Many of the Fellows and my friends have talked about their experience throughout the past year or so!  I think they have all taken the words out of my mouth, or my blog!!

Prior to starting the Saltire Fellowship I was successful in the Hotel and Real Estate arena, working in London and earning a good living.  However I knew that there was a gap in my Academic experience and overall business acumen.  I have a degree in Hotel Management; however I would be the first person to say that I am not an academic.  The style of learning that has really got me through my life is the vocational approach, though I do like numbers as well!  I would never have considered a traditional MBA route as I never thought that I was bright enough or, more importantly would have the patience to apply myself.  The Saltire Foundation Fellowship Programme crossed all of these boundaries for me and offered a solution of well thought out academic learning, peer learning and a practical approach of working with two very different companies.  The academic learning was great and I must say that it was my Fellow peers who made that a pleasure to be part of.  The two 'on the job' experiences, though very different were really great.  I worked with Liberty Mutual in Boston and really enjoyed getting involved in customer segmentation and how to make it work in a multi-billion dollar organisation; my second experience was very different in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland in Glencoe working with Jamie Smith at The Ice Factor.  The time with Jamie gave me the true insight of a small organisation on the verge of growth and all of the pains it goes through on a day to day basis.  Not only do I feel that I made a difference to the Ice Factor business I made a great friend and mentor in Jamie.

Today is the 22nd March and this is where my journey will really begin.  I have just finalised a business plan, raised funding and secured premises (nearly) for my own business and registered the business with Companies House.  I will finish working with in an organisation where I have P&L responsibility for £800 million on a day to day basis and start off with nothing.  I cannot tell you the excitement that is in my belly to start!  Why do I tell you this......I truly believe that the Fellowship Programme has given me a confidence to believe in myself and my skill to go out on my own.  I am sure there will be days where I will regret it, though I am also sure I am going to continue to relish the learning’s I will go through.  I also know that I will not be on that journey on my own, I have 13 new friends and colleagues from the class of 2010 Fellowship Programme.  I have identified my weaknesses and will reach out to many of them to support me - so thank you in advance!!!

So if you are looking for the life changing experience I would urge you to consider the programme.  The closing date is at the beginning of April and there is loads of information here on the site to tell you more about it.  If you would like some first hand information please feel free to contact the Foundation and they will make a match with an appropriate Fellow.

Thank you to the Saltire Foundation and good luck to everyone.

Paul