Striving for excellence

The SaltireFoundation's ethos is echoed by the CBI, as both organisations consider it vital for people to gain vital employability skills and workplace experience in order to be equipped to compete in the increasingly tough jobs market.

The CBI's recent report Future Fit - Preparing graduates for the world of work emphasised the need for these skills in today's workplace.

And with the support of our influential network of GlobalScots, the SaltireFoundation's Undergraduate programme will enable 40 ambitious young Scots to spend this summer working at blue-chip around the world. The value of this programme is not only rooted in unrivalled work experience but in access to knowledge and insight at the hands of our GlobalScots - some of the country's most inspirational success stories.

Scotland has a strong heritage of entrepreneurial spirit and business success stories. The SaltireFoundation is committed to nurturing the country's natural and ambitious business minds to ensure Scotland's legacy continues.

Irene Johnstone, executive director of the SaltireFoundation, commented: "We are privileged to have a network of influential GlobalScots whose support and business acumen are key drivers of the Foundation. Our Fellows and undergraduates are continually inspired by the achievements of great Scots and strive to build the knowledge and experience to one day be on a par with their role models. This kind of confidence and ambition is essential to prevail over a recession and must remain an unwavering attitude in the pursuit of success."

The Fellowship programme is also flourishing, with the first 14 Fellows living and learning from the best business minds in America and beginning their externships at some of the world's most successful companies this month.

This year's Fellows are having the experience of a lifetime and learning every step of the way.

Ian Webster commented: "The 16- week programme at Babson College was the most intense period of learning I've undertaken. The hard work and dedication demonstrated by each Fellow has undoubtedly paid off as we're now armed with the knowledge to begin prestigious externships with highly influential businesses."

Verna McElrane will spend the externship period at Genzyme in Boston. She said: "The beauty of the SaltireFoundation Fellowship programme is its mix of academic and practical experiences. We have digested an immense amount of information since the programme started and are confident of bringing fresh thinking and impressive performances to the externships. The Fellows have the fortune to work with some of the finest business minds in the industry and the opportunity to make valuable contributions to international companies is unparalleled."

Details of the recruitment process for 2010 will be published in September.