Entrepreneurial Scotland has a presence in the USA through Saltire Foundation USA. The Saltire 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.
Entrepreneurial Scotland's USA presence through Saltire Foundation USA 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 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 Saltire Foundation USA, formerly known as 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
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.