Big thinking boost in Boston for Scotland’s ambitious entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Saltire Fellowship programme gives top Scots insights to help scale their business and careers.
Some of Scotland’s most progressive businesses and individuals are participating in a programme that will give them insights into how globally successful businesses operate so that they can apply this learning to their own businesses back home.
Now in its seventh year, the Entrepreneurial Scotland Saltire Fellowship is an ambitious programme that is transformative for the individuals who take part and the organisations they work with.
The Fellowship enables participants to spend 9 weeks in Boston and Silicon Valley learning from some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and acquiring the skills they will need to help take their business or career to the next level.
The 2017-18 cohort includes a cross section of some of the country’s key sectors including Law, Finance, Food & Drink, Social Enterprise, Tech and Life Sciences. Prior to heading to the USA, the group spent an intensive, residential week at the Royal Bank of Scotland Business School to fully prepare for the Fellowship experience. Claudia Cavalluzzo, Head of Saltire Fellowship, says “we would like to extend a massive “thank you” to our partners, RBS, for hosting our fellows once again at the RBS Business School. Their outstanding facilities and brilliant team reflect the excellence of our world-class programme and we appreciate their continued support.”
This year’s cohort has more female than male participants; two co-founders from the same business; a married couple and two participants who have returned to Scotland specifically to take part in this year’s programme. Diamond Lee has over 20 years’ experience as a Fund Manager gained in England and Hong Kong and Kate McKay who has been working as a lawyer in London.
They are joined by seven entrepreneurs who are focussing on acquiring the knowledge and skills they need to scale up their businesses including Natalie Magee, a young entrepreneur who is Managing Director of a successful marketing collateral business; Kirsty Thomson, CEO of The Circle and Founder of “Along Came Kirsty”, who has 20 years’ experience in the voluntary sector and Nick Livingston, who runs the “7 Saints” venue in Prestwick, whose Fellowship is being backed by the Diageo Learning for Life initiative.
First stop for the Saltire Fellows is Boston, where they will spend 8-weeks at Babson College learning from leading faculty members, a programme designed to develop the Fellow’s entrepreneurial leadership skills, including sales and marketing capabilities and general business aptitude. Fellows will also have the opportunity to visit local companies, attend pitching events, network and participate in workshops.
“Babson is playing an integral role in transforming Scotland’s economy through the learning and development services they provide each year to our Saltire Fellows,” said Sandy Kennedy, CEO, of Entrepreneurial Scotland.
“Their expertise in entrepreneurship makes them an ideal partner for the innovative and ground-breaking Saltire Fellowship Programme and we are delighted to be continuing this productive partnership this year.”
Les Charm, Faculty Director of Entrepreneurship at Babson said; ”I’m thrilled to welcome the 18 new Saltire Fellows to Babson College for what promises to be a transformational experience for them.
“At Babson we make people think big and this programme is designed to change people’s lives by helping them acquire new skills and mind set in order that they and their companies move forward.”
Later in the programme the group will have two weeks of residential learning in Scotland, led by Strathclyde Business School at the University of Strathclyde. The university is home to the Hunter Centre of Entrepreneurship, the Strathclyde Entrepreneurial Network and Entrepreneurial Scotland. Strathclyde Business School was recently named UK Business School of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards.
For more information about the Saltire Fellowship or hosting a Fellow in 2018/19 please contact [email protected]
