Welcome to the July 2024 edition of DIGIT’s Movers and Shakers!

Each month, our Movers and Shakers feature gives you the low-down on recent news in the Scottish tech ecosystem.

This July boasted a mix of innovative Scots organisations and key players doing exciting things — read on to find out what exactly’s been happening!

Recruitment

Scottish Space Network Recruits Founding Partners

The Scottish Space Network has announced the appointment of its first wave of “founding partners,” a crucial step in the company’s mission to support the burgeoning space sector in Scotland.

The new partners include commercial lawyers Burness Paull, innovation experts Eureka!Europe, accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael, and international intellectual property specialists Marks & Clerk.

“With Scotland at the heart of the UK’s space industry, we’re very excited to join the Scottish Space Network as a founding partner and play our part in helping the sector realise its ambitions,” Callum Sinclair, partner and head of technology and commercial at Burness Paull, said

To learn more, click here.

SFE Appoints First-ever Female Chair

Sue Dawe has been appointed as chair of Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE), the member body for financial and related professional services in Scotland, with immediate effect.

Dawe brings over 35 years’ experience to the role and currently leads EY’s Financial Services Practice in Scotland.

Dawe has been director of SFE’s board since 2019, and deputy chair since 2022. She becomes the first female chair in the organisation’s 38-year history.

“It’s a privilege to be appointed as the chair of SFE and to represent Scotland’s diverse and innovative financial services industry,” she said.

To read more, click here.

FOR EV Recruits New CFO

Scottish supplier of EV infrastructure, FOR EV, has further expanded its team with the appointment of Graham Neill as chief financial officer (CFO).

Neill joins FOR EV from his previous role as investment director at N4 Partners. With a background in professional services, debt finance and private equity, Neill has expertise across strategy and finance, having worked with several global businesses spanning sectors including oil and gas, renewables and financial services.

“As a company that puts all of its effort into positively impacting both people and the planet, FOR EV has established a leading market position within the EV sector and is perfectly positioned to lead the pack,” said Neill. “I look forward to contributing to its growth journey.”

Commsworld Appoints HR Director to the Board

Edinburgh-based telecom firm Commsworld has announced that the company’s human resources director, Denise McDonnell, has joined its board.

McDonnell has more than 20 years’ experience in HR, gained in a career that has included senior roles across organisations in the public, private, and the third sector.

She joined Edinburgh-headquartered Commsworld two and a half years ago, tasked with leading the company’s HR department through an unprecedented period of growth and change.

“I am very proud to join the Commsworld board. I look forward to adding a unique HR perspective and voice to discussions at board level, using my skills and experience in HR from not only Commsworld, but a wide cross section of businesses and organisations spanning a diverse range of sectors,” said McDonnell.

InnoScot Health Makes New Regulatory Hire

A new appointment for formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health is expected to further boost its regulatory expertise in medical device development, from initial selection through to commercialisation.

Representing a highly experienced addition to the team, quality manager Lauren Brophy will work closely with head of regulatory affairs, Elaine Gemmell, to help accelerate the development of innovative products and technologies with NHS innovators, partners and clients.

She will be responsible for the maintenance of InnoScot Health’s quality management system (QMS) whilst also supporting its quality and regulatory activities after having worked closing with distributors around the world, registering medical devices in countries including Thailand, India, and Taiwan.

“With six years’ experience in the medical device industry, successfully managing quality management systems and ensuring all is maintained and controlled, Lauren is a valuable addition to our regulatory team,” said Gemmell.

Brightsolid Appoints New Regional Sales Director

Cloud services company Brightsolid has announced the appointment of Tony Capper as regional sales director.

Established over 25 years as part of DC Thomson & Co Ltd Group, Brightsolid is one of Scotland’s leading managed hybrid cloud and cybersecurity services providers.

Based out of its newly-opened Manchester office, Capper brings over 25 years of IT and computing sales experience to the role, which will see him leading sales development in support of Brightsolid’s strategic growth across the UK.

“With Brightsolid already recognised as one of Scotland’s leading cloud services providers, we will initially be seeking to work with public and private sector organisations across the North of England from our new Manchester office,” said Capper.

ScotlandIS Begins Search for New Board Members

ScotlandIS, the membership and cluster management organisation for Scotland’s digital technologies industry, has started the search for two new senior representatives to join its board.

Currently, ScotlandIS has 12 board members, but there is an opportunity for two new faces to join the leadership team. The appointment will be for three years and is designed to add additional expertise and experience to the organisation.

ScotlandIS chair, Dermot Murray, said: “Our small in-house team, led brilliantly by our CEO Karen Meechan, does a terrific job of representing and promoting our members’ best interests, but it’s important we have the right balance of experience and expertise at board level to best support them.”

To find out more, click here.

Chris Stark Leads UK “Mission Control” Centre

A new control centre to turbocharge the UK government’s mission to provide Britain with cheaper and clean power by 2030 has been announced.

The centre will have Chris Stark, the ex-chief executive of the Climate Change Committee, and ex-director of energy and climate change in the Scottish government between 2016 and 2018, at the helm.

With what the new Labour government has called “a relentless focus” on accelerating the transition away from volatile fossil fuel markets to clean, local power, Mission Control will bring together industry experts and officials to troubleshoot, negotiate, and clear the way for energy projects.

“It is a privilege to head up this work alongside the country’s top energy experts who will make this mission a reality,” said Stark.

To learn more, click here.

CMA Makes Digital Markets Unit Appointments

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced 3 senior appointments to help lead preparations for the new digital markets competition regime.

The passing of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act in May granted the CMA new responsibilities to promote competition through a new, forward-looking digital markets competition regime.

The 3 senior directors—Cat Batchelor, Tania Van den Brande, and Euan MacMillan—will lead the CMA’s preparations as it gets ready for the new regime, which is expected to come into force later this year.

“They are part of a brilliant team we are building to oversee a new, targeted regime – ensuring we will be best placed to tackle harmful practices and deliver positive outcomes for people, businesses and the UK economy,” said Will Hayter, executive director for digital markets.

Partnerships

OnFife, CodeBase Partner to Drive Tech Startup Growth

OnFife, Fife’s Cultural Trust supported by Fife Council, has partnered with CodeBase, which runs the Scottish government’s startup support programme Techscaler, to help drive tech startup growth in the region.

The new partnership plans to build Fife’s tech ecosystem, and a network of Techscaler “pop-up” hubs will be established at Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy, Rothes Hall in Glenrothes, and Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries.

Commenting, OnFife chief executive Heather Stuart said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity for Fife tech businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs.

To read more, click here.

Pathways Forward, Female Founders Rise Partner for Summit

Pathways Forward is set to stage the inaugural Female Founders Growth Summit at the RBS Conference Centre at Gogarburn in Edinburgh on Thursday 5th September, in partnership with Female Founders Rise—a UK-wide resource and community for female founders building growth businesses.

The all-day event will focus on women who are already scaling or planning to scale their business, enabling female founders to connect with investors from Scotland, London, and the rest of the UK, and to hear from established founders to gain learnings and insights.

To discover more, click here.

SSE, TotalEnergies Partner for EV Charge Points

SSE, with headquarters in Perth, has signed an agreement with TotalEnergies to create a joint venture establishing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the UK and Ireland, under the brand Source.

The new business will deploy in both countries up to 3,000 high-power charge points, aiming to meet demand from EV and fleet owners to provide fast and reliable charging.

“TotalEnergies is proud to contribute to the development of electric mobility to decarbonise transportation in the UK and Ireland,” said Mathieu Soulas, senior vice president new mobilities at TotalEnergies.

To learn more, click here.

Vodafone, Virgin Media O2 Agree Network Sharing

Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 have entered a long-term network sharing agreement aimed at transforming the mobile experience for tens of millions of customers across the UK.

This partnership is set to enhance rural connectivity, provide improved services, and rebalance the mobile market by establishing a third scaled network operator.

The agreement builds on the existing collaboration between Vodafone UK and Virgin Media O2, including the Shared Rural Network initiative, to deliver quality mobile coverage in hard-to-reach areas across the UK.

To read more, click here.

Expansions

Clarus Opens Connectivity Demonstration Centre

A new Connectivity Demonstration Centre—the first of its kind in Scotland—has been opened by The Clarus Networks Group, the connectivity and network specialists.

The brand new centre in Bathgate has all of the latest high-tech connectivity, and has attracted attention from major companies, as well as created 10 new jobs for Clarus.

The new Demonstration Centre has already been used by partners from across the UK, including the NHS, East Ayrshire Council, and BT, as well as SpaceX visiting from the US.

To discover more, click here.

Agilico Moves to Expanded Office in Aberdeen

Provider of workspace, IT, and telecom solutions, Agilicon has opened its new, purpose-built office facility with an EPC rating of A/A+ in Aberdeen.

The firm has moved to City South Business Park, which is located around five miles from the city centre, after nearly two decades at Grampian House.

Warren Colby, managing director – agile print division at Agilico, said: “We’re optimistic about the positive impact our new home in Aberdeen’s newest business park will have on our operations, employees and the community in Aberdeen and wider Scotland as we continue our journey towards a more sustainable future.”

Heriot-Watt to Launch Cyber Quantum Hub

Heriot-Watt University is set to lead a quantum technology initiative that could help combat the £27 billion annual cost of cyber-crime to UK businesses, as part of a £160m government investment to establish Britain as a global leader in quantum innovation and cybersecurity.

The Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub, led by Heriot-Watt, is one of the five new quantum technology hubs announced by the UK government. It will focus on creating the core of a national quantum network capable of distributing quantum entanglement.

“The launch of five new quantum hubs is a significant milestone for the UK and represents a major shift in data security and cutting-edge applications across all sectors,” professor Gill Murray, deputy principle for enterprise and business at Heriot-Watt University, said.

To learn more, click here.

Strathclyde Facility to Combat Climate Change via Imaging Tech

A new £5 million Scottish facility aims to combat the adverse effects of climate change through high-speed imaging technology.

The project, developed with input from more than 100 academics and led by the University of Strathclyde, will use X-ray computed tomography (XCT) to help revolutionise the understanding of material behaviours.

The high-resolution technology will support research, from new ways of combating the effects of climate change, to reducing the carbon footprint of manufacturing, and from new battery technology to personalised medicines.

To read more, click here.

Awards

Burness Paull Awarded Menopause Friendly Reaccreditation

Burness Paull has become the first employer in Scotland to be reaccredited as Menopause Friendly, recognising the ongoing work the firm is doing to support colleagues experiencing menopause.

This comes three years after the firm was the first employer in Scotland and the first law firm in the UK to receive the industry-recognised Menopause Friendly accreditation accolade.

Assessment is carried out by an independent panel who award accreditation based on an organisation’s continued efforts to focus on menopause in the workplace.

“For us, our work on menopause is no longer a project or initiative but embedded into our ‘business as usual’ efforts to ensure everyone in the firm is supported and able to be the best they can be,” said Emma Smith, inclusion and wellbeing manager at Burness Paull.