How did having an Intern through the Scottish EDGE and Adopt an Intern partnership help your business?
We were able to fund 4 interns over a short period. That let us see which roles would be the most beneficial for our business long-term. It also let us work with different people to see who would be the best fit for our business. We were able to continue to employ one of the interns full-time following the trial period. A year on, she is still with us.
What was having an intern like?
Interns are very enthusiastic and have lots of ideas to bring to the table. You do have to be prepared to put in a good deal of training to support them. You can’t expect them to be able to do a job from day one!
What are the highlights of having an intern?
Enthusiasm and new ideas. It’s great to get a fresh perspective on things. We were also able to try out different strategies which we couldn’t have afforded to do otherwise.
What attracted you to apply for Scottish Edge?
We were told about it at Entrepreneurial Spark and we knew we would receive a lot of support if we were to go for it. We liked that it was money that didn’t have to be paid back but was for a specific purpose.
Who helped you along on your journey?
Entrepreneurial Spark supported us by looking over the applications and giving us pitch practice.
Apart from the cash injection how did winning Scottish EDGE help your business?
We were able to begin employing for the first time and that has continued.
What’s next for your company?
We are about to launch a new product which means we can sell B2C and not just B2B.
How would your colleagues describe you in 3 words?
Committed, driven, detailed.
If you hadn’t started a business, what career would you of chosen?
I was an English teacher so I would still be doing that.
What advice would you give to people who are thinking of registering and applying for the next round?
Do it but don’t underestimate the amount of time and effort required. This is public money so everything will be scrutinised. Be prepared to know your business very well.
