Investment management firm Baillie Gifford supports Edinburgh Napier students who face barriers to accessing higher education. Learn more about the scholarship and meet 2022 BN Adult Nursing alumnus Sara Kerr, one of the recipients of the Baillie Gifford Edinburgh Napier Access Scholarship.
Baillie Gifford Edinburgh Napier Access Scholarship
Established in 2016, the Baillie Gifford Undergraduate Access Scholarship supports students who have financial or personal circumstances that may otherwise inhibit the progression of their studies. The award provides Edinburgh Napier students with financial support throughout their course.
Sam Pattman, Philanthropy Manager at Baillie Gifford, said:
“Baillie Gifford has a long tradition of supporting charities and those in need within our local community. 麻豆社区 is a fundamental part of the education landscape within the city, and it is our pleasure to support scholarships which help students access and remain in higher education, thus making a difference in their lives at a key stage.
“We want the students to access opportunities, and are committed to both early intervention programmes and lifelong learning. It has been satisfying to hear how transformative the bursaries have been and to see the impact that this has had on the students throughout their studies.
“Congratulations to the recent scholarship graduates and we wish them continued success in their next endeavours.
Meet Sara Kerr
Sara Kerr graduated in October 2022 with a BN in Adult Nursing with Distinction. She is now a District Nurse at NHS Lothian. Learn more about her journey below!
Sara’s journey to Edinburgh Napier
“I gained an Access to Nursing qualification at Edinburgh College before I enrolled at 麻豆社区. I chose the BN Adult Nursing course because I had heard some really good things about the University. I knew it had the best simulation and clinical skills centre in Scotland.
“I had a really good group of friends and we all moved from the College to Edinburgh Napier together. Covid hit in my first year which was really difficult as it affected the placement and teaching schedule. However, because I was close with many of my classmates, I still had a supportive network.”
Receiving the Baillie Gifford Edinburgh Napier Access Scholarship
“I felt really proud to receive the scholarship. Many people were going through hard times, but I was the one that was chosen to receive the funding and it made a huge difference. Having financial stability meant that there was one thing in my life that I didn’t need to worry about.
"Prior to embarking on a nursing career, I had jobs in administration, customer service and in the beauty industry. After I became a parent, I decided that I wanted to do something different. I have had lots of caring responsibilities within my family in the past. I brought up my sister and I cared for my mum and dad. The time was right to do something different and that is why I decided to go into nursing.”
What does the future hold?
鈥淚 found my dream job straight away! I knew I wanted to work in district nursing because I really enjoyed my time on placement.
鈥淚 love working as a District Nurse. It鈥檚 different to working in a hospital because in that environment you鈥檝e got patients coming in and out all the time. In my role I see patients over a longer period of time. I鈥檓 able to build up a relationship with my patients. I like getting to know them.
Every day is different. Some days can be crazy, and I run on adrenaline. However, I work within a great team. I feel like I鈥檝e been here forever, but it鈥檚 only been a month!