar
BI Systems and Business Analyst Intern, The Craneware Group
Statistics and Finance, University of Glasgow
Hi, my name is Nawal, and I am about to begin my final year studying Statistics and Finance at the University of Glasgow.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to intern at The Craneware Group through the Saltire Scholars Programme, which I originally applied to after a friend recommended it. Little did I know that it would turn out to be one of the best experiences of my life.
Throughout the internship, I made many new friends, created lasting memories and developed both personally and professionally. The experience helped me grow in confidence and gave me valuable insight into the realities of the working world.
The Craneware Group is a healthcare software company that helps hospitals and healthcare systems improve their financial performance.
Now, onto my role. I worked as a BI Systems and Business Analyst Intern, I believe this experience has broadened my knowledge not only in Business Intelligence but also helped me gain a clearer understanding of where I see myself in the future. My main goal was to develop my skills and learn from the professionals around me, which I have successfully done throughout the internship.
During the first few weeks I spent time familiarising myself with the company, learning new software and introducing myself to many new faces. One of the first things I noticed was how happy and welcoming everyone seemed, which made me excited to come into the office each day. During lunch breaks we would occasionally play pool, which helped create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere and made the workplace feel less intense.
I was introduced to Microsoft Power BI, a business intelligence platform that transforms data into interactive reports and dashboards, enabling users to analyse information and make informed decisions.
Over the past 13 weeks, I have grown, learned and applied a wide range of new skills throughout my internship. One of the biggest areas of my development has been working with data, reporting and dashboard creation. I have significantly enhanced my technical skills, particularly through using Power Query to import, clean and transform data before it is incorporated into reports. I also learned how to present that data in a way that is easy for users to understand, allowing them to quickly access the information they need.
Working with these tools has given me a much deeper understanding of what happens behind the visuals in a Power BI report. I have learned that creating an effective report is not just about making it visually appealing, but also about ensuring that the underlying data, calculations and processes are accurate, reliable and efficient.
Of all the projects I worked on, the one I'm proudest of is a canned report I built called Wholesalers. It runs easily on demand and displays full wholesaler details for every customer on specific products, and it's now used across multiple teams. I always knew I'd be contributing to the business in some way, but actually seeing it happen felt surreal. As an intern, we all want to make a great impression and contribute meaningfully but being part of something and seeing yourself go beyond what you initially set out to achieve is genuinely a feeling I can’t quite put into words. This project was challenging as there was many things I learnt throughout it and many stumbling blocks, but I persevered through and made a well working report which is now used by many.
Looking back, this internship has been an incredibly rewarding experience and has provided me with valuable skills, knowledge and connections that I will carry forward into the next stage of my career. It has helped me grow both professionally and personally, while giving me greater confidence in my abilities and future career aspirations.
Without the support of the Saltire Scholar programme, I would not have had the opportunity to gain such a meaningful and rewarding experience. To anyone considering applying, my advice would be simply take the opportunity. Do not let self-doubt hold you back, as this could be one of the most valuable and enjoyable experiences of your university journey.
Never think that your goals are out of reach. You can achieve far more than you may realise when you put your mind to something. With the support, guidance and opportunities provided by Saltire, you will feel encouraged every step of the way. Taking that first step and submitting an application could open doors to experiences, skills and connections that will benefit you for years to come.
