Welcome to June 2025’s bumper edition of DIGIT’s Movers and Shakers!

Last month saw the beginning (and likely end) of the Scottish summer, and with the sunshine came a frenzy of activity across the country’s tech and business scenes, including a host of top-level appointments, plenty of new partnerships and some major expansions.

Among the highlights are one of Scotland’s biggest law firms appointing its first-ever COO, several Scots businesses expanding across international borders, and the launch of a brand new Chemputation facility in Glasgow.

Read on to find out more.

Appointments

Entrepreneurial Scotland Appoints Andy Lothian as New Chair

Entrepreneurial Scotland has announced that Andy Lothian, co-founder and chief executive officer of Insights Group, has been appointed as the Scottish business foundation’s new chair.

Lothian brings significant leadership and strategic experience to the role, where he will help Entrepreneurial Scotland develop the next generation of business leaders through the charity’s flagship Saltire Scholars Internship Programme and peer-based membership initiative, The Exchange.

As CEO and co-founder of Insights Group, Lothian has grown the business to over £97.6 million in turnover, employing more than 700 people, and counting over 10,000 practitioners operating in over forty countries.

“Andy’s values and leadership align perfectly with our vision to create the most entrepreneurial society in the world,” said Sean McGrath, CEO of Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation.

“He knows what it takes to build high-performing teams, and he’s committed to helping others do the same. We’re incredibly grateful to Colin for his outstanding contributions and thrilled to welcome Andy into the role.”

Read more here.

Scots Law Firm Burness Paull Appoints First COO

Burness Paull has appointed Noel Jordan as its first chief operating officer, gaining responsibility for the firm’s business services and legal operations functions.

Formerly chief technology officer at Ashurst and having held senior roles with GE Capital, Jordan brings technical expertise honed over a 20-year career to Burness Paull, where he will now shepherd the firm’s more than 700 employees into a new phase of growth across its offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“As we enter this next phase of our growth, building on the strong market position we have secured, we felt now was the right time to appoint a chief operating officer to help shape our strategy and assume overall responsibility for our business services and legal operations functions,” said Peter Lawson, Burness Paull’s chair.

“We look forward to benefiting from Noel’s significant expertise as we further develop our infrastructure and processes in support of our ambitious growth plans and leverage technology to deliver ever more efficient and client-centric solutions.”

Read more here.

Burness Paull reinforces energy team with appointment of leading renewables lawyer

This month also saw Burness Paull welcome renewables development lawyer Nicola Scott as a partner in its energy team, where she will work to reinforce the firm’s credentials in an area that continues to experience strong demand.

Scott advises clients in the renewables sector on real estate matters having spent her career working in both private practice and in house with a ‘big six’ energy company. Her experience includes acting for clients on all property aspects relating to the development and financing of renewable energy projects across onshore and offshore technologies.

Peter Lawson, chair at Burness Paull, said: “Nicola’s appointment will bolster our cross-specialist energy team and is the latest example of our ongoing investment in consistently enhancing the quality of our offering.

“She is an excellent lawyer with the strong technical skills, personal attributes, and commitment to clients and colleagues that we look for in all our people.”

Skylark Lasers appoints Christopher Madin as new CEO

Edinburgh based laser designer and manufacturer, Skylark Lasers, has appointed Christopher Madin as its new CEO.

Madin brings over twenty years of leadership experience in the photonics and laser instrumentation industry, having previously been managing director at Qioptiq Photonics Ltd, as well as CEO of KLASTECH GmbH, where he successfully led the company through its acquisition by a U.S.-based photonics company.

At Skylark,  Madin will now help to expand the firm’s presence across the life science, semiconductor, and quantum markets.

“I’m excited to be joining Skylark Lasers at such a dynamic moment in its journey,” said Madin. “I look forward to accelerating our innovation roadmap, expanding international markets, and continuing to serve the advanced photonics community with high performance laser solutions.”

Anne Corbin appointed as Chief Financial Officer for The James Hutton Institute

Anne Corbin has been appointed as the new chief financial officer for The James Hutton Institute, coming onboard from social care charity VSA, where she worked since 2019, serving as CFO since 2021.

With her new role based at the Hutton’s Craigiebuckler campus, Corbin will contribute to the strategic planning and development of the Hutton, ensure the efficient use of resources and help deliver major capital programmes that enable world-class science.

“Anne is a fantastic appointment for the Hutton,” said Colin Campbell, the Hutton’s chief executive.

“With her wealth of financial experience and excellent track record across a range of sectors, she’s equipped with all the skills required to thrive in this new role.”

Also taking on a new role at the Hutton is Craig Henderson, who has been appointed as the new head of IT.

Henderson comes to the role with more than a decade of experience in IT strategy, infrastructure, security, and digital transformation initiatives.

In his previous role, he organised a full-scale migration to a cloud-only delivery model and zero trust architecture, earning national recognition for IT excellence and digital transformation, and has previously led on the unification of six separate businesses into a single operating unit as part of a global acquisitions and mergers deal.

“I’m excited to join the James Hutton Institute and lead the technology function to support digital innovation at a world-class research organisation. Joining a team that blends science and technology to make a tangible impact on our planet is both inspiring and deeply motivating and I cannot wait to get stuck in,” said Henderson.

Signal Secures £350,000 in New Projects and Expands Team

Aberdeen-based video production agency, Signal, has secured a series of new projects worth over £350,000, with the company also welcoming a new team member to help meet growing demand.

Filmmaker Richard Baron has been appointed to support the firm’s growing portfolio, bringing more than fifteen years of experience as a director, cameraman and editor.

Baron will now help Signal in delivering its new contract wins, which include a major health & safety project requiring twenty films and animations as well as being the official video partner for The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025.

“Our continued growth is a testament to the hard work of our talented team and the trust our clients place in us,” said Jamie Baikie, managing director

“Securing such significant new business is not only a major achievement, it also allows us to reinvest in our people and services to deliver even greater value.”

Partnerships

New Cyber Partnership Aims to Inspire Scottish Women in Tech

The Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland has joined forces with Fortinet and Accenture in support of the Scottish cyber charity’s See It, Be It campaign, focused on inspiring more women and girls to consider careers in cybersecurity.

The two firms will join the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland as strategic partners,  bringing strong credentials in promoting diversity in the tech sector, and will work with the Centre to deliver events, mentorship and career exploration activities aimed at bridging the gender gap in cyber roles.

“I am delighted that Accenture and Fortinet have come on board to help us in our mission around getting more girls and women into cybersecurity,” said Jude McCorry, CEO of the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland.

“There is lots of talk in Scotland around getting more women and girls involved in the sector, but we need action. With the support of these organisations, we won’t just talk the talk, but we’ll walk the walk.”

Read more here.

FinTech Scotland and TSB Labs Launch Innovation Programme

TSB Labs has unveiled its latest innovation programme, which will see the tech accelerator work with FinTech Scotland to support innovative solutions tackling the most urgent challenges in banking.

This year, the programme will focus on fraud prevention, one of the most common financial crimes, building on the success of previous cohorts, which has already resulted in several pilot projects.

“TSB Labs is a powerful example of how established financial institutions can partner with fintechs to deliver real impact for customers,” said Nicola Anderson, chief executive of FinTech Scotland.

“Thanks to our work on the topic of fraud as part of the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab, we’ll be bringing a significant amount of knowledge, expertise and connections to this programme from across the Scottish Fintech Cluster.”

Read more here.

New Scottish Technology Council Announced

The Scottish Government has announced the formation of a Scottish Technology Council, which will assist ministers and policymakers in maximising the economic benefits of Scotland’s technology sector.

Current council members come from across the Scottish tech scene, and include Michael Boniface, CEO of Kythera AI, Jim Rowan, former CEO of Volvo and the Dyson Group, Elizabeth Vega, CEO of Informed Solutions, and Peter Proud, CEO and founder of Forrit.

Other members come from industry and academia, with those taking part bringing a wealth of experience in international markets, health and life sciences, financial services, data and AI, advanced manufacturing and the space sector.

“Our goal is to help Scotland become a leading tech nation,” said business minister Richard Lochhead.

“Our world is increasingly fast-paced and the Council will provide valuable insight from vastly experienced leaders in their fields.”

Read more here.

Napier Uni Partners With Acumen Cyber to Bolster Cyber Defences

Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) has announced a partnership with Acumen Cyber to bolster its cyber defences amid a rise in cyber attacks targeting the UK’s education sector.

Through the collaboration, the university will benefit from Acumen’s CREST-accredited Security Operations Centre (SOC), providing round-the-clock threat monitoring, detection and response.

The partnership also includes the launch of a new graduate programme for ENU’s cybersecurity students, offering real-world work experience, sponsored PhD research and career development opportunities.

“Cybersecurity is critical to the safety and integrity of our operations, but given the diversity and complexity of our environment, we needed to find a partner with the capability to secure it effectively. We determined that Acumen was our partner of choice,” said Claire Taylor, director of information services at Edinburgh Napier.

Read more here.

FlexMedical Solutions Marks 10 Years with Global Alliance

Scottish diagnostics specialist FlexMedical Solutions has marked its 10-year anniversary by entering a strategic collaboration with French-headquartered firm Linxens, with the partnership aimed at commercialising electrode components for diagnostic devices in the healthcare industry.

Livingston-based FlexMedical is a contract design, development, and manufacturing organisation working with a range of clients from early stage spinouts to multinational original equipment manufacturers, specialising in diagnostics and biosensors, including wearable technologies.

Linxens, meanwhile, is a global leader in the electronics industry, with seven R&D centres and eight factories, employing over 3,000 people worldwide.

“The partnership with Linxens opens up the point-of-care testing market in North America and Asia, as we continue to internationalise the business we founded a decade ago,” said FlexMedical’s CEO and co-founder, Kevin Fallon.

“The diagnostics industry has changed post COVID, wearable technology has risen up the agenda, along with AI having an increasing impact, and we think the collaboration with Linxens will keep us ahead of the curve while significantly improving our market reach.”

Real Intelligence Partners with Blaze.ai to Bring AI Learning to Scottish Classrooms

Glasgow-based tech firm Real Intelligence has partnered with Blaze.ai, a Silicon Valley-based AI content creation platform, to deliver professional-grade AI learning for Scottish schools.

Combining gamified learning with real- world AI tools, the initiative aims to teach students how to create digital content, with its first school pilot at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School in Dumbarton, seeing students create TikTok videos using AI-generated scripts, voiceovers, and branding.

With thousands of 16-18-year-olds entering the job market annually, Real Intelligence said that the pilot programme might offer a practical, scalable model for meeting the future needs of Scotland’s AI Strategy.

“This isn’t theoretical innovation,” said Kenny Maclean, founder of Real Intelligence, “It’s real students, in real classrooms, building skills that will shape their futures.”

The platform will now look to expand into more Scottish schools throughout this year, with more modules planned for jobseekers and adult learners.

Visas2 launches following strategic acquisition

Newly established mobility compliance firm Visas2 has strengthened its market entry through the acquisition of London-based Visa Group.

The move brings together Neil Thomson, founder of Visas2, and Faisal Syed, founder and managing director of Visa Group, in the hope of creating an immediate presence in key markets, as well as a strong platform for future growth.

With offices in London and Aberdeen, Visas2 offers a tech-enabled, compliance-led service model to support corporates, energy firms, travel management companies and others in navigating visa and documentation requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

“This strategic acquisition provided the ideal foundation for launching Visas2,” said Neil Thomson, co-managing partner.

“Clients are looking for a more streamlined, co-ordinated approach – one that integrates with their workflows and delivers measurable value. Visas2 fills a clear gap, and we’re energised by the opportunities ahead.”

Expansions

Simple Online Healthcare Launches in Denmark After Tripling Revenue

Simple Online Healthcare, the Glasgow-headquartered scaleup, has launched in Denmark after tripling its revenue.

Led by CEO and co-founder Addy Mohammed, Simple Online Healthcare reported revenue of £66 million in the year to 28th February 2025 (2024: £20.6m), and marked its 10-year anniversary in April with record monthly revenue of £10 million.

Simple Online is one of the UK’s fastest-growing healthcare groups, with the firm offering scalable, regulated digital clinics across the UK, Germany, and Australia.

“Denmark represents our third international market, and we are planning further expansion over the next twelve months,” said Mohammed.

“We know global healthcare systems are struggling. We are using technology to give patients quick and discrete access to the care they need, at a much lower cost than traditional healthcare models.”

Read more here.

Glasgow’s Chemify Launches Fully Automated ‘Chemputation’ Facility

Glasgow-based digital chemistry firm, Chemify, has unveiled its first ‘Chemifarm’ – a fully automated chemistry facility that combines chemical programming, robotics, and AI as part of an advanced laboratory for molecular design and synthesis.

Based in Glasgow’s Maryhill district, the new site brings together Chemify’s AI-powered molecular design engine with industrial-scale robotic synthesis, which the firm said can cut the time from concept to compound, speeding up the discovery of small-molecule medicines and advanced materials.

At the heart of the Chemifarm is Chemify’s bespoke ‘Chemputation’ platform, a combination of custom programming language, modular robotics, and the world’s largest and fastest-growing library of validated chemical reactions.

“The first Chemifarm is a watershed moment for molecular innovation,” said Lee Cronin, CEO and founder of Chemify.

“By combining automation, AI and scalable synthesis, we can now move from code to compound faster than ever, fuelling breakthroughs in drug discovery, materials science and beyond.”

Read more here.

Aberdeen Uni Sets Sights on Indian Campus in Scottish First

The University of Aberdeen has taken a major step forward with its expansion plans after getting a green light from India’s University Grants Commission for a new Mumbai campus, set to open in September 2026.

If the plans go ahead, Aberdeen Uni will become the first Scottish university to open a branch campus in India, with the proposed campus initially set to offer programmes in computing and data science, business management, and artificial intelligence.

“By combining the University of Aberdeen’s research expertise with India’s innovation ecosystem, this initiative aims to tackle global challenges while enabling student exchange, faculty collaboration and industry-led innovation,” said Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya, vice-principal for global engagement at Aberdeen.

Read more here.

Canadian SpaceTech PCI Geomatics Opens Edinburgh Office

PCI Geomatics (CATALYST), an Earth Observation company with over 40 years of experience supporting major players in the space sector, has chosen Scotland’s space ecosystem as part of its continued global expansion.

The firm is focused on supporting critical risk mitigation efforts to help prevent catastrophic failures such as landslides with greater accuracy and frequency than traditional methods.

Opening a new office at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. the company has been recruiting for multiple roles in Scotland, marking a significant step in its UK expansion alongside its existing presence at the Harwell Space Cluster in England.

“When exploring locations to complement our Canadian headquarters, the UK quickly stood out as a strategic gateway to Europe and the Middle East,” said  CEO June McAlarey. “We now have a growing team across the UK and are excited to expand our Scottish office in the coming weeks.”

Read more here.

Expanding Oz Online Ticketing Firm Picks Edinburgh for UK HQ

Humanitix, an online ticketing platform for events and not-for-profit firm out of Australia, has chosen the Scottish capital of Edinburgh as its new UK headquarters amid global expansion.

Looking to the UK as its next growth destination, the Humanitix team were looking for a “lively city with a strong culture and expert talent” to support the growth of the business.

The firm is locating to the Scottish capital after receiving support from Scottish Enterprise to come to Scotland, including a £325,000 grant, as well as assistance from the Scottish Government-funded International Social Enterprise Observatory (ISEO).

“It’s incredibly exciting to bring Humanitix to the UK and base ourselves in Scotland,” said Adam McCurdie, co-founder of Humanitix.

Read more here.

Aberdeen’s Eserv Expands into the United States

Aberdeen-based digital twin provider Eserv has announced its expansion into the United States in a strategic move that marks a major milestone for the company.

Eserv has already had a strong start to the year after securing £4 million in new orders for 2025 in addition to a pipeline of existing contracts across Europe, Africa, Singapore and Middle East, and with its entry into the US market the firm will now expand on its work for existing blue-chip clients, including Spirit Energy, SSE Thermal, Ithaca Energy and EnQuest.

“Taking Eserv into the US market has been a personal ambition of mine for over a decade,” said CEO Dan Millard.

“After spending significant time in the U.S. over the past two years and beginning to generate revenue, our investment into the region marks a pivotal step and starting point in becoming more present, responsive, and aligned with the needs of our clients in the region.”

Awards and Recognition

Two Scottish Firms Named in Deloitte’s Best Managed Companies List

Two Scottish businesses have been recognised in Deloitte’s inaugural UK’s Best Managed Companies awards, presented by Deloitte at the McLaren Technology Centre.

Business services firm Murgitroyd, headquartered in Glasgow, and technology company Insights, based in Dundee, were named among just 10 winners from across the UK.

With 22 offices worldwide, Murgitroyd advises clients across life sciences, engineering and technology, supports innovators in protecting and commercialising their ideas through strategic patent, trademark and design services.

Meanwhile, Insights delivers people development solutions to organisations around the world. Its work, rooted in psychometric tools and learning experiences, helps businesses enhance communication, collaboration and leadership.

“We are proud to see two Scottish companies take their place among the UK’s Best Managed Companies at our inaugural awards,” said Paul Hazelton, Deloitte Glasgow partner. “Their success is a testament to the breadth of talent and potential we have across Scotland’s private business community.”

Read more here.

Rosyth AgriTech iLivestock Claims Scotland Tech Innovator Award

Rosyth-based agri-tech startup iLivestock has fended off competition from dozens of local tech startups to be crowned Scotland Tech Innovator as part of KPMG’s search for the UK’s most exciting tech businesses.

The firm was one of hundreds of applications to the UK competition with its all-in-one management platform for sheep and cattle farmers,  which was shortlisted among the most exciting tech offerings in the region.

KPMG’s spotlight competition celebrates the world’s most innovative technology, providing a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and champion the future of tech.

“Scotland has a real momentum when it comes to innovation in agriculture and sustainability, and iLivestock is a fantastic example of that,” said Amy Burnett, Emerging Giants Lead at KPMG UK.

“They’ll now be flying the flag for Scotland at the UK final in London and we’ll be cheering them on from north of the border.”

Read more here.

Scottish Entrepreneur Reaches Final of Interceltic Startup Challenge

Scottish entrepreneur Josh Robertson, founder of Engineer a Career, has been announced as a finalist in the Interceltic Startup Challenge 2025, part of the  Interceltic Business Forum held annually in Lorient, Brittany.

Robertson’s platform is committed to inspiring and supporting the next generation of engineering talent, and as an Interceltic finalist he will now enjoy access to coaching, mentorship and introductions across the Celtic network of partners and investors.

Taking part in the Interceltic Startup Challenge, created to celebrate entrepreneurs across Celtic communities, Robertson said: “Representing Scotland and sharing our mission on a global stage is not just an accomplishment, it’s a reminder of why I started.

“Building Engineer a Career from an idea into something that’s now being recognised by this international organisation is something I’m incredibly proud of.”

Chancellor Edinburgh Napier University Receives OBE

Edinburgh Napier University Chancellor Will Whitehorn has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his outstanding services to the aerospace and space industry.

Best known for his role as the founding president of Virgin Galactic, where he led the development of the world’s first commercial space tourism venture, Whitehorn was instrumental in transforming Sir Richard Branson’s vision into a structured business model, and later served as a special advisor to Branson and as a trustee of Virgin Unite.

Also chair of Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLC, Whitehorn has been instrumental in accelerating the growth of the global space tech ecosystem by investing in early-stage companies developing breakthrough technologies in satellite communications, Earth observation, in-orbit services, and space-based data analytics.

“I am deeply honoured by this award and very grateful to everyone I have worked with over the decades for their support,” said Whitehorn.

“I am proud to be Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University which is in the forefront of business, science, innovation and technology education in the U.K. and I also feel as much that I am receiving this for all the future OBE recipients studying at our great University today.”