Connecting you to incredible talent with lasting impact
Catalyzing change in Scotland and the USA
Our mission
The Saltire Foundation USA, along with our partner Entrepreneurial Scotland, aim to inspire and cultivate the next generation of talent from Scotland’s universities, applying a global culture of innovation, creativity and leadership.
Established in a host of major cities across the US and with ambition to expand further, The Saltire Foundation USA connects leading US businesses with Scotland’s exceptional talent through the Saltire Scholar Internship Program.
The talent within this program is not only exceptional; it’s incredibly diverse regarding the roles it can support. In 2024, the candidate pool breakdown was as follows:
%
Engineering
%
Arts, Creative Industries and Humanities
%
Business, Management and Marketing
%
Accountancy, Finance and Economics
%
Political and Social Sciences
%
Computer Science and Informatics
%
Life Sciences
%
Mathematics and Physics
%
Law
%
Earth and Physical Sciences
%
Education
%
Health Sciences, Leisure and Sport
What we do
We showcase Scotland’s greatest asset, our people, by providing our students with life changing opportunities to gain work experience in the US. In return our hosts have the opportunity to participate in a multicultural program that gives them access to some of the best young talent produced globally, helping them achieve their goals.
At the Saltire Foundation USA we focus on impact. We provide an opportunity for our students to positively impact businesses operating in the US and across the world. We create an environment where our hosts can provide lifechanging opportunities for our students through impactful work experience. As a small but mighty country Scotland plays its role in the modern world and our program contributes to the broader understanding of our diaspora, our culture and our offer to the world; a hub for creativity, innovation and cultivation of talent whilst staying true to our values of being open, fair and equal.
How it works
Access Scotland's Talent
We provide access to a talent pool that has undergone rigorous testing and assessment to ensure we are offering the best of the best from across Scotland’s University ecosystem.
We work with you to match the needs of your business with the right student.
Accelerated access
We handle everything for you including; recruitment, screening, and filtering processes, saving you valuable time and resources. Our expertise ensures that we present you with the top three candidates tailored to your specific requirements. You then have the final say in selecting the ideal fit for your organization.
Our aim is to establish a strong talent pipeline that draws from Scotland’s diverse talent pool, encompassing all universities throughout the country. We source candidates with a variety of educational backgrounds and fields of study, placing a particular focus on individuals from underprivileged backgrounds.
End-to-end support
Our team provide round the clock support from start to finish. We take care of all the practical stuff, student visa processing, travel, accommodation and stipend management. This allows you to focus on the intern and the intern to focus on the role.
Our Timeline for Securing the Best Candidate
From September to November, our team will visit universities across Scotland to recruit the exceptional talent we know exists. We will then put this talent through a robust assessment process to harness their existing skills and support their continued development. Communication, confidence, creativity, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork are just a few of the many traits we seek in our candidates.
From November to February, we collaborate with you, our hosts, to identify your organization’s needs. We take pride in matching you with candidates who fit the role and work closely with you to select your intern from the top talent available.
From February to June, we handle all the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to. We take care of all necessary paperwork and logistics, including the intern’s visa, housing, travel, and stipend.
From June to August, we look forward to welcoming your intern to work with you and your team. We provide round-the-clock support while your intern is in position. If you need us, we’re here; however, we believe our interns will quickly become impactful members of your team and will require minimal, if any, support.
(September to November)
- Our team identifies top talent from 16 Scottish universities.
- We guide candidates through assessment centers to find the best.
- We help candidates develop skills and attributes that enhance their academic achievements.
- We begin to discuss the type of intern(s) you seek.
(January to March)
- We collaborate to understand your business needs and create a short job advert for our candidate pool.
- We meticulously match candidates to your criteria.
- The choice is yours – you interview selected top candidates and choose who to move forward with.
- We secure practical aspects of the internship: travel, visa, housing, and stipend.
(June to August)
- Your intern(s) arrives the weekend before the internship starts – typically the weekend after Memorial day.
- You welcome your intern(s) into your organization.
- Our team is always just a phone call away, providing round-the-clock support.
- We encourage feedback and sharing throughout the internship and spotlight key moments from your intern’s journey.
- We support your intern’s return to Scotland.
“Pushing myself out of my comfort zone and applying to be a Saltire Intern was the best decision I have ever made. Experiencing both work and life in the US instilled a confidence in me that I will carry with me as I begin my career. My time in the US not only shaped my career choices but also positively changed my trajectory."
Investing in
Future talent
Every year we partner with incredible businesses across the US providing exceptional talent to support their ambitions – check out our partners below.
