The Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation (USA) is a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization (IRS EIN 26-2247462) incorporated in the state of Delaware.
The US presents a uniquely attractive opportunity because of the sheer scale of companies who operate globally, including operations in Scotland and wider UK, where identifying top talent is a competitive advantage.
We have expanded our US operations to tap into a deeply experienced and diverse network of Senior Executives with close ties to Scotland from companies large and small and across all industries, including life sciences, engineering, tech, marketing, renewables, food & drink and business.
Our programs help play a profound role in the continuing growth and influence of the Scottish-American business and cultural relationship, which is ever more important in helping each other emerge from a changed world. The US is Scotland’s largest overseas market for trade, investment and tourism - indeed, more than 100,000 people in Scotland are employed by US companies - so is uniquely positioned to help instil a global and entrepreneurial mindset in the young people who are starting their careers. ES is a vehicle to achieve this.
The Entrepreneurial Scotland USA presence is an active part of the wider diaspora, all working to achieve Scotland’s ambition to be a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation.
We work with all of Scotland’s Universities which allows us to reach a significant talent pool, including specialist skill sets and study areas, which saves you the time to access the skills.
Engaged
We work with all of Scotland’s Universities which allows us to reach a significant talent pool of penultimate year, Undergraduate Students.
Selected
Candidates who meet our qualifying criteria, and then complete our first stage competency-based application form, will have a minimum of 3 years academic experience in a variety of study areas.
Interviews
Applicants invited for interview will have to fully comprehend our Program and understand the skills that they can bring to an employer before being admitted to the Candidate Pool.
Candidates
After reviewing their tailored Resumes and Cover letters, we shortlist students from the highly competitive Candidate Pool for a further interview with a host company.
Saltire Scholar Interns
The strongest talent of the Cohort will secure an internship and the final decision always lies with the Host Company.
We are at the forefront of developing the entrepreneurial community throughout Scotland with our Programmes designed to equip leaders, current and future with the skills, mindset and connections to go forward and create value.
Your expertise can help make a difference to our community's journey:
Our rigorous learning experiences covering a variety of subjects from navigating volatility to building resilience. Virtually or in person you have the opportunity to create direct impact by getting involved in the work we do.
If you would like to know more about our foundation in the US, get in touch.
Our Saltire Scholars Internship Program matches high-potential undergraduates from Scottish Universities with summer internships in leading global and entrepreneurial companies, like yours. Saltire Scholars Internship Program attracts diverse students and hosts. Internships range from medical device development in a Silicon Valley startup to working in risk control at FTSE100s in London. These are life-defining opportunities for students which deliver tangible value to our hosts.
Sponsoring a Scholar is a unique opportunity to support a Saltire Scholar throughout their time with the programme.
Our scholars are the leaders of tomorrow. By offering new challenges, opportunities and connections, we give them the best possible start in their future careers.
Now in its 15th year, the Saltire Scholars Programme, was established to increase the confidence, ambition and global mindset of Scotland’s next generation of business leaders.
It matches high-potential undergraduates from all Scottish universities with summer internships in leading global and entrepreneurial companies. Students are in their penultimate year of university and come from a broad spectrum of backgrounds including business, economics, engineering, computer science, marketing and humanities.
To find out more, get in touch.
By making a gift to support our Foundation you will be supporting us to develop Scotland’s next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and contribute to Scotland’s success. You can:
Following receipt of your gift, we will issue you an acknowledgment letter which may serve as your tax receipt. The Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation (USA) is a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization (IRS EIN 26-2247462) incorporated in the state of Delaware. Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law
Wood Plc, is a multinational energy services company with its headquarters in Aberdeen
They are a global leader in engineering, project and technical services to industrial, energy, process and utility markets and have a global network of skilled professionals, delivering on their reputation for integrity and assurance.
Wood operate in more than 60 countries, employing around 55,000 people, with revenues of around $10 billion. They provide performance-driven solutions throughout the asset life cycle, from concept to decommissioning across a broad range of industrial markets, including upstream, midstream and downstream oil & gas, chemicals, environment and infrastructure, power & process, clean energy, mining, nuclear, and general industrial sectors.
The are previous Scholar hosts having hosted in both 2014 (4 Scholars) and in 2019 when they hosted 2 Scholars one in Houston and the other in Calgary, Canada.
Wood were so impressed by their 2019 Houston Scholar Laura Ong that they offered her a graduate job before she had even finished her internship.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) are a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer.
The Company has 3 global businesses that research, develop and manufacture innovative pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines and consumer healthcare products with the goal to being one of the world’s most innovative, best performing and trusted healthcare companies.
GSK’s values and expectations help to define their culture - so that they can deliver extraordinary things for their patients and consumers and make GSK a brilliant place to work.
GlaxoSmithKIine has been a Host Company partner of the Saltire Scholar Programme since 2009 when they hosted their first Saltire Scholar at their Montrose site in Scotland. Since then, GSK has hosted 101 Scholars across 13 sites Globally in the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA. In addition to offering opportunities in Biopharmaceutical Engineering and Research, previous Saltire Scholars have undertaken roles in Supply Chain Development, Logistics and Technical Digital Innovation.
"Speaking with Eilidh Dillon, the sponsor for the GSK Scholars, and realising just how much my contributions, initiative and ability have been noticed over the time I spent at GSK. Also, understanding that I have the ability to do far more than I thought possible and developing an understanding within myself that I have the potential to do extremely well in somewhere like my host company. "Jack McGirr, 2019 Scholar, GSK, Worthing, UK.
Envision Solar International, Inc. is a San Diego based sustainable technology innovation company. Envision distinguishes itself with unique and advanced renewably energized electric vehicle (EV) charging, media and branding and energy security systems.
At Envision Solar, we create unique products that bring value to three specific verticals, electric vehicle (EV) charging, media and branding systems and energy security. We chose these verticals because they are each experiencing rapid growth, have massive opportunities for scale and can benefit significantly from the introduction of intelligently engineered solar powered products. We’ve ensured that our products can simultaneously be rapidly deployed, offer meaningful financial returns and improve the environment.
We invent, engineer and manufacture products in our San Diego facility where our team of combat veterans, disabled workers and other valuable team members proudly integrate the highest quality components into our Made in America products. Our vision, experience and commitment to the environment and design has made us the market leader.
Envision Solar have hosted 27 Saltire Scholars since 2011 and they are planning to host a further 2 Scholars in 2021.
David Young is CEO of GenesisCare, a global oncology services provider in Australia, USA, UK and Spain with over 1,000 oncology providers. Prior to this role David was President & CEO of Physicians Endoscopy, Inc. a Gastrointestinal investment and management services solutions provider for independent GI providers with over 600 gastroenterologists. In previous roles, David was Chief Operating Officer of Privia Health, Inc., Chief Financial Officer and Interim President of Smile Brands, Inc., Senior Vice President of Operations for McKesson Specialty Health, and Chief Financial Officer of US Oncology, Inc.
David is originally from Scotland, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting (Hons) and received his MBA from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant and Corporate Treasurer.
Forbes Alexander is a retired CFO and EVP, following a 27-year career at Jabil Circuit Inc.
He joined as Controller of Scottish Manufacturing Operations, previously holding financial positions within numerous high-profile companies, such as Hewlett Packard.
He is a Founding Partner of Steadfast Partners, a Fellow of CIMA and served on the Board of Directors for CB&I and McDermott International.
Mark Bamforth is a serial entrepreneur, having founded, built and sold three companies. He is currently mentoring and investing in Scottish and US-based entrepreneurs.
Bamforth founded Arranta Bio to build the best-in-class advanced therapeutics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) in May 2019 with a focus on microbiome, plasmid and mRNA vaccines. Arranta was sold to Recipharm in April 2022.
Previously, Bamforth founded Brammer Bio, a best-in-class viral vector CDMO for cell and gene therapies. Brammer’s team grew from 110 in 2016 to over 600 in Florida and Massachusetts, at the time of its acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific in April 2019.
In 2010, Bamforth founded a biologics CDMO, Gallus BioPharmaceuticals, and acquired a world-class facility and team in St. Louis, MO, with a commercial supply agreement with Janssen. Gallus tripled through organic growth and merging with Laureate Biopharma. Gallus was sold to DPx Holdings B.V. in 2014.
Bamforth previously spent 22 years in the UK and USA at Genzyme Corp., latterly running the 12-site global manufacturing operation and a pharmaceutical CMO business and serving as a corporate officer for 9 years. He began his career as a petroleum engineer exploring for North Sea oil with Britoil, then as a chemical engineer in the whisky industry with Whitbread
Bamforth serves on the boards of Continuus Pharma, Pneumagen, Enterobiotix, Inceptor Bio, and Entrepreneurial Scotland. He has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Strathclyde University and an MBA from Henley Management College.
Derek Blackwood OBE is a retired MD of Wood Group, previously working as MD of APG/Salamis JV Ltd.
He sits on numerous boards, is founder and Hall of Fame member of the Globalscot network and former president of the BABC in Houston.
Derek is actively involved in the Saltire Scholars programme and the Scottish Space School at NASA.
Mike Smith is currently Head of Business Development for PNC Wealth Management and Hawthorn, The Family Office division of PNC Bank, for the Mid Atlantic Region. Prior to joining PNC in 2019, Mike held similar roles with Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Private Bank following his return to the United States in 2013.
Mike spent the majority of his career based in Edinburgh and London UK working for major European Private Banking operations, Société Générale Private Bank and Dresdner Kleinwort Benson. He founded both the Kleinwort and SG Hambros Office in the Scottish Capital where they previously had no presence, and developed the business North of the Border and in Northern Ireland, recruiting teams and establishing relationships with the Scottish Business Community and Professional Intermediary Sector.
Rory Hedderly serves as the Head of Business Development (USA). Rory joins the Entrepreneurial Scotland team after 15 years of public service on behalf of the Scottish Government. Most recently, Rory held the position of Deputy Head of the Scottish Government USA (2018-2023). In that time, Rory worked to grow Scotland’s reputation in the US by showcasing Scotland as the best place to Live, Work, Study, Visit and do Business. A vital part of that success was his ability to build networks across business, political and wider interest groups will the sole purpose raising awareness of what modern Scotland has to offer the world.
Prior to his move to the USA, Rory spent over 10 years working in Private Office as Deputy Private Secretary to the First Minister of Scotland as well as several other Cabinet members.
Rory also volunteers in support of the Washington Tattoo, a charitable organization modelled on the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, that focuses on cultural exchange, support for veterans and education of the arts. Rory resides in the Washington, DC area with his wife and goldendoodle where he enjoys golf and travelling.