Aidan Ross
2026 Saltire Scholar
Engineering Intern, Black & McDonald
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Strahthclyde
This summer I spent
12 weeks working as part of the Electrical Estimation Team for Black & McDonald, a multi-trade service provider and contractor with
locations all over North America. I was surprised to find myself in
Toronto, Canada as I was not aware that opportunities like this were
available until I applied to the Saltire Scholars programme.
My experience
started in Scotland with the application and assessment centre for
the Saltire Scholars programme, then eventually applying to Black and
McDonald and meeting all the lovely folk over in Toronto. The whole
process was seamless, Entrepreneurial Scotland provided excellent
advice for interviewing as well as writing your CV and I can't
describe the feeling when I got word I had been accepted.
The Internship
primarily focused on learning estimation, a part of the process
necessary to bring construction plans to their eventual completion.
Through working with the team at B&M I learned about the
construction industry as a whole as well as getting a peek behind the
curtain and seeing how the electrical supply goes from grid feed all
the way to powering each and every appliance within large scale
infrastructure projects.
The projects I
worked on gave me a better understanding of industrial electrics (as
well as the differences between the North American system and the
European) and I got to demonstrate my skills through trying to
optimise and accurately map engineering drawings to a formal
breakdown of materials and labour, for projects at all stages of
construction and development.
B&M offered
support throughout my entire placement, I had a mentor who I could
ask any questions should I have them but ultimately I was given a lot
of freedom to work independently and by the end of my time there I
really felt like part of the team, hopefully having a lifelong link
to the people over in Toronto.
I would recommend
applying to the Saltire Scholars program regardless of your
background as well as get involved with Entrepreneurial Scotland in
any way you can. The Saltire Scholars Canada Board and alumni in
Toronto were more than welcoming and happy to help.
Additionally, this
placement aided in my personal development immensely, I feel like I
have gained a new level of confidence and resilience, traveling changes you for the better and the valuable experience the program
offers will leave you feeling like a brand new person.
My time spent in Toronto, now at its end, has taught me much about construction, system level thinking, large scale infrastructure and reverse engineering, but it has also taught me the value of experience and reshaped the career path I wish to follow from this point on.
