Saltire Foundation

Name

Saltire Foundation

Legal name

The Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation

Website

https://saltirefoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Entrepreneurship Development Programmes

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship development programmes
• Paid summer internships
• Peer advisory membership
• Graduate recruitment services
• Charitable leadership foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: As a registered Scottish charity (SCO38858), the foundation relies on charitable donations, sponsorships from corporate partners, and generosity from donors to fund programme delivery.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Saltire Foundation runs charitable entrepreneurship development programmes in Scotland, principally the Saltire Scholars Programme (8–12 week paid summer internships for penultimate and final-year university students) and The Exchange (a curated peer advisory membership for CEOs, founders and senior leaders). It also operates an employer internship-hosting programme and Saltire Grads, a graduate recruitment service connecting employers with high-potential Scottish undergraduate talent. The foundation is funded through donations and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Saltire Foundation operates as a charitable foundation offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes focused on developing entrepreneurial talent in Scotland. The core offerings include the Saltire Scholars Programme (8-12 week paid summer internships for penultimate and final-year university students), The Exchange (peer advisory membership for CEOs and senior business leaders), and Employer-focused internship and graduate recruitment services. These programmes work together to create a virtuous cycle where scholars evolve into leaders who then give back as hosts, donors, and mentors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saltire Scholars Programme: Flagship programme offering 8-12 week paid summer internships for penultimate and final-year university students in Scotland. Combines meaningful work experience with leadership and personal development.
• The Exchange

Products and services

• Saltire Scholars Programme A flagship programme for penultimate and final-year university students from any Scottish university, providing a fully funded 8–12 week paid summer internship on real commercial projects combined with a structured leadership and personal development journey. Designed for high-potential students seeking meaningful work experience and a pathway into business leadership.
• The Exchange A peer advisory membership designed for CEOs, founders and senior business leaders, offering curated cohorts that foster deep and meaningful connections with like-minded peers and more senior leaders for sharing, support, and mentorship on business growth challenges.
• Internship Programme for Employers (Host a Saltire Scholar) A structured summer internship programme that enables Scottish employers to host a Saltire Scholar intern on meaningful projects, providing access to high-potential undergraduate talent and supporting a sustainable graduate recruitment pathway.
• Saltire Grads (Graduate Recruitment Service) A graduate recruitment service for employers that connects Scottish businesses with talented graduates from the Saltire Scholar programme, supporting permanent and entry-level hiring.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of StrathclydecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Strathclyde is both a financial supporter and the host institution for Entrepreneurial Scotland's headquarters. This represents a core strategic partnership for the charity's operations and mission.
• Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)minorOthersThe Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation is registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Charity registration number: SCO38858.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Enactus: Global nonprofit operating student-led entrepreneurship programmes across universities, sponsored by corporate partners. Comparable in university-based, employer-sponsored entrepreneurship development for students.
• Young Enterprise UK: UK charity delivering enterprise and financial education programmes to students and young people, partnering with employers and educators. Directly comparable in mission (youth entrepreneurship development) and stakeholder model (students, employers, educators).
• The Prince's Trust: UK-based charitable foundation running enterprise and employability programmes for young people. Highly comparable as a UK charity developing entrepreneurial talent among young adults, with a similar donor/sponsor funding model.
• Halogen Foundation: Charitable foundation running youth leadership and entrepreneurship programmes with corporate partnerships. Comparable donor-funded model developing young entrepreneurial leaders, though focused on Singapore/Nigeria rather than Scotland.

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka: Global network supporting social entrepreneurs via fellowships and leadership programmes. Comparable in identifying and accelerating entrepreneurially-minded leaders, but focused on social rather than commercial entrepreneurship and operating globally.
• Junior Achievement (JA Worldwide): Large global nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship, work-readiness, and financial literacy education to youth. Comparable youth-entrepreneurship education mission but at vastly larger scale and broader scope than Saltire's Scottish focus.
• Babson College (Lewis Institute): US-based leader in entrepreneurship education offering executive peer-learning and student programmes. Comparable dual-stage (student + executive) entrepreneurship development model, though structured as a degree-granting college rather than a charity.

Regional players

• Social Enterprise UK: UK membership body for social enterprises, providing peer networking, advocacy, and business support. Comparable UK membership-and-network model serving leaders of mission-driven organisations, similar to The Exchange's peer-cohort function.
• Centre for Entrepreneurs: UK-based think tank and membership organisation supporting entrepreneurship through research, events, and policy advocacy. Comparable UK entrepreneurship ecosystem-building focus with peer/membership engagement similar to The Exchange.

Emerging players

• Startup Leadership Program: Global fellowship programme for early-stage founders providing curated peer cohorts and mentorship. Comparable curated-peer-group model for emerging entrepreneurial leaders, though operating in startup-founder rather than student/executive segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theSaltireF
• Facebookfacebook.com/SaltireFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-saltire-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/saltirescholars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saltire Foundation