Scottish Networks International (SNI)

During the past 14 years, Scottish businesses have benefited from having over 1000 high-calibre international postgraduates who are studying in Scotland placed within their organisations through the Scottish Networks International (SNI) trade initiative.

Around 100 students (technically known as "associates") are placed each year under the highly successful programme, hailing from territories as diverse as Bolivia , Canada , China , India , Korea , Mexico , Nepal , South Africa , Zambia and Zimbabwe .

As well as their academic abilities, associates are experienced young business people and professionals in their own right, with a minimum of three years' working experience (often in middle or senior management). All have excellent communications skills in English, and many return to positions of high influence in their home countries, which exclude the EU nations.

The SNI placement programme therefore has outstanding potential for Scottish businesses to access a valuable short-term experienced resource to help them assess or break into a selected overseas target market.

Associates can share detailed and up-to-date insider knowledge of specific export markets, pass on language skills and cultural awareness, and make a significant contribution to an export marketing strategy. Although many are studying for MBAs or other business development degrees at Scottish universities, others are attending postgraduate courses to further develop their technical abilities in wide-ranging subjects from petroleum engineering to image processing.

In addition, associates have access to SNI's unique global business network of over 800 key contacts in 89 countries around the world. Associates and companies can also post information on SNI's website members' pages to search for new business contacts, agents or to fill overseas vacancies.

All SNI placements must be surplus to the normal requirement of the company and can last for up to a maximum of two years. When placements are related to international development there is possibility of 50% funding of costs.

For many Scottish companies, SNI has represented a highly cost-effective route into an overseas market, often with a mutually advantageous long-term relationship established with an influential associate.

Visit www.scottishni.org for more information on the programme, and to view CV details of current associates. Further details are available from Stuart Shorthouse at stuart.shorthouse@britishcouncil.org

Scottish Networks International is managed by British Council Scotland in partnership with Scottish Development International.