GCU student selected for Converge programme with support from the Entrepreneurial Hub
A Glasgow Caledonian University student is one of just 125 people across Scotland to be selected for the 2025 Converge programme, and it all started with a conversation on campus.
Amy Blake, currently studying MSc Climate Justice, is the founder of Fair-Trade Electives, a social enterprise aiming to reshape overseas healthcare placements into ethical, community-led experiences.
She created Fair Trade Electives with co-founder Jon Dowell, an Emeritus Professor at the University of Dundee.
The project challenges the traditional model of healthcare placements, which often prioritise student experience over community benefit.
She said: “We want to do something positive for the communities where students are placed, not just electives that benefit students, but ones that benefit the community too.”
Currently partnered with seven hospitals in the Global South and seven universities, Fair Trade Electives is gaining recognition for its ethical, locally led approach to global health education.
While no GCU students are yet involved in placements, Amy said there have been discussions about involving nursing students in future collaborations.
She said: “The justice angle is really strong for me and the impact of climate change on global health is a real interest of mine and that’s what led me to involve GCU in the project.”
Her entrepreneurial journey began after a conversation with her programme leader, Dr Karen Helwig.
She said: “It was through a chat with Karen that I found out about the Entrepreneurial Hub, and I was really impressed with what the Hub offered, I was signposted to different services and pointed towards the Santander Universities grant, which we applied for.”
Amy has already completed training through the Converge programme.
She said: “About two weeks ago, I completed a four-day intensive training programme where we worked through all the foundations of setting up a business — from sales and marketing to budgeting and pitching.”
While the Converge competition will have a winner, Amy feels as though she has already won since receiving invaluable advice and connections.
She said: “If we win, that’s great, but what’s helpful is the mentoring, the connections and everything we’ve learned.
Amy praised GCU’s MSc Climate Justice programme for its real-world focus.
She said: “I wanted to study Climate Justice at GCU because it’s the only place that offers something grounded in real-life issues and how to solve them.
“It’s practically applied knowledge and that’s what GCU is really good at and that is actually doing something for people.”
She added: “We didn’t create Fair Trade Electives to fit with GCU’s values but it turns out those values are exactly where we come from, that’s our passion and drive, and it’s fitting that this idea was born in the GCU Hub.”
Also representing GCU in the 2025 Converge cohort is alumnus Bobby Laing, founder of NCLSV, an accessible footwear brand for people with dwarfism. Both Amy and Bobby have made use of GCU’s Entrepreneurial Hub, which is open to students, staff and alumni.
The Hub offers access to workspaces, business guidance, funding advice, and enterprise support, helping turn big ideas into real-world impact.
They’ll continue developing their business ideas over the coming months, ahead of the Converge Awards in October.
Both Amy and Bobby have received support from GCU’s Entrepreneurial Hub, a resource open to all students, staff and alumni, offering workspace, guidance, and access to funding opportunities.
They’ll continue developing their business ideas over the coming months, ahead of the Converge Awards in October.
By Lucy Rodgers
Got a story? Email me at Lucy.rodgers@gcu.ac.uk.