A student and graduate from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) have been selected to take part in Converge 2025 – Scotland’s national enterprise programme supporting university entrepreneurs.
Converge helps turn innovative ideas and research into real-world businesses by providing intensive training, mentoring and access to a prize fund worth more than £400,000. This year’s cohort was selected from a record-breaking pool of more than 300 applicants, with 125 academic entrepreneurs across all 19 Scottish universities taking part.
Participants in the 2025 cohort represent a wide range of sectors, including technology, engineering, life sciences and sustainability. Converge has a strong focus on purpose-driven innovation − ideas designed not only to succeed commercially, but to create meaningful social or environmental impact.
Among those selected is Amy Blake, MSc Climate Justice, who is leading a new initiative to create ethical student experiences abroad and change the way healthcare placements are carried out.
Her project, Fair Trade Electives, is working to ensure that overseas placements are ethical, locally led and truly beneficial for both students and the communities that host them.
Healthcare placements − where students spend time in hospitals overseas − are a common part of medical education. But many traditional placements are organised without much input from local partners, and the benefits often flow one way: to the student. Amy believes it’s time for that to change.
She said: “Fair Trade Electives is based on the principles of fair trade, putting respect, partnership and mutual benefit at the centre. The project listens closely to students, universities and hospital partners in the Global South to design placements that respond to local needs and priorities − not just student expectations.
“Any surplus income from the project is reinvested directly into the communities hosting the placements. This helps strengthen healthcare systems and supports long-term, sustainable development.”
Fair Trade Electives already works with seven hospitals in the Global South and has partnered with seven universities committed to a more ethical approach to global health education. The model is designed to grow, using digital technology and strong partnerships to expand its reach without compromising on quality or impact.
With a background in Climate Justice, Amy sees this work as part of a wider movement toward fairness and sustainability in global education.
She said: “It’s about doing things differently and making sure these experiences are truly valuable for everyone involved.”
Another Glasgow Caledonian graduate, Bobby Laing, is also part of the 2025 cohort.
Bobby, who studied BA (Hons) Management, is the founder of NCLSV, an accessible footwear brand specialising in ready-to-wear dress shoes designed for people with dwarfism.
With plans to launch further collections and an expansion into clothing, the company aims to offer a level of comfort and accessibility unmatched by conventional brands.
Bobby said: “As a solo founder, it means a lot to have my work recognised. The support − and hopefully grant funding − from Converge will be a huge boost in bringing NCLSV’s innovative footwear to the global dwarfism community.”
Both Amy and Bobby utilised the University’s Entrepreneurial Hub. Members of the Hub, which is open to students, staff and alumni, can access dedicated workspaces, meeting rooms, and the opportunity to secure seed funding.
Amy and Bobby will now receive business training to develop their entrepreneurial skills with all finalists progressing to the Converge Awards in October.