Saltire Scholar Internship Programme: Rhudi Baume-Kennedy
The Saltire Scholar Internship Programme offers university students commercially valuable, paid internship opportunities in Scotland and all over the world.
The Careers Centre partners with Entrepreneurial Scotland in bringing these opportunities to University of St Andrews students in their penultimate or final year of study.
In this post, final-year Economics and Philosophy student, Rhudi Baume-Kennedy, who recently completed a Saltire Scholar Internship in New York, talks about what motivated him to apply, what his experience was like as an intern, and offers his tips for those thinking of applying to the programme.
Why did you sign up to become a Saltire Scholar?
I was attracted to the programme because of the values that Entrepreneurial Scotland hold, which really appealed to me, as well as the internship opportunities they had available. These values, such as mutual support, cooperation, and entrepreneurial thinking immediately resonated with me and the company I worked for also put great importance on promoting these ethics. In addition, the chance to join a wider network of like-minded and motivated people was another factor. I hoped to take on a stimulating internship while becoming a part of an entrepreneurial community from which I could gain further practical experience and develop my knowledge.
What learning did you take from the application process?
The application process was fairly rigorous but extremely beneficial from a developmental point of view. It challenges you in several ways, as you need to be able to demonstrate your qualities both in writing, through a cover letter, and in-person, through an interview. I found it was especially important to show that you have done your research on a company and demonstrate your understanding of their values and culture, as this can help to convey your enthusiasm and fit for the role in an interview or cover letter.
What was your internship experience like?
I worked as a Financial Planning and Analysis Intern for Edrington Americas, a premium spirits company, in their New York City offices. A large part of my role was focused on working with alcohol sales data from the South American market to help the company plan for expanding its trade into Latin America. I developed my Microsoft Excel skills significantly in this role but also got to experience new software such as PowerBI to present my findings in a visual format to my managers.
I learned and developed technical skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerBI which I put into practice every day, by manipulating, analysing, and presenting data. I also gained a deeper insight into working and communicating within a corporate environment, which was a crucial aspect of team meetings and presentations.
How did you find the wider experience as a Saltire Scholar, outside of the workplace?
I would say that my most significant learning experiences as a Saltire Scholar came from outside the internship, as living in a completely new place, I learned that I could thrive independently. This gave me a newfound sense of confidence and opened my mind to what possibilities exist in the future. For three months, I immersed myself in a new culture which was completely eye-opening and inspiring to me. Living together with other Saltire Scholars, who I had never met before, was initially daunting, but it became so rewarding as it offered me fresh perspectives on life. After the internship, I then decided to spend two weeks traveling around the east coast of the U.S.A which was an experience that I will never forget.
What’s next for you in your employability journey?
I am currently in the process of applying to graduate schemes, including one at Edrington’s office in Glasgow. Some of my previous colleagues at Edrington Americas have kindly written letters of recommendation for me and I am hopeful that my positive experience as an intern will strengthen my employability credentials even further. Irrespective of what comes next, my time as a Saltire Scholar has a given me a much clearer vision of what I want to do with my career and has instilled confidence in me to go for the roles that I truly want.
Finally, what would you say to someone considering applying to the Saltire programme?
I would recommend anyone to do it if they feel that the values of Entrepreneurial Scotland resonate with them, as they did for me. Try your best at each stage of the application process and believe in yourself and your capabilities. The opportunities that this programme offers people are amazing, and it helps you to broaden your horizons and instils you with the confidence you need to reach your potential.
Applications for this year’s Saltire Scholar Internship Programme will close next week on Monday 17 October. For more information, and to find out how to apply, visit the Become a Saltire Scholar page.
If you are interested in reading about other experiences of the Saltire Scholar Internship Programme, please visit Entrepreneurial Scotland’s scholar blogs.