Glasgow Caledonian University or known locally as "Glasgow Caley" is moving into a different league.  The courses it offers, the Saltire Centre, which is breathtaking, the regeneration work that has gone on has transformed this university into a real player...  Before I was accepted onto the Fellowship Programme, I seriously considered the Exec MBA here.  Why? Because they do things differently.  A project abroad for instance.  No chalk and talk here.

But there is more to it.  Leadership and vision.  This has been provided recently by Professor Pamela Gillies.  Pamela also works with the Saltire Foundation.  Her career is littered with global experience, including a short 10 year stint in India!.

Over lunch, I was able to talk with Pamela about her and the University's work with the Grameen Bank.  When at Babson in the USA, we had a short input on this subject within the scope of social entrepreneurship. In short, it is about social lending, miro-credit and is the brainchild of Muhammad Yanus - Banker to the poor. Sir Tom Hunter gave me the book, Creating a world without poverty and when I spoke with him on the subject in August, he was most enthusiastic about Yanus and what Pamela was developing in Glasgow. Pamela and her team are working on a Grameen Bank in Glasgow.  Initially set up in the Sighthill area, where I used to pound the beat, local leaders have been identified and initial planning is underway.

Having worked for years in places like Dalmarnock, Barrowfield, Easterhouse and Sighthill, I was always amazed at the resourcefulness, resilience and creative ways in which members of these communities were able to make things happen for themselves.  Sure, the State has to intervene. At the GlobalScot dinner, the Lord Provost for Glasgow highlighted how the social housing within the city had been upgraded.  He reinforced the point that when people live in quality, well thought out, warm housing, it creates a positive feeling. We may not get the new Glasgow airport rail link, as those with the budget, see it spent more wisely in the city and in housing.  You may have your own thoughts on this......

There is a Grameen bank in New York - Queens.  And it is doing well.  So why not Glasgow.......

It's not charity work and hand outs, it's empowering people, local communities  - the social fabric of our cities - to make a difference to their lives, slowly get off benefits and be entrepreneurial.

I've had a year without a "source of cash" on the Fellowship Programme, but I'm not really poor, just financially challenged. Things can't be that bad when I'm asking my mentor the entrepreneur, Brian Williamson, about the merits or not in buying a brand new car [I won't tell you the brand!!!]  I'm lucky in that I now have a platform to generate new revenues in a new career.  But there's one thing I am determined to do after this year and the rich variety of experiences I have sampled and people I have encountered.  Make a difference in some way to Scotland.

I wish Pamela, David Beeby and all her team every success in launching the Grameen Bank in Glasgow.