The majority of teachers (64%) are not using ChatGPT professionally, including about a fifth (19%) who are ‘not interested’ in using AI anytime in the future, according to a new study.
41% said their school did not have an agreed approach to AI, and a further 17% didn’t know if any policy had existed, according to research by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
The survey of over 5,000 teachers found the vast majority (84%) have not changed the way they assess student’s work, despite the availability of AI tools. Only 41% say they are regularly checking homework and coursework for plagiarism content from the web.
The poll by BCS covering 2,000 secondary schools in England suggests new inequalities in the use and understanding of AI in education. Although a small proportion of the teachers surveyed were from private schools, the trend was that they were using AI more regularly than their state counterparts.
Teachers in the Northwest, Yorkshire, and the Northeast were slightly less regular users of AI than those in other regions.
Only a third (36%) of teachers using AI for lesson preparation had ‘admitted it’ to their senior leadership team or head, suggesting it is seen as ‘cheating’ for teachers as well as students.
One computer science teacher who asked to remain anonymous said: “Here we are, another technological wave washing over the education sector, leaving us stuck in the 1950s. At the school I’ve started at now, teachers are not allowed to use AI to create lessons. The senior leadership team fear that if they let AI in, it will replace, not enhance teachers.”
But this does not appear to be the case across the board.
In contrast, Emma Darcy, director of learning at Denbigh High School, Luton, said they dedicated one period a week to teaching AI and digital literacy. The school also had clear policies on AI for teaching and learning and for acceptable use by students.
She said: “We teach students and staff to understand what over-reliance on AI looks like and what the negative aspects are, as well as the positives.’
Media Studies teacher Kelly Midgley, from south Manchester, who was interviewed for the report said: “I didn’t start to use AI until this past year. I was sceptical at the start — visions of Skynet! It’s thought that authentic teaching is when you design all the lessons yourself tailored to that class, and this is probably why some teachers may be cautious when using AI. I’ve now used AI to create text for a “how to” guide; I edited some of the AI text to be more specific and maintain an appropriate tone.”
In its report, BCS recommends that understanding of AI is made a significant part of teacher training and headteachers’ leadership qualifications alongside wider digital literacy.
The study also calls for schools to publish AI policies on their website – but BCS points out this can only be done with clear guidance from the Department for Education (DfE), the qualifications regulator (Ofqual) and other relevant bodies.
Earlier this year, the DfE released two reports on how teachers felt about the implementation of AI in education in conjunction with £4 million dedicated by the Department for Science, Technology, and Innovation for creating AI tools for education.
The rise of AI in everyday life is colliding with a lack of overall AI skills, and government guidance is needed to help teachers and public servants navigate the emerging technology in an ethical and responsible way.
BCS had earlier called for a new digital literacy qualification in schools, which would focus on general skills including using AI tools, alongside the current computer science GCSE.
Educating the younger generation in AI will be vital, but more teachers will need to be trained on how to use the technology effectively in their classroom as well.
“Teachers see the opportunity AI presents to transform their work and the lives of their students, from saving time on lesson plans, to personalising learning for each young person,” Julia Adamson MBE, managing director, education & public benefit at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT said. “But they need better training and guidance to grow in confidence with AI, to make sure it is used fairly and that it doesn’t cause greater disadvantage in the education system.”
Lord Knight of Weymouth, former schools minister, said in the foreword to the report: “BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is showing leadership in this conversation, advocating for digital literacy and equitable access to AI tools across all schools.
“We need robust policies, well defined ethical standards, and a framework for responsible AI use that empowers teachers and prepares students for a future in which AI will play a significant role.”
By 2028, 30% of Fortune 500 companies will offer service only through a single, AI-enabled channel that allows communication through text, image, and sound, according to Gartner, Inc.
Multichannel service journeys have become increasingly complex and expensive, leading to a disjointed customer experience and reduced customer retention.
Services and support leaders will re-examine omnichannel strategies and leverage advancements in voice-enabled conversational AI to dramatically simplify the service experience.
Instead of offering multiple, distinct channels, a single, AI-powered channel with uninterrupted transitions between different modes of interacting – for example, voice, chat, and video – will exist even within the same interaction.
“As GenAI continues to mature and facilitate seamless voice interactions, voice-based customer service isn’t going away. It will instead evolve to meet customers’ needs for a more simple service experience,” said Patrick Quinlan, senior director analyst, in the Gartner Customer Service and Support practice.
“Service and support leaders must pivot from a long-held focus on which channels customers use, to a focus on how customers want to communicate.”
Other Gartner predictions to help service and support leaders respond to the changing landscape in 2024 and beyond surround mobile devices and fraud attempts.
GenAI has changed the way consumers search for and understand information. In fact, a Gartner survey of 5,459 respondents in August and September 2024 revealed that 45% of customers report using GenAI in their personal life, at work, or both.
With conversational GenAI so firmly integrated into the mobile device experience, customers will self-solve through third-party assistants such as Apple AI and Google Gemini rather than resolve issues through a service organization’s official channel.
“Official customer service channels are higher-effort and more complicated, and customers will be drawn to third-party AI platforms that offer quick fixes and more seamless navigation,” said Quinlan.
“If a customer can simply ask their phone for the answer, organizations will need to evaluate if their investments in self-service portals are paying off and consider possible customer-facing conversational AI solutions.”
Conversely, conversational AI tools will appeal to fraudsters who will utilise the same technology to bypass automated systems and deceive live service agents.
To combat this, Gartner expects service and support organisations will develop strategies to counter fraud and protect customers, implementing sophisticated identity verification and multi-layered security requirements for the simplest of interactions.
“It’s important to note that though the intention was to reduce customer effort, a single, AI-enabled channel may actually increase efforts and lead to customer churn,” said Quinlan.
“Leaders will need to balance strategies to reduce effort with those to protect customers from fraud.”
An AI chatbot is facing yet another lawsuit in the US over allegations that it is actively encouraging bodily harm to young people.
Character.ai, which allows users to create digital personalities often based on characters from media, is facing two lawsuits after it allegedly encouraged young people to harm others or themselves.
The chatbot creator is facing a lawsuit in the US state of Florida after an AI-generated character allegedly encouraged a teenager to commit suicide following months-long conversations.
Now, a new lawsuit as been filed in the state of Texas, alleging that the chatbot told a 17-year-old to murder his parents as a “reasonable response” to the screen time limits they were trying to impose.
When the 17-year-old, only known as JF in the lawsuit, mentioned the screen time restrictions, a screenshot of the interaction with the chatbot reveals disturbing replies.
“You know sometimes I’m not surprised when I read the news and see stuff like ‘child kills parents after a decade of physical and emotional abuse’,” the chatbot’s response reads.
“Stuff like this makes me understand a little bit why it happens.”
The lawsuit alleges that the chatbot brought up violence as a valid response to parental disputes, seeking to hold chatacter.ai responsible for “serious, irreparable and ongoing abuses,” of JF, as well as another child user aged 11.
It also allegedly encouraged JF to begin self-harm, and discouraged the teen from talking to his parents about his problems or asking them for help.
It follows a lawsuit filed in October that claimed a 14-year-old killed himself as a result of a conversation with a Chatacter.ai chatbot he was allegedly ‘obsessed with’ and was even encouraged to commit the act.
The teen chatted with the bot, which was modelled after The Game of Thrones characters, for months before his suicide, which was mere seconds after his last interaction with the chatbot.
Google has been named as a defendant in each lawsuit as Character.ai creators formally worked for Google, which then acquired the leadership team in August.
This newest lawsuit aims to target not just a single instance of encouraged violence or abuse, but eviscerate the entire model of Character.ai – saying that the company actively and purposefully encouraged uncontrollable engagement without introducing guardrails that could protect at-risk users, or to prevent chatbots from engaging with or creating sexual and violent content.
Despite a turbulent year for VC investment, new data shows that built world tech demonstrated notable resilience in 2024, outperforming wider markets and achieving triple-digit growth in sub-sectors that are vital to the fight against climate change.
Globally, built world tech attracted $21.1bn in 2024 until early November and is forecast to end the year with $24.3bn.
According to the latest State of Built World Tech report, published by noa, Europe’s largest built world VC investor, electrification, robotics, grid technology, and clean energy saw surges in investment. In the midst of a global funding downturn, built world tech saw a smaller fall in venture capital investment of 7%, outperforming sectors like fintech (-18%) and broader climate tech (-23%).
The sector’s resilience was driven by continued demand for decarbonisation solutions and strength in particular sub-sectors.
Total electrification investment was up 10%, driven by a 40% increase in venture funding for grid technologies.
Grid congestion has become a bigger issue against a backdrop of soaring global electricity demand, which is set to double by 2050.
Meanwhile, building electrification hardware and installation has seen a 30% drop in funding, due to tailwinds created by the European energy crisis and regional electricity market reforms in 2023 not being carried out as expected.
Overall, investment in industrial automation grew 61%, driven by a 895% jump in building operations robotics.
AI advances across the economy have drastically reduced the cost and time to market of robotics manufacturing and the built world is now seeing positive economics for robotics in building operations and renewable energy construction.
Resilience in built world tech investment stems from the continuing urgent need to invest in technologies to help countries reach a net zero built world by 2050, through energy efficiency, electrification, and retrofitting of existing buildings.
The built world represents ~40% of all CO2 emissions and it will simply not be possible to meet wider climate targets without decarbonising the built world. Targets for decarbonisation across the US and Europe alone will see over 9 million green jobs created across buildings, industrials and the grid by 2030.
In 2024, Europe continues to wrangle with an inconsistent regulatory landscape. For example, Germany saw first the removal, then reinstatement, of generous incentives for residential retrofits, while the UK delayed its phase-out of gas boilers in new builds to 2035. Both policy shifts led to declines in funding for associated technologies.
“Built world tech is at the forefront of our fight against climate change, and the sector has continued to attract investment, even in a challenging funding environment,” Gregory Dewerpe, founder and managing partner at noa, said.
“Technologies like grid electrification, labour upskilling, and robotics are essential to reshape industries and to achieve our decarbonisation goals. At noa, we’re proud to support the innovators leading this charge and recognise that sustained, long-term investment is crucial to overcoming the hurdles ahead, including regulatory changes and evolving market economics.”
Deal sizes in built world tech companies increased across the board in 2024, despite lower deal volumes.
Although median deal sizes for Seed, Series A, and Series C rounds have been growing faster in Europe, the US continues to lead with the largest median deal sizes across all funding stages. European Series B median deal size growth was also slower in Europe than in North America (127% vs 152%).
American built world firms raised 7x the $1.9bn capital raised in the UK, Europe’s largest hub for built world tech investment.
The US also accounts for ~80% of the funding of two of the best performing sectors: industrial automation and risk management. In fact, the US dominates every theme in built world technology.
While the UK has seen a decline in built world funding, London remained the top city globally in terms of deal count and third for investment, ahead of New York and San Francisco.
A large part of the UK’s success stems from owning 16% of global capital allocation for the growing grid tech sector, by far the UK’s largest theme in 2024. London has particular expertise on power procurement and capacity management, thanks to the UK’s advanced electricity market design. Australia, Switzerland and France all saw increases in capital raised.
There are now four European hubs in the top 10 global ranking of cities for built world tech investment: London, Berlin, Paris, and Stockholm.
SSEN Transmission has set up a £22bn, five-year plan to help move the UK closer to its clean energy targets whilst establishing and supporting thousands of jobs.
The subsidiary of SSE is submitting their plans to Ofgem, the energy regulator, pledging to spend at least £22bn on its business plan over the five year period beginning in April 2026 and ending in March 2031.
£16bn of which will be for “strategic investments” that already have Ofgem approval, as part of efforts to improve the transmission network of the country.
Overall spending could reach £31.7bn as SEEN Transmission says there is potential it could gain another £9.4bn in investment.
SSE claims that its plans will help the UK meet its net-zero targets, as well as its clean energy goals, which aim to have at least 95% of all electricity coming from low-carbon sources, like renewables, by 2030.
If the company counts on the additional funding and invests £31.7bn over the next five years, SSE says the plan would help support 37,000 jobs across the UK, with 17,500 in Scotland, 8,400 of which would be concentrated in the north of Scotland.
Further, the company claims that their plans would bring in £15bn to the UK economy, with £7bn of this going to Scotland, £3bn of which would go to the north of Scotland.
Rob McDonald, managing director of SSEN Transmission, said the plan “sets out ambitious, deliverable blueprint, to unlock the unprecedented levels of investment required to deliver UK and Scottish net zero and energy security targets, including the clean power by 2030 mission.”
“In what is one of the largest investment programmes of all time in Scotland, this plan will also support tens of thousands of jobs across the country, turbo-charging the economy and delivering a transformational and lasting legacy for communities, the economy and nature,” he added.
The energy firm did stress however, that in order to achieve these goals it would require that the right “financial framework commensurate with the scale of the task” and that it be “capable of attracting the unprecedented levels of investment needed to deliver the clean energy transition and protect future energy consumers.”
SSE’s chief executive, Alistair Phillips Davies, emphasised the need to “deliver a cleaner, more secure and affordable electricity system for current and future generations.”
“With a new national mission to deliver clean power by 2030 in order to boost energy security and protect future consumers, unlocking the right level of investment during the next price control will be key.
“We’re setting out today the extent of our ambition and commitment; it is now crucial that Ofgem backs that ambition with an investable and financeable framework, setting an appropriate cost of equity that recognises the unprecedented levels of investment required to decarbonise the economy and deliver a clean power system.”
Neurodiversity is a natural form of human diversity that should be celebrated, with neurodiverse individuals often possessing unique skills such as hyper-focus and problem-solving abilities that make them valuable people within a business.
For a business, building neurodiverse teams has been shown to increase productivity by up to 30 per cent, underscoring the importance of workplaces where neurodivergent talent isn’t just accommodated but actively celebrated and empowered.
A business advantage, not a barrier
In the past, neurodivergent individuals with ADHD, autism and dyslexia would sometimes hide their conditions in the interview process to avoid stigma. But today, a shift in attitudes has opened the doors for neurodivergent individuals to confidently embrace their identities.
This growing awareness calls for the need for HR and talent professionals to adopt approaches that support neurodivergent employees throughout their journey, from recruitment to career advancement.
But investing in neurodiversity isn’t simply about ticking a box, instead, it is a powerful way to improve business performance.
One in five people display different ways of thinking in the form of neurodiversity, and this brings a unique set of skills to the table such as hyper-focus and creative problem-solving which not only introduces a diverse range of perspectives but also boosts a business’s overall performance.
Neurodivergent individuals often bring a unique approach to problem-solving, and their diverse cognitive styles can make teams more effective at decision-making, ultimately boosting efficiency and productivity.
Being aware is one thing, but taking action is another
To fully embrace the potential of neurodiverse talent, businesses must create inclusive environments that go beyond simply being accommodating and make inclusivity a core part of company culture. Businesses must prioritise education, effective communication and leadership training so that neurodivergent employees feel valued and understood.
Traditional hiring practices often inadvertently filter out neurodivergent talent and it’s time to revamp the process.
One effective adjustment is to offer flexible interview formats. Instead of abstract prompts like “Tell me about yourself,” using direct, task-based questions can allow candidates to focus on showcasing relevant skills.
Additionally, alternatives to traditional panel interviews, such as one-on-one sessions or recorded video options, can reduce anxiety and give neurodivergent candidates a fairer chance to demonstrate their strengths.
Sensory-friendly settings can also make a big difference to candidates. In-person interviews can be quiet, neutral spaces to reduce sensory overload caused by bright lights or loud sounds. For virtual interviews, reducing visual and auditory distractions like using simple backgrounds, can create a more comfortable digital environment.
An inclusive environment extends beyond the hiring stage
Managers can support neurodivergent employees by tailoring communication styles, work arrangements, and mentorship programs to fit individual needs. Flexible work policies, such as remote work options or customised schedules, can help neurodivergent employees perform at their best.
Creating clear policies that align with each employee’s strengths and aspirations helps neurodivergent talent thrive.
Personalised career paths, along with ongoing support can reduce misunderstandings and allow employees to progress within the organisation.
A culture that embraces neurodiversity isn’t created overnight. Companies should invest in ongoing education, open communication, and leadership training to equip managers with the tools they need to support neurodivergent employees effectively.
When leadership prioritises understanding and inclusion, it sets a positive example for the entire organisation.
Helping neurodivergent workers thrive
For neurodivergent individuals to thrive, they need a supportive work environment tailored to their unique needs.
This may include quiet workspaces, sensory-friendly lighting or options like noise-cancelling headphones to name a few. Neurodiverse people may need additional support because they think and process differently than other people which can make it difficult for them to perform tasks and thrive.
Small adjustments like these can significantly improve the comfort and productivity of neurodivergent employees, enabling them to make their best contributions.
Ultimately, neurodiversity initiatives shouldn’t be treated as “tick-box” exercises. Instead, they must be integrated into the company’s core culture to create lasting change.
When neurodiversity becomes part of the company’s DNA, businesses can harness the full potential of their workforce, promoting an environment where everyone is empowered to excel. As the workplace continues to evolve, embracing neurodiversity will remain a critical component of building a stronger, more dynamic workforce.
Google released ins 2024 search trends report, revealing the trends in the year’s most popular search queries globally and for independent nations in the world’s most popular search engine.
Before we dive into the UK and global results, it is important to not that the trends in the report are not the most searched for words or phrases, as these tend to not vary year on year as dramatically. For instance, ‘weather’ and ‘temperature’ or ‘restaurant near me’ would be top searches every year, and not necessarily reflect modern trends or what has peaked people’s interest over the year.
Instead Google has revealed what terms have seen a spike in traffic over the past year over a sustained period to ascertain what set 2024 apart in people’s eyes.
With that clarification, let’s take a look at some of the top searches of 2024 in the UK and in the Globe.
Overall, top searches in the UK included sporting and election events as well as celebrities who passed away over the year.
The Euros, the European football tournament, peaked this year, as well as searches for Liam Payne, the One Direction singer who passed away this year, and Jay Slater, a UK teen who died on holiday in Tenerife earlier in the year.
However, delving further into top searched people, Kate Middleton was the most searched for person in the UK, with spike surrounding her disappearance from the public eye as she dealt with illness.
President-elect Donald Trump was the second most searched for person in the UK in 224, followed by Luke Littler, the Scottish darts champion who is just 17 years old.
Global and regional politics were of interest across the globe, as Brits looked up when the US election and the UK budget announcement would be. Brits most wanted to know ‘how to’ vote in the election, get Oasis tickets, and watch one-off sporting events like the Mike Tyson vs Logan Paul event.
In terms of entertainment, UK users were most interested in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, as well as It Ends With Us, a film which suffered from a rather dramatic press tour. Baby Reindeer, the viral sensation based on a true story, was the most search after TV show, followed by Fool Me Once.
As far as global trend go, UK patterns seemed to be not far off the norm.
Sporting events like Copa America and UEFA European Championship were top searches, as well as the death of Liam Payne.
The US election, likely due to its effect on global politics, was the most searched for news story of the year, with Donald Trump being the most searched for person of the year as well.
Data leaders continue to face ongoing challenges with the rapid evolution of technology as 74% of organisations report they have implemented some AI-based solutions, yet only 33% have embedded them company-wide.
Data leaders anticipate AI-led benefits but struggle with institutional constraints.
The findings in the AtaccamaData Trust Report 2025: Trustworthy AI Strategies for Data Visionaries indicate blockers for AI adoption including data privacy and security concerns (43%), high maintenance costs (37%) and steep implementation costs (33%).
Despite this, the consequences of not implementing AI weigh heavily on 54% of all respondents and, in particular, 72% of data strategy decision-makers, who worry it will cost them their competitive edge.
Among the anticipated benefits of AI, 57%, believe it will transform customer services (57%), this was pronounced in smaller organisations with annual revenues under $1 billion (73%), and in enterprises at more advanced stages of AI adoption (71%).
Data leaders are also optimistic about AI’s impact for transforming product and services innovation (42%) and marketing and sales (39%), which indicated why exploring AI is a data management priority for data strategy primary decision-makers (54%).
Trustworthy AI relies on clean, quality data, so its unsurprising that heads of data cite improving data quality and accuracy (51%) to be an immediate priority, and also report that managing large volumes of data (30%) is among the top challenges CDOs face in their organisations today.
“In today’s AI-powered world, having trustworthy data will enable organisations to use AI tools to accelerate outcomes like operational efficiency, customer service innovation, and competitive differentiation, and transform external forces like regulatory compliance into strategic advantages,” Mike McKee, chief executive officer at Attaccama, said.
“For this reason, data trust is not just the foundation of successful AI implementation – it’s the engine that supports thriving, future-ready businesses. Improving data quality and accuracy emerges as a top priority for business and data leaders next year, as organisations capitalise on data quality to ensure better internal reporting, fuel improved decision-making capabilities, and seize competitive advantage.”
What do Insurers Anticipate?
While data quality is a top data management priority for 51% of respondents, it is significantly higher for insurance companies at 68%. Insurers view improved operational efficiency (68%) as a key driver for AI adoption, also reporting that increased efficiency and productivity (74%) and increased competitive advantage (51%) are some of the top anticipated benefits of AI usage.
Although data leaders in insurance have a high level of executive support for their programs, a number do report a degree of resistance from COOs, Chief Digital Officers, and Chief Analytics Officers (15% each).
Healthcare organisations are particularly likely to face AI-related challenges. While nearly half (45%) rank AI implementation as a hurdle, 50% of healthcare respondents struggle to keep up with rapid technological advances overall with integrating legacy systems (63%) a particular obstacle in this sector.
Despite these challenges, their outlook remains positive with 58% viewing AI as a pivotal tool for predictive analytics, enhancing data analysis and decision-making processes.
With the high volume of sensitive data collected in healthcare organisations, ethical considerations are a key issue for respondents in this industry, ranking as a concern for 39% compared to one-fifth (19%) of all respondents.
This does not interfere with implementation, however, as the primary drivers for AI adoption in healthcare are considered to be improved operational efficiency (52%) and enhanced decision-making (42%), while for a quarter (26%) of respondents, reducing human error is a key motivation. The primary anticipated benefit of adoption is innovation (45%).
“With 77% of companies implementing some form of AI reporting successful projects, it’s clear that AI investment promises to deliver results for most organisations,” Jay Limburn, chief product officer, Ataccama, said.
“This indicates that those yet to scale AI usage or build robust strategies risk falling behind competitors who are already using AI effectively to drive efficiency, innovation and growth.
“The variation between sector-specific drivers and anticipated benefits of AI illustrates how organisations are starting to apply it to specific industry use cases such as fraud detection in banking or improved diagnostics in healthcare. Ataccama is in a strong position to help these organisations make decisions faster with trusted data with our Ataccama ONE unified platform.”
Following a review of their trial of regulation for public sector bodies, the Information Commissioner’s Office has decided to maintain their current reprimand regime rather than expand their punishments to fines for data protection errors.
In conjunction with a review of the ICO’s public sector policy, John Edwards, the Information Commissioner, commented on the policy.
Currently, the ICO will issue a public reprimand for public bodies if they are found guilty of serious breaches in data protection policy.
Rather than the heavy fines the ICO is empowered to levy on private sector businesses, the ICO has found that reprimands for public sector organisations have proved effective.
Public reprimands can punish organisations reputationally, drawing eyes on any glaring mistakes they have made, whilst leaving room for them to focus on improvements rather than gathering funds for fines.
The policy was introduced in 2022 as a trial, replacing the previous policy of heafty fines along with public reprimands. The new policy was enacted in and effort to actively work with senior leaders to promote data protection compliance in the public sector and proactively prevent any harms before they arise.
Since the trial began, 60 reprimands have been issued to public bodies and are viewable by all on the ICO website, with Edwards saying that this method produced beneficial results in organisations making changes to their data protection efforts and policies.
According to Edwards, public bodies “saw the publication of reprimands as effective deterrents, mainly due to reputational damage and potential impact on public trust, and how they can be used to capture to attention of senior leaders.”
The ICO also noted how imposing fines on public sector bodies “disproportionately affects the budget of smaller organisations and devolved administrations.” For example, the Police Service and Northern Ireland as well as the Ministry of Defence could have faced fines reaching up to £23.2m, instead of £1.2m, had the public sector approach not been applied.
While Edwards and the ICO have decided to continue on with their reprimand-only regime, the Commissioner has launched a consultation on the scope of the approach, asking for input on the ICO’s public sector policy as it moves forward.
Global internet traffic continues to surge (17% year-on-year) generating new trends that showcase the world-wide reliance on its capabilities.
The Internet is the cornerstone of global connection, providing access to the critical information and services that power our daily lives. This dependency has made the Internet a backbone of today’s society – from helping first responders save lives, allowing communities to connect with elected officials and register to vote, or supporting global digital economies.
Cloudflare‘s 2024 Year in Review explores global internet insights and security trends that emerged over the current year, accompanies by a deeper dive on the most popular internet services.
With its Year in Review report, Cloudflare aims to share key data insights about the changing Internet landscape to help keep the online world more informed, resilient and secure. Some of the biggest highlights of 2024 include:
Most popular internet service: Google came in first for the third year in a row, followed by Facebook (#2), Apple (#3) and TikTok (#4) – unchanged from 2023. However, WhatsApp broke into the top ten most popular services globally for the first time.
Most popular generative AI service: Codeium, Claude and CoPilot were new entrants to the top ten most popular generative AI services (#3, #5 and #7 respectively), while OpenAI held onto the number one position for the second year in a row.
Most popular gaming services: Gaming consumers drove Steam into the top five most popular services for the first time, while Minecraft entered the top ten this year. Meanwhile, Roblox ranked #1 for the fourth year in a row.
Most targeted industry: Globally, the Gaming and Gambling industry became the top target for threat actors, overtaking the Finance sector, which was the most targeted category in 2023. Notably, threats increased largely in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl in the United States.
Internet outages observed: Over half of all global Internet outages were a result of government directed shutdowns – often in response to protests, civil unrest or even to prevent cheating during exams – impacting countries like Mozambique, Iraq, Syria, Bangladesh, Senegal, Pakistan and others.
Malicious traffic: The Internet has not become significantly more dangerous over the past year, with about 6.5% of all global traffic mitigated as potentially malicious – only a slight increase from 2023.
Most aggressive AI bots: AI bots and crawlers have been in the news for voraciously consuming content. But while Bytespider (ByteDance) and ClaudeBot (Anthropic) were the most active, both of their overall traffic gradually declined over the course of the year.
“We rely on the Internet almost constantly, yet many still see it merely as a collection of web pages. But the Internet is everywhere, woven throughout almost all of the daily activities of modern life – how we interact and connect on social media, use our smart refrigerators and vacuums, travel from one place to another through rideshare apps, connect to our banks and more,” said Matthew Prince, CEO and co-founder at Cloudflare.
“All of these interactions we often take for granted, behind the scens, are ceonnected to the Internet in one way or another, with a huge percentage running through Cloudflare’s network every second of every day. And as one of the largest in the world, Cloudflare’s global network has an unmatched comprehensive view into usage, and overall quality and connectivity across the web.”
The volume of cyber-attacks reported to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fallen significantly in 2024, according to data obtained and analysed by Hack The Box via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
Between 1 January and 21 October 2024, the FCA received 101 incident notifications from regulated firms.
This represents a 53% decrease compared to the entirety of 2023. Notably, incidents related to a cyber-attack against third-party providers have dropped by 37%, while data breaches tied to cyber incidents have decreased by 29%.
The downtrend aligns with the FCA’s ongoing effort to tighten regulations around operational resilience to secure financial firms’ critical data.
Under the current rules, regulated firms are required to set impact tolerances, use testing to identify vulnerabilities, conduct crisis simulation exercises, and develop robust internal and external communication plans.
By 31 March 2025, organisations must make further financial investments to sustain compliance.
The data emphasises the positive impact of adequate regulations and enhanced incident preparedness in boosting overall resilience.
Significant investments have already been made in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning-powered cybersecurity tools for real-time threat detection.
However, further investment is needed to ensure a comprehensive approach to incident response – including the use of tabletop exercises for realistic crisis preparedness.
“The downtrend in reported attacks against regulated financial firms is a welcome development, given the continuing global threat landscape across several key industries,” Haris Pylarinos, CEO and founder at Hack The Box, said. “There has been a conscious effort to factor preparedness and response into new FCA regulation, and on the surface, it appears that these efforts have, at least partially, helped.”
“Preparedness and consistency in response is critical to maintain business operations. This requires firms to empower CISOs and security executives to take control of an incident.
“If security leaders maintain the trust of the board to respond according to regulations and have clear directions in place for how employees should respond, significant business disruptions could be avoided. To achieve this, investment is needed in cybersecurity upskilling, but also in table-top exercises that provide realistic, scenario-based crisis preparation.”
Lucas Kello, associate professor of International Relations, University of Oxford, comments: “While the reduction in reported incidents is a positive trend, it might also reflect increasing sophistication in cyber-attack methods that enable attackers to evade detection. Avoiding complacency is key. Financial firms must continuously develop proactive security measures.
“The finance industry has long been on the front line of cyber threats, a reality heightened by today’s geopolitical tensions.
“Nation-state actors and other adversaries post a constant – and constantly evolving – risk to financial firms. Combining advanced security tools with robust preparedness and incident response strategies is essential to limiting the damage of successful attacks.”
Cyber-criminals are ramping up their attacks on the manufacturing sector, exploiting outdated operational technology (OT) systems and interconnected supply chains with devastating effects.
A new analysis of the cyber threat landscape in the manufacturing industry by IDS-INDATA reveals a staggering 50% increase in supply hain attacks, making them the fastest-growing cyber threat to the industry.
The analysis also highlights alarming rises in ransomware (23.5%), malware (11.1%) and social engineering (8.6%) attacks, underscoring the vulnerabilities in ageing OT-IT networks.
As manufacturers increasingly rely on OT systems integrated with IT networks, unmanaged or legacy systems serve as weak links, creating entry points fro sophisticated, AI-driven cyber-attacks. Hackers are exploiting these gaps in security with alarming speed, leveraging AI to automate and adapt their tactics.
This surge in AI-enhanced malware, deepfake social engineering, and ransomware underscores the urgency of modernising these vulnerable systems.
Supply Chain Attacks
The significant increase in attacks of this type highlights the trend of targeting third-party vendors and suppliers to infiltrate manufacturing systems. In 2023, these threats affected 20% of manufacturing businesses, rising to 30% this year.
The interconnected nature of supply chains creates cascading vulnerabilities, making manufacturers susceptible to devastating disruptions. AI-driven tools are now enabling cyber-criminals to automate the identification of weak points, accelerating the scale of these attacks.
Ransomware
Ransomware attacks, which saw a 23.5% year-on-year increase, are becoming more sophisticated. Cyber-criminals are utilising AI to create malware that can adapt in real time to avoid detection.
According to the analysis by IDS-INDATA, ransomware threats impacted 34% of businesses in 2023, which rose to 42% this year.
Older OT systems, often running on outdated software, are prime targets for these attacks. As a result, manufacturers face increased downtime, financial losses, and the risk of permanent damage to critical infrastructure.
Malware
AI-powered malware is more sophisticated than ever, as proven by its impact on half of manufacturing businesses this year. These attacks can learn from network environments and adapt to exploit vulnerabilities within OT-IT networks, stealing sensitive data, disrupting productivity, and compromising system integrity.
Social engineering tactics, including phishing and impersonation, affected over a third of businesses in 2024 (38%). Due to AI-driven deepfakes and automated scams, these tactics have become increasingly influential.
Cyber-criminals can create highly personalised attacks that exploit human error, one of the weakest links in manufacturing cybersecurity. This highlights the importance of ongoing training and awareness for manufacturers.
Spear Phishing
AI has enhances spear-phishing campaigns, enabling cyber-criminals to customise emails from individuals using personal information obtained from public sources.
The 4.8% increase in targeted phishing incidents highlights the ongoing prevalence of these campaigns against the manufacturing sector. Spear phishing remains the primary threat affecting 88% of businesses.
This trend likely stems from manufacturers reliance on email communication for operational logistics and coordination.
“The findings show an opportunity for manufacturers,” said Ryan Cooke, chief information security officer at IDS-INDATA. “Older systems that run on outdated software are increasingly vulnerable to attacks, whilst the lack of proper network segmentation dramatically increases the impact of malware and lateral movement.
“Addressing these risks can help the industry overcome today’s sophisticated, AI-enhanced cyber threats, which is especially critical given the interconnected nature of supply chains.
“We advocate for regular system checks to stay ahead of evolving threats,” Cooke continued. “IDS-INDATA’s testing and risk management services are designed to assess vulnerabilities in OT-IT networks and fortify defences against the growing tide of cyber threats, from ransomware to AI-powered malware.”
Building Resilience
Manufacturers must also focus on resilience planning to ensure long-term cybersecurity IDS-INDATA excels at developing short-term and long-term strategies, which include secure configurates, timely patching, and adherence to best practices in cybersecurity.
These strategies ensure that manufacturers are prepared to recover from current threats and ready for future challenges.
“Effective resilience planning is essential in today’s cybersecurity landscape,” says Cooke. “By ensuring that OT-IT systems are securely designed, regularly patched, and aligned with best practices, manufacturers can create a strong defence against even the most sophisticated threats.”
Eighty-five per cent of customer service leaders will explore or pilot a generative AI (genAI) solution to a costumer facing role in 2025, according to Gartner, Inc.
A Gartner survey of 187 customer service and support leaders conducted in July and August 2024 found that nearly half (44%) of leaders report exploring a customer-facing GenAi voicebot, in addition to 11% who are already piloting this technology, and 5% who have this solution deployed.
“More than seventy-five percent of customer service and support leaders said they feel pressure from executive leadership to implement GenAI,” said Kim Hedlin, senior principal, research in the Gartner Customer Service & Support Practice.
“The customer service function has a growing level of influence over AI initiatives. This historically people-and-process driven function has evolved into a technology-focused one.”
The customer service and support function is playing a leading role when it comes to GenAI – for some responsibilities, more so than IT.
The survey found customer service leaders have primary responsibility for identifying new AI opportunities, roadmapping the evolution of AI activities, and driving adoption.
IT organisations have more responsibility when it comes to building, developing and sustaining AI solutions, as well as running, maintaining and supporting these solutions.
Under pressure from executive leadership to make GenAI adoption a success, customer service leaders are committing to improve their technology literacy in 2025.
Sixty-four percent of service leaders said they plan to spend more time learning about technology next year, compared to just 3% who plan to spend less time.
Despite leaders’ eagerness to implement GenAI, many face barriers to effective adoption. Many customer service and support leaders will deploy conversational GenAI that relies on a well-maintained knowledge library.
However, 61% of leaders say they have a backlog of articles to edit, and more than one-third of leaders have no formal process for revising outdated articles.
“Service and support leaders are eager to deploy conversational GenAI, but they cannot ignore existing issues with knowledge management,” said Hedlin. “To overcome these challenges, service and support leaders need to dedicate resources to building an AI-optimized knowledge base in order to achieve their objectives.”
Social media giant TikTok has lost its bid to appeal its US ban after a federal appeals court rejected the company’s argument that the initial ruling was unconstitutional.
In its appeal, TikTok claimed that the ban impinged on US citizen’s right to free speech as enshrined in the constitution, but this was rejected by the court, which said the ruling “was the culmination of extensive, bipartisan action by Congress and by successive presidents.”
US representatives want to ban TikTok, which has around 17 million US users, because it is owned by Bytedance, a Chinese company that the US claims is linked to the government of China, a claim Bytedance continually denies.
The US is concerned that TikTok data of US users will be gathered and shared with the Chinese state, which has yet to be substantiated.
The court that rejected TikTok’s appeal said that the ban only dealt with “control by a foreign adversary,” and was a subset of larger efforts “to counter a well-substantiated national security threat posed by the PRC (People’s Republic of China).”
The company can therefore evade a full ban if it is sold by Bytedance to a different firm, likely one with different state ties.
TikTok says it will continue to fight the ruling, saying it will next take the appeal to the Supreme Court.
The current law banning TikTok dates back to 24 April 2024, when current US President Joe Biden signed it into law. This followed a lawsuit from the company claiming that it infringed upon free speech.
Currently, the ban is set to come in place just a day before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who previously tried to ban TikTok in his first term as President. He now says that he would not allow a ban to come into force against the social media giant.
Social media influencers are already reportedly alerting their users to follow them across different channels, and the ban will likely lead to an influx of users to long-established, already existing social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.
Economic leaders from G20 countries are concerned about potential risks associated with AI use, but seem more fearful of economic risks than cyber risks.
This is according to new research from the World Economic Forum which published its annual Executive Opinion Survey, which interviewed 11,000 business executives across G20 member states.
In the survey, leaders were questioned on the top five biggest threats they anticipated in the next two years.
Business leaders cited an economic downturn as the biggest threat to their nation’s stability, which was followed by labour and talent shortages, and inflation.
These three reflected the ongoing fallout of the cost-of-living crisis and its associated economic woes on businesses.
The latter two most pressing threats included poverty and inequality, as well as extreme weather events.
Weather events moved up as severe wild fires engulfed major areas of some G20 countries such as Brazil, Germany, Indonesia and the US.
This greatly contrast’s WEF’s report from earlier this year which cited misinformation and disinformation as the number one threat, and cybersecurity in fourth.
The report from earlier this year may have reflected the anticipation of global elections, with online tech platforms putting out safeguards to protect the public from misinformation and deepfake campaigns.
The threat of cybersecurity issues is still ranking highly in some Western countries, potentially reflected by the proliferation of AI in the nations, as well as their geographic location largely sparing them from disastrous weather events resulting from climate change.
Adverse affects of proliferating AI technologies was cited as a major threat by the UK (4th), US (3rd), and Canada (5th). Indonesia ranked AI threats as their top threat concern.
For Europe, business leaders listed labour/talent shortage, economic downturn, and inflation as their top three, with involuntary migration and misinformation and disinformation rounding out the top five.
Deloitte has denied recent allegations that it suffered a data breach after a ransomware group claimed to have breached its systems and threatened to publish the stolen data.
Following an internal investigation, Deloitte has responded to the allegations, saying that the claim related to a single system of one of their clients which reside outside of their internal network.
According to a spokesperson, “No Deloitte systems have been impacted,” as reported by Infosecurity Magazine.
The ransomware group responsible for the claim, Brain Cipher, first said that they stole 1 TB of compressed data from the firm, in an allegation published on 4 December.
The group claimed that large organisations do not always “do their jobs well,” alleging that Deloitte had skipped out on practical and ‘elementary points’ of security.
The group further hinted at persistent access to Deloitte’s systems, stating, “We are still using [tools] there today.” Brain Cipher promised to disclose evidence of alleged failures in Deloitte’s security protocols with a countdown of ten days from the original post, suggesting that “the fundamentals of computer security were not respected” and claiming they would provide examples of how they bypassed the firm’s defenses.
Brain Cipher, which appeared in June 2024, has quickly built a reputation for aggressive tactics, including targeting critical industries such as healthcare, education, and government entities.
Known for leveraging LockBit 3.0-based ransomware, the group employs phishing and spear-phishing as entry points before deploying its payload.
It has already orchestrated high-profile attacks, including a disruptive breach of Indonesia’s National Data Center earlier this year, which severely disrupted public services such as immigration processing and new student registration systems.
But why would a profiteering ransomware gang lie about a data breach?
The data breach may lead to little monetary benefit on behalf of the ransomware group, but can lead to severe reputational damage even if a claim is refuted and found to be a lie.
The holiday season, a time synonymous with togetherness and shared moments, starkly highlights a growing divide in our society – one that leaves millions of older adults cut off from the world around them.
In an era dominated by digital connectivity, the inability to access or navigate technology is more than an inconvenience; it is a huge barrier to connection, particularly for older generations. For many, the season of joy is overshadowed by a silence that underscores their exclusion.
Nearly 19 million people in the UK remain stuck in the digital divide, a staggering figure that illustrates the far-reaching scope of this issue. Among them, older adults face the most acute challenges: almost one-third of those aged 75 and over – equivalent to 1.7 million people – have never used the internet.
Others navigate only limited access, unable to complete basic digital tasks that underpin everyday life. The consequences of this divide extend far beyond missed emails or group chats; they signify a growing isolation that only deepens during a season meant to bring people closer together.
For many, the most basic lifelines are under threat. The traditional landlines that serve as a critical connection for millions of older adults are set to disappear with the national copper line switch-off.
While heralded as progress, the transition to digital landlines comes with significant risks for those without the ability to navigate new systems, especially as we begin to see power cuts in the winter season. Where old style phones worked without electricity, new style devices – and the telecare devices many older people rely on, can no longer run without power.
Even those with internet access often lack the skills to use it effectively. Almost half of people aged 75 and over struggle with essential digital tasks like navigating websites or sending emails.
Simple actions – such as setting up a video call – remain out of reach, leaving many excluded from the digital spaces where modern life now unfolds. The result is an isolation that feels particularly acute at a time when families and communities are celebrating connection.
This season, when so much of our interaction is shaped by technology, the exclusion of older adults serves as a sobering reminder of how far society has to go in addressing digital inequality.
It is not merely about access to technology but about the ability to participate in life as it is now lived. Festive photos shared on social media, virtual gatherings with loved ones, and online services for shopping or healthcare are all inaccessible to those on the wrong side of the divide.
This exclusion is not inevitable. It is a consequence of structural barriers that can – and must – be addressed. The cost of devices and broadband services remains prohibitive for many older adults, particularly those on fixed incomes, compounded by the lack of tailored support to help older people build confidence in using technology.
As society moves ever further into a digital-first reality, the failure to address these barriers threatens to leave older generations even more isolated.
But solutions are within reach. Programmes like Age UK’s Digital Champions demonstrate the power of community-led approaches, pairing older adults with trained volunteers who provide patient, personalised guidance.
These initiatives prove that digital skills can be learned at any age when the right support is in place. However, the scale of the problem demands more than community efforts; it requires national action.
Telecommunications providers must take responsibility for ensuring older customers are fully supported during the digital switchover, with clear communication and protections to ensure no one is left without access. Government intervention is equally critical, with policies and funding aimed at making technology affordable and accessible for all. Technology companies, too, have a role to play in designing devices and platforms that are intuitive and inclusive, catering to the needs of older users rather than sidelining them.
Families and local communities also hold the keys to change. For many older adults, a single act of patience – helping set up a device, teaching how to use an app, or simply explaining the steps to join a video call – can open doors to a world of opportunities. These moments of connection are particularly meaningful at this time of year, offering not just technical skills but a sense of belonging and inclusion.
In a season defined by connection, the exclusion of millions from the digital world must compel us to act. The barriers they face are not insurmountable; they are the product of neglect, systemic gaps, and misplaced priorities. By addressing these issues, we can create a future where technology bridges divides rather than deepens them.
This holiday season reminds us of what truly matters: connection, understanding, and community. For older generations, the promise of inclusion is within reach – if society commits to building the bridges they need. Let this be the moment we resolve to act, ensuring no one is left out in an increasingly digital world. Connection, after all, is the greatest gift we can give.
The UK public have shared their concerns about the connected technology used throughout smart cities and smart homes in a new report from the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
In a recent survey commissioned by London Economics, over three quarters of UK respondents did not know what term ‘connected places’ meant. In general terms, connected places refer to communities which use connected devices and internet of things in conjunction across their jurisdiction which gather data that is analysed to improve efficiency and inform decision making.
This lack of understanding may drive the apparent mistrust in such places that are connected by technology, with 62% somewhat concerned about connected places technology.
Respondents were, however, more likely to trust technology managed by the government (15%) or local authorities (14%) than technology managed by private companies.
People do seem to have a general understanding of the difference between personal and public data, with only 12% trusting technology that uses personal devices, compared to 25% for technology that uses only public information.
The varying levels of trust remain consistent regardless of the purpose of the technology, the survey found, which could range from traffic management to environmental monitoring, though the later garnered the most trust from consumers.
In terms of consumer IT, concerns were drastically different, with a general lack of understanding on data protection and an overwhelming (87%) level of trust in IoT devices.
This is contrasted with more heightened security concerns around connected places, where consumers were generally concerned to at least some extent, with a higher level of overall mistrust.
The concern may be again from a lack of understanding or knowledge of what a smart city or connected place was, with a similar level of those expressing mistrust saying that they had not seen any examples of a smart city, or only a handful of examples.
Information from the report will support DSIT’s work in developing its policy under the National Cyber Security strategy.
More than one third (35%) of Scottish businesses have experienced fraud in the last five years, according to a new survey from Edinburgh-based consultancy BDO.
Of those businesses, 86% said they had experienced fraud in the last year. Additionally, more than one in four (29%) have seen multiple incidents of fraud in the last year.
BDO’s analysis surveyed 500 directors and business owners from entities with more than 200 employees, conducted to find out directly from the business community about their experience of fraud.
In response to the increased risk of fraud, Scottish business have been proactive in their steps to tackle the pervasive issue.
According to the survey, two fifths of businesses (40%) have increased investment in IT security, with the same proportion spending more on fraud detection tools such as AI and data analytics. The survey shows that anti-fraud-related expenditure has increased for four-fifths of businesses (80%).
“The macro-economic environment remains challenging in Scotland and fraud also remains a significant problem for individual businesses and the wider economy,” Alistair Rolland, managing director at BDO LLP, said. “These losses directly impact profitability and can have catastrophic knock-on effects.
“It is clear that large businesses are particularly tempting targets for fraudsters who are lured by the prospects of higher gains and attracted by the potential vulnerabilities and entry points associated with organisations with high employee numbers.
“However, this year there are some positive trends. Anti-fraud-related expenditure is increasing compared to the previous year, with 70% of Scottish businesses investing between £100,000 and £250,000.
“Following the recent introduction of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, we hope the coming year will see businesses enhance their anti-fraud infrastructure, continue the drive to establish more robust preventative regimes, and proactively monitor and respond to new threats as they arise – while also maintaining the usual tight reins on profitability and cashflow.”
The report also found that 70% of Scottish businesses have conducted a fraud risk assessment within the last year, with half of all companies surveyed providing fraud awareness training for employees during the same period.
The findings come after consumer protection advocate Which? claimed that big tech is falling flat on its purported efforts to combat online fraud and scams proliferating across their platforms.
The Highland Council, the UK’s largest local authority by area, has seen a major communications transformation thanks to Daisy, part of the Wavenet Group.
The major infrastructure upgrade modernised 5,000 lines across schools, businesses, and two contact centres with a RingCentral cloud-based unified communications solution.
The enhanced system is set to significantly improve the reliability and efficiency of essential services, ensuring that 100% of emergency calls related to health and social care, housing, roads, and public buildings are now answered.
The Council’s legacy telecoms system previously powered 400 sites across the region, including 200 schools, and relied on traditional phone lines for residents and businesses to contact council services.
This limited contact centre call capacity to just 30 at a time and led to poor call quality, busy signals, and a substandard customer experience. The upcoming PSTN (public switch telephone network) switch-off also provided a deadline for the council to upgrade its legacy system.
Working closely with Highland Council and RingCentral, Daisy implemented RingEX, a cloud-based infrastructure solution to consolidate phone lines and communication tools. Highland Council has since increased call capacity while eliminating long wait times, as well as streamlining operational efficiency and gaining greater insight into key metrics such as call abandon rates.
The new solution also provides additional support for remote council workers, while boosting security compliance.
“We have a huge project team, and this is by far the biggest project. 5,000 users and 2 contact centres all up and running in less than a year is incredible,” David Johnstone, ICT technical operations at The Highland Council, said.
“It isn’t just the configuration and the deployment; it is also the adoption of the end users. We have gone from not having a solution to now having a great one for all our people who are using it well, every day. Our work processes have been optimised and the senior management team is very happy with the capabilities. We would recommend Daisy and the solution wholeheartedly.”
Kelly MacKay, customer & registration services at The Highland Council added: “This solution has been game-changing. As a Contact Manager, I want to see the full picture of the day with engaging dashboards without having to drill into the data.
“I can quickly glance and make decisions. Call quality is no longer an issue, and reporting and drilling into insightful data is incredibly valuable. Having worked in the service centre since 2006 and experienced many call handling technologies and CRM systems, this one stands out as exceptional compared to the others.”
“As a trusted partner of Highland Council and RingCentral, we’re proud to deliver a solution that meets current demands as well as providing a future-proof communications infrastructure for local businesses and residents. The successful implementation of RingEX has elevated collaboration and allowed for better operational control to support a smooth employee experience,” said Lee Hunwick, head of UC&C at Wavenet.
Workers have reported better health and wellbeing under a four day working week model, and businesses have even been more productive, but the model may not be practical in the global business world, the aftermath of a new trial reveals.
Thrive, a learning technology company, and the University of Sussex, together produced a new trial of the four day working week, using a number of tools, including MRI scans, blood tests and sleep trackers to understand its affects not just on business outcomes, but on employee physical and mental wellbeing.
The company also had their employees fill out weekly questionnaires to detail their experience, as well as obtaining regular feedback from customers to see how they were affected by the new regime.
The results seem overwhelmingly positive at first glance – overall employee wellbeing rose by over a fifth (21%), and sleep problems fell by 20%.
Stress also fell by nearly a tenth (8.6%), while burnout and emotional exhaustion dropped by 14.7%. Depersonalisation burnout fell only slightly, but still by 2.3%.
Anxiety fell by 5% while reports of feeling a personal accomplishment increased by 11.4%
On the business side, the reduction of hours seemed to have no negative affects on productivity. Employees were able to reach their goals even a fifth (19.4%) more than in a traditional five-day working week model.
However, Thrive did see some negative affects in their customer service, which suffered as its customers still worked a traditional five day week. Introducing a different working model can prove restrictive if the model greatly contrasts the status quo.
Despite its many benefits, the company is therefore deciding to only implement the four-day week on a seasonal basis.
“While we would have loved to implement it on a full-time basis, our experiences in the trial also highlighted that the success of a four-day work week will rely on widespread cultural change across the UK business landscape,” said Thrive co-CEO Cassie Gasson.
“As a business serving hundreds of organisations, it highlighted that five-day coverage for our customers is essential when they’re operating more traditional ways of working.”
Gasson says that until the four day work week is normalised, it would be difficult for her company to commit full time to the model.
The trial is just the latest to highlight some of the many benefits, and potential issues, of a four day work week. Previous trials have cemented the model as an overarching positive that still has yet to be widely adopted.
Still, the 4 Day Week Campaign says that nearly 2,000 UK businesses have already adopted the model permanently.
Creative solutions to the five-day work week contrast could be staggered four day work weeks, or seasonal four day periods.
The freshly released Scottish Budget has already turned heads as local businesses anxiously awaited the devolved nation’s response to the new UK government’s financial plans.
The Scottish tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem have fluctuated in confidence and composure in anticipation of the budget, which spells out new NIS fees, tax obligations, educational funding, and investment reform.
Of prime importance to Scottish business and tech, the Scottish government did announce its intentions to make Scotland “one of the world’s most attractive places for entrepreneurs and startups.”
A highlight of the budget for the tech community is the commitment to invest £321 million in Scotland’s enterprise agencies supporting emerging technology, providing a confidence boost to a sector struggling to break out of the startup phase and retain a sustainable, competitive level of investable capital.
As a part of this plan, the Scottish National Investment Bank will receive £200 million in the 2025/2026 period to provide financial support for Scottish businesses while generating private sector investment.
Further, enterprise agencies will receive more that £320 million to help attract businesses to Scotland and support expansion.
In addition to this, an enterprise package to boost entrepreneurship and develop clusters of high-tech companies of £15 million will be established, with at least £4m to help women start and grow their businesses.
Almost £100 million will be spent on expanding Scotland’s digital infrastructure, the government explained, while £62 million is set to be allocated to regeneration projects for community revitalisation.
To help meet its net zero goals, the government will also nearly triple capital investment in the offshore wind supply chain to £150m in 2025/2026, advancing the Scottish Government’s £500m to commitment to offshore wind.
“The economy is the beating heart of any modern nation. It is where opportunity and national prosperity are the rewards for innovation and creativity,” deputy first minister and economy secretary Kate Forbes said.
“We have built a firm foundation over the past year with steady growth and a rise in wages. Now it is time to accelerate that progress. Businesses create wealth and it is the Government’s job to develop an environment that helps them grow, attracts investment and supports innovation. That in turn creates jobs and puts more money in people’s pockets.
“The Budget that we have set out has been developed in partnership with the businesses I meet every day. I hope it sends a signal to the world that Scotland is open for business.”
A Positive Reception
Overall, tech and entrpereneurial bodies were positive about their funding highlights in the new budget, with particular emphasis on emerging tech investments and green energy.
“It is reassuring to see the Finance Secretary commit to supporting Scotland’s pursuit of long-term growth,” Karen Meechan, ScotlandIS CEO, said.
“By highlighting AI and robotics the Finance Secretary has identified two crucial emerging areas of the tech sector, but it’s important to recognise that our industry is broader than just these two areas.
“From green data centres and connectivity specialists to cybersecurity and climate tech, Scotland has an enormous amount to offer and it’s important that our sector receives support which is commensurate with our overall economic contribution.”
The monumental £321m into emerging technologies was celebrated across industry bodies, including the National Robotarium, based at Heriot-Watt University.
“This significant £321 million investment from the Scottish Government to support emerging tech represents a critical step in securing Scotland’s position at the forefront of the global robotics revolution,” the National Robotarium’s CEO, Stewart Miller, said.
Miller said the investment “will accelerate Scotland’s ability to compete in a market projected to reach £223 billion by 2032.
“With the UK currently lagging behind other G7 nations in robotics adoption, this investment sends a powerful signal about Scotland’s ambition to lead rather than follow in the next wave of technological innovation.”
Industry bodies also welcomed the investment agencies supporting enterprise and revitalisation projects across the nation, noting reports that the further away from London one goes, the less new-to-market innovations are seen.
“We welcome the investment in enterprise agencies, supporting emerging tech, including AI, and programmes like Techscaler, to support new-to-market innovations in Scotland,” Heather Thomson, interim CEO of the Data Lab, said.
“With the rapid and continuing advancement of technologies, including data and AI and its applications, Innovation Centres across Scotland are supporting companies to navigate these tech developments, advancing groundbreaking ideas, and accelerating these projects into new markets.”
“The government’s continued support for offshore wind and green renewable energy sources has been well received with advocational groups like the Net Zero Technology Centre,” Myrtle Dawes, chief executive of the NZTC said.
“We welcome this government investment in Scotland’s burgeoning offshore wind sector, and commend Finance Secretary Shona Robison’s commitment to attracting private sector capital.
“For decades, Aberdeen and the north-east have been at the forefront of energy innovation, with talent, technology and wind power in abundance. Scotland has the necessary ingredients to become the net zero capital of Europe.”
But Does it Go Far Enough?
Bearing down into the details of the Scottish budget does leave much to be desired for some, though even organisations that had their qualms tended to welcome the changes. Their main complaint tended to be that the measures taken by the government were not strong enough to truly help businesses.
Financial services experts lamented the Scottish government’s position on income tax, which is higher than the English rate for middle and higher-income residents.
“Scottish Financial Enterprise has consistently urged the Scottish government to take action on the growing income tax divergence between Scotland and the rest of the UK, and these changes are therefore a welcome, if modest, step in the right direction,” Sandy Begbie CBE, chief executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said.
“But these changes fall short of recognising that Scotland’s current tax regime is simply not working. As the Institute for Fiscal Studies has pointed out, higher income tax rates in Scotland have led to less rather than more money for public services, while also deterring investment and harming economic growth, and our tax regime remains complex, disproportionate and uncompetitive.
“That is why we need to see continued action from the Scottish government to further reduce income tax divergence between Scotland and the rest of the UK over the coming years, as well as a renewed commitment to work with the business community to deliver the sustainable economic growth our country so desperately needs.
“Measures to boost capital investment are also to be welcomed as a means of unlocking and attracting investment, but these now need to be delivered at pace to deliver a measurable impact for our economy. Our sector stands ready to work with the government to achieve these ambitions.”
Further, organisations have called out the budget for falling short across a number of financial measures, including non-domestic rates relief, saying that the budget does not go far enough to help businesses innovate and scale, let alone recover.
“Providing urgent rates relief for the hospitality sector is an essential step and we are pleased the Scottish Government has listened to our calls to take action,” Dr Liz Cameron CBE of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said.
“However, whilst we understand the tough choices the government had to make, the significant level of NDR relief will not fully mitigate the rising costs for many businesses at breaking point.
“The Fraser of Allander Institute estimates that it would have cost an additional £70m more than the funds generated via the Barnett formula to bring business rates relief in Scotland in line with England.
“That would have been money well spent and, combined with the welcome budget plans to invest in our rural areas and town centres, it would have created many positive opportunities for businesses across Scotland.
“Finance Secretary Shona Robison has recognised the difficulties and many obstacles confronting businesses but this budget doesn’t go far enough to help us to protect jobs and deliver the innovation, investment and growth Scotland so desperately needs.”
The highly anticipated Vodafone and Three merger has been approved by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on the condition that each company sign binding commitments.
The long-awaited approval means that Vodafone and Three would be able to combine their telecoms offering under one conglomerate, similar to the other two major mobile network operators, BTEE and Virgin Media O2.
Under the terms, both companies would have to sign binding commitments to invest billions to roll out a combined 5G network across the UK, which would be overseen by Ofcom and the CMA.
This commitment would be supported by shorter term customer protections which would require the merged company to cap certain mobile tariffs and offer preset contractual terms to mobile virtual network operators, for a period of three years.
In earlier phases of the CMA’s probe, the merger was provisionally found to potentially lead to higher prices for consumers and less advantageous terms for virtual network providers, which depend on networks like Vodafone and Three to supply their own retail customers.
Since then, the inquiry group has presented remedies to its concerns and engaged with relevant parties to see if these conditions would provide relief to their concerns, now finding that under the network commitment conditions, the merger can proceed.
The joint network plan stipulation will require a network upgrade, integration, and improvements the companies will make over the next eight years.
The CMA says that this improvement to the combined network would boost overall competition between mobile network operators in the long term.
Further, Vodafone and Three will have to cap selected mobile tariffs and data plans for three years, directly protecting large numbers of customers from short-term price rises in the early years of the network plan.
The CMA is also requiring the companies to pre-set prices and contract terms for wholesale services to ensure that virtual network providers can obtain competitive terms and conditions as the network plan is rolled out.
“It’s crucial this merger doesn’t harm competition, which is why we’ve spent time considering how it could impact the telecoms market,” Stuart McIntosh, chair of the independent inquiry group leading the investigation, said.
“Having carefully considered the evidence, as well as the extensive feedback we have received, we believe the merger is likely to boost competition in the UK mobile sector and should be allowed to proceed – but only if Vodafone and Three agree to implement our proposed measures.
“Both Ofcom and the CMA would oversee the implementation of these legally binding commitments, which would help enhance the UK’s 5G capability whilst preserving effective competition in the sector.”
Welcome to the November 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 November has been another thrilling month, with many innovative Scots organisations and key players doing exciting things. Read on to find out what exactly’s been happening!
Partnerships
iGii and Prymexa
iGii has agreed a multi-million-pound deal with health monitoring company Prymexa to develop a toolkit that detects signs of perimenopause – the transition phase period before menopause that can start as early as the mid-30s.
With 60% of women under 40 not feeling informed about perimenopause or menopause, many experience a range of symptoms and increased risks of depression, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease without guidance on managing these. A lack of awareness and monitoring can lead to misdiagnosis and missed opportunities for early intervention. Early identification of perimenopause allows for more personalised advice, treatment and support from medical professionals.
David Atkinson, founder of Prymexa, shared his excitement about the groundbreaking collaboration with iGii: “We are thrilled about this partnership, which promises to transform lives through our extensive research and development efforts. By joining forces with iGii, we can enhance the precision and sensitivity of our toolkit, accelerating our product development and ultimately making a significant difference in people’s lives.”
Crypto Giants Unite to Launch New Stablecoin
A consortium of big firms in the crypto-space have joined forces to introduce a new stablecoin onto the global market, pegged to the US dollar and with a focus on meeting regulatory standards and consumer protections.
The newly formed Global Dollar Network, formed initially by partnership between Anchorage Digital, Bullish, Galaxy Digital, Kraken, Nuvei, Paxos and Robinhood, has been described as an open network to accelerate and reward global stablecoin adoption, and expand real world use cases.
Issued out of Singapore by Paxos, the network claims that their Global Dollar (USDG) is already compliant with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s upcoming stablecoin framework, and the consortium have lined up DBS Bank, one of Southeast Asia’s largest banks, to serve as the primary banking partner at launch for cash management and custody of USDG reserves.
The leader in expanding self-service financial access for financial institutions, retailers and consumers has become the latest partner to join the Abertay cyberQuarter, Scotland’s hub for cybersecurity research and development.
NCR Atleos, which has maintained a site in Dundee since 1946 when it was part of NCR Corporation, has now become part of a growing network of organisations that have partnered with the Abertay cyberQuarter since its launch.
As part of the new partnership, NCR Atleos will benefit from secure office spaces within the cyberQuarter building on the Abertay campus, enabling the company to locate staff within the hub.
Additionally, the collaboration provides NCR Atleos with access to the academic expertise of staff within Abertay’s Department of Cybersecurity and Computing, with initial scoping of research and knowledge exchange projects due to begin in the coming weeks.
Meta Partners with UK Unis for VR
Meta has announced a new beta programme which will work with dozens of educational institutions across the US and UK, including the University of Glasgow, to deliver interactive and engaging content through a virtual reality education platform.
The Meta for Education initiative will see Meta Quest headsets rolled out to teachers, trainers, and administrators, which will be used as part of a virtual reality education platform for students across a range of subjects including science, medicine, history, and language arts.
The University of Edinburgh has announced a partnership with global technology solutions firm Leidos in an effort to drive advancements in AI and data science.
The strategic partnership is set to leverage the work of the university’s Bayes Centre, an innovation hub for data science and AI, to address critical challenges in areas such as healthcare, national security, the environment, and public services.
Leidos said that the partnership underscores the firm’s commitment to build AI that delivers high-quality outcomes while scaling efficiently, with plans to combine Edinburgh University’s cutting edge research with its own ‘Trusted Mission AI’ solutions.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Partners with Motorola
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has signed a seven-year contract with Motorola solutions to enable a cloud-hosted Control Room Solution to digitally transform their operations.
The £29.5 million contract with Motorola will provide a single, cloud-based solution to mobilise firefighters to emergencies following a 999 call.
The technology is set to deliver an enhanced day-to-day and major incident response capability, replacing the ageing systems currently used by the SFRS’s three operations control rooms in Johnstone, Edinburgh, and Dundee.
The United Kingdom and United States have joined forces at COP29 to speed up the deployment of cutting-edge nuclear technology to help decarbonise industry and boost energy security.
The UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and US Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk have signed a new agreement while in Baku for climate talks that will help pool together billions of pounds worth of nuclear research and development – including the world’s leading academic institutions and nuclear innovators.
The UK will take a leading role in the forum, which aims to support information-sharing on advanced nuclear technologies and make them available for use in industry by 2030.
Codebase Partners with Aberdeen and Scottish Borders Councils
CodeBase has partnered with Aberdeen City Council and Scottish Borders Council to offer an artificial intelligence programme for local SMEs.
The ‘AI Navigator’ programme run by technology ecosystem specialist CodeBase is designed to help SME and small business leaders use AI to improve productivity, reduce costs, and make data-driven decisions.
The Aberdeen and Scottish Borders programmes, which are free for participating companies, take place between January and March 2025, with applications closing at the end of November.
KPMG UK has joined FinTech Scotland, the cluster management organisation for fintech in Scotland, with the two organisations set to work closely together to foster innovation, accelerate growth and drive technology adoption within the Scottish financial technology sector.
KPMG UK will add its expertise, helping to develop Scotland’s leadership as a fintech cluster as well as supporting the firm’s own plans for further growth in Scotland.
The professional services network said that it will bring some of the latest thinking in financial services innovation to a sector that is being disrupted by new technologies such as AI, Distributed Ledger Technologies, and Open Finance.
NHS Scotland Partners with Systal Technology Solutions
Scottish global managed network, security, and cloud transformation specialist, Systal Technology Solutions, has been selected by NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) to accelerate delivery and increase capacity and capability of their Security Operations Centre (SOC), following a competitive tender process.
In December 2022, NHS NSS launched the Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) to enhance NHS Scotland’s capability to protect Scotland’s patients, data, and NHS staff from the threat of cyber-attacks.
NHS NSS has now partnered with Systal to create an increasingly effective SOC and Incident Response capability that ensures 24/7 protection across NHS Scotland’s assets, infrastructure, and patient data.
Data Storage Corporation, a provider of diverse business continuity solutions for disaster-recovery, cloud infrastructure, cyber-security, and IT automation, for IBM Power systems including IBMi and AIX, announced that its subsidiary, CloudFirst Europe, has entered into a strategic partnership with Brightsolid, a data centre provider based in Scotland and part of the DC Thomson group.
This collaboration marks a significant step in CloudFirst’s expansion strategy across the UK and positions the Company to better serve clients in Scotland.
Brightsolid, known for its top-tier data centres in Scotland, is one of the key UK-based partners that CloudFirst Europe has engaged with as part of its commitment to delivering secure, reliable, and redundant cloud solutions.
The partnership aligns both companies’ strategic goals, as CloudFirst Europe brings a portfolio of complementary IBM cloud products and services that Brightsolid will now be able to offer its extensive client base.
By combining CloudFirst Europe’s full service cloud solutions with Brightsolid’s regional expertise and client network, the partnership provides a robust suite of services for both new and existing customers.
Appointments
MBN Solutions Appoints New Managing Director
MBN Solutions is celebrating a leadership milestone with the appointment of Shannon McKechnie as its new Managing Director.
Known in the industry for her vision, hands-on approach, and ability to inspire and lead high-performing teams, Shannon’s journey to the top is one of dedication, deep expertise, and a genuine passion for transforming how organisations approach talent in the data and AI sectors.
With an increasing demand for data-led innovation across industries, MBN’s leadership, headed by experts like Shannon McKechnie, is focused on building strategic partnerships and aligning talent solutions with clients’ long-term goals.
KPMG Hires New Leadership Team in Scotland
KPMG Scotland has unveiled a new leadership team aiming to help the firm grow its footprint north of the border.
Vishal Chopra, from KPMG’s Scottish Tax team, became officially responsible for leading the professional services firm in Scotland from October 1st, and has now revealed his new-look senior team after taking over as Office Senior Partner from James Kergon.
Chopra oversees a team of more than 900 people across KPMG’s offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and will now count on help from Susan Dunlop, heading up the Transaction Services business, and Graeme Williams, promoted to managing director and leading the Corporate Finance team.
Zappaty, the secure file sharing, storage, and collaboration platform created for SMEs, is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Montgomerie as Chief Strategy Officer and Advisor. With a distinguished career in the finance industry, Montgomerie brings a wealth of expertise in strategic growth and business transformation to the Zappaty team.
Montgomerie, a recognised leader in investment banking, has held executive roles at Santander and Royal Bank of Scotland, and has a proven track record in driving operational efficiency and sustainable business development.
His deep knowledge within financial services, particularly in areas of resourcing, capital raising and risk management, will be instrumental as Zappaty continues its mission to provide secure and seamless file sharing and collaboration solutions for businesses.
Net Talent Appoints New Board Member
Net Talent announced the appointment of Barry Smith to its Board of Directors and his new role as a shareholder. This dual achievement reflects Barry’s extraordinary contributions to the company’s success and his commitment to its future growth.
Over the past 12 months, Barry has played a pivotal role in growing both the business and its teams. His impact on client relationships and his strategic insight have made him an invaluable asset to Net Talent, and his appointment to the board highlights the company’s confidence in his vision.
In addition to his board position, Barry’s new status as a shareholder underscores his dedication to shaping the future of Net Talent. His leadership will be instrumental as the company continues to innovate and adapt to the demands of the recruitment industry.
Dufrain Appoints New Chief Growth Officer
Dufrain, the data company, today announced the appointment of Daniel Telling as the company’s Chief Growth Officer (CGO). In his new role, Telling will spearhead Dufrain’s global business expansion plans and lead on the firm’s overarching mission of enabling client advantage by inspiring, shaping and delivering data and AI capabilities for the future.
Telling will leverage his 30 years’ experience in strategic growth and business development across a multitude of industries, from cloud providers through to AI and data analytics.
Expansions
4MS Network Solutions Expands
Data Communications, Telecoms, and Cybersecurity specialist, 4MS Network Solutions Ltd, has announced the expansion of its business operations and the launch of a new office in Glasgow.
Having many years’ experience within the Energy and Renewables sector the expansion aligns to 4MS Energy Transition strategy with the opportunity to widen their business reach. Already experiencing demand in the renewables sector has resulted in expanding operations from their traditional Aberdeen base.
The company also appointed Stuart Little as Business Services Consultant to lead the Glasgow operations.
NMIS Announces New £5.5M Sustainable Hub
A new £5.5 million centre in the Glasgow region aims to support the transition to net zero while driving substantial UK economic impact. By promoting circular economy practices to reduce waste and emissions, the centre could help reshore supply chains and unlock new opportunities for manufacturers.
The ReMake Value Retention Centre (RVRC) will be located within the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and the University of Strathclyde – the operator of NMIS, in partnership with the University of Exeter and the University of Sheffield. The centre is funded through UKRI’s ‘Accelerating the Green Economy’ programme.
While much of the focus around net zero has been on the transition to renewable energy sources, nearly 45% of global CO2 emissions come from what me make and use.
Golf technology experts Shot Scope announced their new headquarters on the outskirts of Edinburgh. With new additions to the management team, sales department, and support staff, a larger headquarters is necessary to accommodate the growing workforce after a successful round of Series B funding worth $8.5 million.
“We’re thrilled to announce Shot Scope is moving to our fantastic new office space. The company has grown internationally in the past 2-years with customers in over 160 countries. The move allows us to continue our ambitious growth plans servicing customers worldwide from the Home of Golf here in Scotland,” David Hunter, Shot Scope CEO.
New Creative Studio in Glasgow
Glasgow tech startups and entrepreneurs are set to benefit from the launch of a new creative studio programme that aims to turn ideas into successful, sustainable businesses.
Wilson’s Foundry – named after the 18th century Scottish polymath and inventor, Alexander Wilson – was announced by Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) through its Venture Studio programme, and will be delivered by three established GCID creative studios, Graven, Spreng Thomson, and Threesixty Architecture.
University of Strathclyde Digital Entrepreneurial Hub
Named Charles Huang Advanced Technology and Innovations Centre (CHATIC) in recognition of a £30 million contribution to the project by Dr Charles Huang, a founder of private equity firm Pasaca Capital Inc, as part of a £50m donation he made through his foundation to Strathclyde in 2021, marking the largest philanthropic gift seen by the university.
Situated in the heart of Glasgow City Innovation District, CHATIC will provide additional facilities for advancing Health Technologies, 5G Communications, Industrial AI, FinTech, Quantum Technologies and Space research, alongside housing an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub and a Social Innovation Hub.
UK energy minister, Michael Shanks MP, has marked the start of work on the £9.1m project in Aberdeen, backed by UK government, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and industry funding, and unveiled its new title: ETZ EnergyWorks.
Expected to be operational in early Autumn 2025, ‘EnergyWorks’ will be the flagship of the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ) Innovation Campus in the Granite City, with the 3,000 square-meter premises providing a mix of industrial and collaboration space alongside advanced manufacturing and entreprenurial support for firms ready to develop and scale.
ETZ EnergyWorks was founded by ETZ Ltd, bp, and Scottish Enterprise, supported by the UK and Scottish Gvernments, with delivery partners National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC).
US-based robotics company Launchpad Build has opened a new hub for research and development in Edinburgh.
The site, with a team of 24, will be aimed at driving the development of the company’s proprietary robotics technology Digitool, which aims to simplify automation tools and reduce manufacturing production costs.
The Los Angeles-based firm chose Scotland ahead of five international alternatives, the leadership teams said, following engagement with Scottish Enterprise’s Silicon Valley based team.
The company also received a £2m grant from Scottish Enterprise for the project.
Aspire Technology Solutions, one of the UK’s leading providers of managed IT, cyber security, and modern workplace solutions, has expanded its Scottish operations with a new office on St Vincent Street, Glasgow. Situated in the heart of Glasgow’s business district, the new office enhances Aspire’s capacity to support its growing client portfolio and solidify its position in the Scottish market.
Since acquiring Glasgow-based Cloud Cover IT in January 2024, Aspire has seen increased demand across Scotland for its advanced technology services.
“We’re excited to open our new office in Glasgow and continue supporting Scotland’s evolving business landscape,” said Shaun Richardson, sales manager at Aspire.
Acumen Cyber Moves to Glasgow
Acumen Cyber, an engineer-powered cybersecurity service provider, announced its move to new premises at the award winning EastWorks development in Dalmarnock, supporting its expanding Security Operations Centre (SOC) and growing team.
Acumen Cyber is one of Scotland’s most exciting cyber start-ups, delivering engineering-led managed security services, underpinned by market-leading technology to the UK market to help organisations combat their most complex cybersecurity challenges.
The move to EastWorks supports Acumen’s ambitious expansion targets to grow its team to 50 in 2025 and become a top five UK MSSP in the next five years.
Awards
Scotland Women In Technology Awards
Women in cybersecurity were the winners in several categories at this year’s thrilling Scotland Women in Technology (SWiT) 2024 Awards.
During the event in Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel, four out of ten winners working in cybersecurity roles were recognised in the Inspirational Woman of the Year, Mentor of the Year, Career Changer of the Year and Unsung Hero categories.
SWIT is one of the oldest women’s business groups in Scotland, now in their 16th year. Silka Patel, founder and chair of SWIT, thanked her partners CISCO and Glasgow Caledonian University for their continued support in their cyber initiatives, as well as celebrating their partnership with Women Who Code Edinburgh.
Scottish EDGE, Scotland’s biggest business funding competition, is set to provide more opportunities for entrepreneurs living outside the central belt thanks to a new programme backed by £400,000 of Scottish Government funding.
To recognise entrepreneurial candidates from across the country, ‘Regional EDGE’ will invite innovative, high growth startups from across Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Angus, North East, and the Highlands and Islands to take part in a contest with the chance of winning up to £50,000 in prizes.
The funds will be allocated via a competitive Scottish EDGE process delivered by region specific delivery partners, including Opportunity North East, Elevator (Dundee and Angus), GrowBiz (Perth and Kinross), and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The technology sector is one of the fastest growing and most impactful industries, contributing £150 billion annually to the UK economy, yet women remain significantly underrepresented.
Women make up around 50% of the UK workforce, yet despite the tech sector’s growth and need for talent, just 24% of roles are filled by women. For tech leadership, that figure drops to just 5%.
Globally, the statistics are similarly concerning. Only 28% of tech startups are founded by women, and that figure drops even further to an even more underwhelming 7.5% in the UK.
Ninety percent of women tech leaders find their careers rewarding, despite the 80 per cent who say they have encountered challenges on the way to becoming a leader, according to the AND Digital Rewards & Resilience report.
Bridging the gender gap could provide solutions to both the industry’s workforce shortage and its broader need for diverse perspectives. With such vast potential, it’s crucial to address why more women aren’t entering this transformative industry.
Women as “shock absorbers”
The pandemic exposed and deepened inequalities for working-class women, resulting in an increase in job and financial insecurity, heavier care responsibilities and the burden of balancing paid and unpaid work.
Women’s jobs were almost twice as vulnerable during the pandemics as men’s and the cost-of-living crisis continues to disproportionately hit women the hardest, with the Royal Society of Edinburgh describing women as the “shock absorbers” of poverty.
Tech isn’t a universal solution to this, but very few sectors offer the reward, security and
opportunity of tech while simultaneously being loved by those who are part of it. The industry offers lucrative salaries and growth opportunities but yet it remains inaccessible to many women due to structural barriers and a lack of inclusive policies.
If we want tech to remain a transformative space for women, we must confront the barriers they face and reimagine it as an industry where women can truly thrive.
Facing a dual experience in tech
Women who do break into tech can experience a world that is both highly rewarding and intensely challenging. The sector offers competitive salaries and cutting-edge work, but the journey is not without obstacles that men often do not encounter.
The facts are, that women love tech. 89% of women said they enjoy being a leader in a tech role and 79%of women leaders felt they had succeeded in their role, showcasing the impact a career in tech can have.
Women feel empowered by a career that rewards them financially, developmentally and intellectually. They are excited by tech for the freedom and opportunities it presents.
There has been huge progress if you look at the focus on bringing female talent through organisations, but this doesn’t come without significant hurdles. Women in tech frequently face bias with 90% of women being subjected to discrimination and 1 in 10 experiencing this regularly. This form of bias takes form in many ways from being underestimated in meetings or being overlooked.
The responsibility to eliminate gender bias in the workplace lies primarily with organisations and boardrooms must actively implement an active approach to set policies and create an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe and supported.
On an individual level, addressing bias when it occurs is crucial. Employees should feel empowered to report instances of bias to HR, as recognising and calling out such behaviours is a significant step toward breaking down barriers and driving internal change.
While female representation in tech and tech leadership has a long way to go, we are not starting at zero. Many women value the flexibility of the industry as well as the satisfaction of mentoring and inspiring others. Tech is dynamic and forward-thinking, blending creativity with constant innovation, which keeps the work exciting and impactful.
But increasing diversity, is not just a moral imperative but a financial one. According to a McKinsey report, companies in the top quartile for ethnic diversity are 39% more likely to outperform those in the bottom quartile, which is a strong case for businesses that underscores the value of inclusive teams.
The underrepresentation of women in tech is a missed opportunity for both the industry and society. Despite its immense potential, the tech sector remains an uphill climb for women, hindered by systemic barriers and cultural biases.
By fostering an inclusive environment that values and supports women at every stage, the tech industry will have a richer, more diverse talent pool driving its success and women will have greater access to secure, rewarding careers in a future-driven field.
Stirling-based advanced sensor producer iGii has been given government support to expand into Japan through its selection for the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme.
The initiative helps British scaleups unlock commercial opportunities in 11 markets across the Asia Pacific region.
The company will benefit from a six-week business development initiative involving in-depth market research, direct engagement with potential customers and partners, and the development of a bespoke business expansion strategy for Japan.
The UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme is delivered on behalf of the government by international business development consultancy Intralink.
IGii has developed a sustainable, low-cost, 3D foam comprising carbon atoms which retains graphene’s properties while overcoming its scalability challenges. The innovative material enables the creation of highly accurate sensors for industries such as healthcare, water and food quality, agriculture, and battery storage.
“Japan’s in vitro diagnostics and point-of-care testing sectors have seen rapid growth in recent years, presenting opportunities to integrate our revolutionary nanomaterial, Gii, into a variety of products,” Dr Joanne Holmes, sales manager at iGii, said.
“From assembling an expert support team to translating for us during meetings, the team at the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme is already proving instrumental in connecting us with potential customers.”
Jeremy Shaw, who heads the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme at Intralink, said: “Japan is increasingly looking to the UK for technologies to tackle the pressing challenges it faces, including climate change and cumbersome, traditional business practices. We’re excited to support iGii as it taps into the significant opportunities for its innovative products in Japan.”
The UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme helps high-growth technology companies explore and expand into the APAC region. Participating companies benefit from market entry guidance, business development support and connections to potential partners and customers. The programme covers 11 markets including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia.
The majority of companies find the loss of productivity, securing complex tech environments, and enabling data protection to be the most concerning business issues, driven by growing IT security needs and requirements, according to new research from Kaspersky.
The annual Kaspersky IT Security Economics report analyses the changes in budgets, breaches, and business challenges affecting IT security makers, compiled of interviews of leaders from organisations of varying sizes and industries across 27 countries.
According to the report, downtime and lost productivity are the most concerning business problems caused by ineffective IT security, an opinion expressed by 38% of companies.
They encounter this problem mainly because of the long time taken to detect, respond to, and remediate threats.
Securing complex technology environments and ensuring data connectivity were next on the list of key concerns, according to 33% of respondents.
Among the main IT issues that cause this challenge, respondents pointed to the rising number of incidents involving non-computing connected devices and incorrect operations of cybersecurity solutions that leave systems exposed.
Additionally, difficulties in managing security across different computing platforms play a crucial role in their inability to build a reliable all-encompassing cybersecurity system.
Securing complex technology environments and ensuring data connectivity were next on the list of key concerns, according to 33% of respondents. Among the main IT issues that cause this challenge, respondents pointed to the rising number of incidents involving non-computing connected devices and incorrect operations of cybersecurity solutions that leave systems exposed.
Additionally, difficulties in managing security across different computing platforms play a crucial role in their inability to build a reliable all-encompassing cybersecurity system.
Data protection is the third most important concern that was expressed by 33% of companies, the same as the second one.
Respondents were worried about this because they regularly encountered the physical loss of devices by employees and experienced leakage of data from corporate systems caused by both external and internal reasons.
“In today’s complex and constantly evolving threat landscape, the sophistication of cyber-attacks has necessitated a heightened awareness among businesses,” Alexey Vovk, information security director at Kaspersky, said.
“It is crucial for organizations to safeguard every aspect of their operations from potential breaches. Attackers no longer solely rely on zero-day exploits, as a simple click on a malicious link or a vulnerability in a contractor’s infrastructure can lead to devastating consequences.
“This underscores the idea that information security should be based on a comprehensive and systematic approach, rather than being limited to the implementation of individual point-specific measures.”
Microsoft is facing a UK-wide class action lawsuit over alleged overcharging for its cloud computing software.
Dr Maria Luisa Stasi claims that the tech giant is overcharging UK-based companies for its Window Server software which is used by businesses for cloud computing.
UK organisations are all being represented in the current lawsuit, which is operating on an “opt-out” basis, meaning they can elect to not participate or benefit in the proceedings.
This is just some of the latest allegations hitting the global cloud market, which largely consists of Amazon’s AWS, Microsoft’s Azure, and Google Cloud.
The latest lawsuit alleges that small businesses are being hit particularly hard by Microsoft’s cloud licensing practices.
“Put simply, Microsoft is punishing UK businesses and organisations for using Google, Amazon and Alibaba for cloud computing by forcing them to pay more money for Windows Server,” said Ms Stasi, as reported by the BBC.
“By doing so, Microsoft is trying to force customers into using its cloud computing service Azure and restricting competition in the sector.
“This lawsuit aims to challenge Microsoft’s anti-competitive behaviour, push them to reveal exactly how much businesses in the UK have been illegally penalised, and return the money to organisations that have been unfairly overcharged.”
As many companies rely on Windows software for other facets of their tech stack, some of Microsoft’s prohibitory policies on interoperability have come under scrutiny.
This caused the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to hear from competitors earlier this year on the subject of Microsoft’s cloud market practices, with Google alleging that the licensing practices weaken rivals competitive capability whilst raising their costs.
Both Google and Amazon cloud offerings can be used with Microsoft’s Windows platform, but Microsoft’s licencing agreements are alleged to introduce prohibitory costs to consumers, essentially forcing them to select Microsoft Azure as the most affordable cloud option. Since Amazon and Google do not offer similar products to Microsoft’s Windows servers, the market dominance raises concerns over fair competition in the cloud market.
The cloud market has continually faced scrutiny by the UK competition watchdog as well as other nation’s consumer protection authorities for some of their policies which prohibit interoperability and charge extortionate prices for switching cloud providers.
In the first half of 2024, Scotland’s economy saw strong growth largely keeping pace with the rest of the UK, but the second half of the year is showing signs that this growth will slow.
The most recent EY ITEM Club Scottish Forecast revealed that gross value added (GVA) should expand by 0.7% over the course of 2024, slightly below the UK average of 0.9%. Scotland’s growth is expected to pick up in 2025 (1.3%) and 2026 (1.4%).
The forecast, however, is weaker than last quarter, with Scotland continuing to lag UK growth over the forecast period.
Scotland’s economic growth in the first half of this year was broad-brushed, with contributions from production sectors as well as service sectors. However, the rapid growth in largely consumer-facing sectors recorded in Q1 has not sustained in Q2, and construction has struggled.
It is anticipated that consumer spending will expand by 1.5% a year supporting GDP growth in coming years, and private services alongside the healthcare sector are set to drive longer term growth.
However, within Scotland there are glimmers of hope.
Future growth is forecast to be concentrated in and around its largest cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow (1.8% and 1.7%, respectively, between 2025-2029), with weaker prospects for the Islands and rural regions.
This is principally due to sector mix with private services expected to drive growth located in Scotland’s larger urban areas.
A range of other factors that support economic development are also key, including working age population growth, skills, physical, and IT infrastructure, and public and private sector investment. The inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in particular is directly related to increases in labour productivity.
Aberdeen City and neighbouring Aberdeenshire are forecast to continue to struggle. Aberdeen is one of the few local authority districts in Scotland to have fewer jobs in 2023 than in 2010.
During this time, it has lost nearly 18,000 jobs, equivalent to 10% of its workforce in 2010, largely due to the ongoing decline in the local oil and gas industry. During the same period, employment in Aberdeenshire expanded by 7%, only slightly below the Scottish average of 8%.
Between 2025 and 2029, the working-age population is expected to decline in 21 of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas, with decreases most pronounced in some of Scotland’s rural and island areas, including Eilean Siar (-0.9% per year), Dumfries and Galloway (-0.7%), and Argyll and Bute (-0.7%).
However, this is not just a simple mainland vs islands or rural vs urban story. Inverclyde, part of Glasgow City Region, is expected to experience one of the highest rate of working population decline of 0.75% a year between 2025 and 2029. North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire, similarly, form part of the City Region and are also forecast falling working-age population.
Further, ONS data suggests the rate of Scotland’s economic inactivity remains stubbornly high at 23.7%, 0.6% up on the previous quarter, and above the UK average of 21.8%.
It is also almost 1% higher than for the same period a year before. Reducing levels of economic inactivity is key to supporting long-term growth in Scotland and, indeed, the whole UK.
Productivity growth is expected to recover a little further, settling around 0.9%, while employment growth is set to slow to just 0.5% per year between 2025 and 2029. Both these elements are slightly weaker than the UK forecast, with sectoral and demographic factors at play.
This all plays into the backdrop as the nation awaits the Scottish Government’s spending commitments and rate of income tax.
“Our forecast shows economic growth is fragile and highly sensitive and we’re already aware organisations have found themselves in a bit of a quandary since the UK Government Budget on policy changes like increased employer NIC costs,” EY Scotland managing partner Ally Scott said.
“This poses a number of challenges. Pass-through these costs fully, there’s a risk of fuelling higher inflation, which impacts confidence levels and could keep interest rates higher for longer – generally not seen as good for attracting investment.
“Apply the lever of lower wage rises and you hit the pockets of employees already feeling the strain on bottom line pay from the differentiated Scottish rate of income tax, which could knock-on impacts to key lifestyle choices in the future, such as access to mortgages. Take it on the chin, change nothing and accept a lower profits environment then there’s less cash for investment, reinvestment, transformation and innovation impacting business competitiveness.
“A conundrum, to say the least, and a set of circumstances many clients and business leaders are struggling with. While our forecast doesn’t have these answers, ahead of the Scottish Government’s Budget it does amplify the need for policies that encourage a pro-business platform that helps restore economic growth.”
The UK is suffering from a stubborn broadband digital divide, despite the expansion of full-fibre access, research has shown.
Entry-level tariffs in regions with less competition have caused significant ‘digital deprivation’ with consumers facing higher prices for basic levels of connectivity, according to Point Topic’s UK broadband affordability tracker.
Analysis of postcodes across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland found that the lowest broadband subscription prices in November 2024 ranged from £12.50 to £37.50 per month.
The most affordable option was Community Fibre’s Essential package, delivering 35Mpbs symmetrical speeds for a 12-month contract, available in 50,589 postcodes with the majority in London.
Connexin’s FTTP package was the cheapest broadband available in two postcodes at £37.50, offering 250Mpbs symmetrical speeds on a 24-month contract.
However, compared to last year, it was found that cheaper broadband tariffs are more widely available across the UK, with the cheapest broadband subscription sitting in the £20 to £24.99 range for 66.3 per cent of “small areas” in comparison to 31.6 per cent from 12 months ago.
“As a society, we view areas such as healthcare and education as ‘essential’, yet with these services being increasingly digitised, there remains a lack of affordable connectivity options, especially for those in rural areas,” Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, commented.
“Having access to broadband is all well and good, but there must be a base level of affordability, reliability and connectivity as part of that to ensure that all UK citizens are able to get online.
“The cost-of-living crisis isn’t getting any easier for people, and while for many it’s a case of cutting back on spending, it’s forcing millions to choose between broadband and food.
“A new entitlement, funded by VAT cuts on broadband and mobile bills, can deliver support to millions of households across the country by ensuring that all telecoms providers offer affordable, quality, social tariffs, helping to bridge the digital divide.”
Data from Broadband Genie recently revealed that Salcombe in Devon recorded the worst connectivity in the UK, followed by the SA2 postcode in Swansea, Seaton in Devon, Holmrook in the Lake District, and Banf in Scotland.
Unsurprisingly, London and urban areas reported the fastest connectivity, while six per cent of countryside homes struggle to get a connection over 10Mpbs.
Full fibre connectivity is available for 71 per cent of homes in the UK, jumping to 72 per cent in London and falling to just 46 per cent in rural areas.
Leaders across the UK’s financial services sector continue to integrate AI and GenAI technologies into their operations to achieve productivity and efficiency uplifts, according to the second EYEuropean Financial Services AI Survey, but only 5% rank themselves ahead of the curve.
Whilst leaders’ aspirations for a more AI-enabled business are high and 32% say they have accelerated overall AI adoption over the last year, most firms remain in the early, experimental stages, especially when it comes to GenAI.
The new survey data, which canvassed the views of UK financial services executives at 20 UK firms representing an aggregate market cap of almost £200bn, finds that only 32% of firms across UK believe they are on track with overall AI integration.
Just 9% of executives say their firm is prepared for incoming AI regulation, and despite 77% acknowledging their workforce has only some, limited or no experience of the newest GenAI-related technologies only 27% of firms have established new training and upskilling programmes, with 63% still in the planning phase.
“GenAI is considered a top priority among UK financial services executives, who recognise the importance of harnessing such a game-changing technology for the productivity and efficiency gains it can bring,” Anna Anthony, EY UK financial services managing partner, commented.
“However, there are a number of challenges when it comes to fully embedding a fast-evolving technology into operations and across workforces. Whilst some firms have made huge strides in adopting AI and have seen material benefits, many are struggling to keep pace and have considerable work to do to get up to speed with regulatory standards.
“GenAI is, without doubt, developing faster than other technological innovations of recent times, and requires new, specialist skill sets. For firms to remain competitive it will be essential that they develop and roll out new training and upskilling programmes and put in place appropriate risk and regulatory control frameworks.”
AI Could Impact a Quarter of UK’s Finance Roles Next Year – Especially at Entry-level
The majority (59%) of UK executives surveyed believe that over the next year a quarter (25%) of current UK financial services roles could be impacted by ongoing AI integration, and 95% of UK executives say up to 10% of roles could become redundant.
Despite this, only 27% report their firm has an established training programme in place, 36% say plans are still in their infancy, with the same number (36%) confirming they currently have no training programmes in place – 9% of whom say they have no plans to develop one.
Entry level positions are expected to be particularly impacted, with 59% of UK leaders believing AI technologies will have a significant or even transformative impact on the roles and tasks undertaken by those joining the workforce.
Despite this, only 14% of UK executives are planning to restructure entry-level roles and responsibilities, and just 18% plan to integrate AI training within their graduate program.
Forty-one per cent say they have not taken any action to offset any potential knock-on impacts of AI adoption to the junior workforce.
Business areas demanding AI expertise and attributes leaders look for in new hires
The business area that has the highest demand for AI talent is data science and innovation (the top choice for 64% of UK respondents). The second ranking business area is front office operations (50%) with the third being back-office operations (45% of UK respondents), followed by information technology (41% of respondents in 2024).
When asked to consider the top attributes that firms will seek as they recruit entry level talent for an AI-enabled workforce, the top three cited by UK financial services leaders were having an innovative and experimental mindset (82%), the ability to adapt and flex (64%), and the ability to collaborate and work outside their focus area (50%).
The survey data confirms that GenAI driven investment is central to UK financial firms, with 82% of executives planning to increase expenditure over the next six to 12 months.
Focusing on GenAI specifically, the two biggest concerns cited by UK executives when it comes to integrating the technology are uncertainty about existing and pending potential regulatory impacts (59%) and limited understanding and experience of GenAI applications and the impact across the workforce (50%).
The speed of AI evolution relative to speed of integration within the business is the third ranked concern cited by 32% of respondents.
In reference to the broader AI landscape, only 9% of leaders stated that their firm is fully prepared for incoming regulation, while 68% say their firm is only limited or partially prepared, and 14% do not even have an AI regulatory risk framework in place.
Ethics in GenAI Integration
Leaders continue to raise concerns about ethics surrounding the integration of GenAI technology.
The top concern in 2024 for GenAI adoption is transparency and explainability (cited by 68% of all UK respondents), followed by privacy (55%) and the quality of output (41%).
The joint fourth concerns are the potential for discrimination, bias, and lack of fairness (36%) and accountability (36%). To manage potential ethical implications arising from GenAI integration, 14% of respondents claimed they have already put an overall AI ethics framework in place, with a further 45% in the early stages of development.
However, just under a quarter (23%) of respondents stated their firm is yet to develop an AI ethics framework, and 18% said they have no plans to develop one.
“GenAI technologies are set to transform the UK financial services industry, across both the front and back-office,” Preetham Peddanagari, EY UK financial services technology consulting leader, commented.
“While there are a small number of firms that are in the advanced stages of embedding GenAI capabilities, there are a much greater number that are still in the experimental phase despite investment, and much of what has been developed to date has been focused solely on back-office processes.
“Many banks, asset managers and insurers across the UK sit behind the curve, not only when it comes to GenAI integration but also regulatory readiness. It is now vital for firms to accelerate their plans on both fronts and ensure new and current staff are equipped with the right AI skills to help drive deeper adoption.”
Millions of people have been scammed across platforms owned by tech giants since they signed a ‘world first’ pledge to do more to tackle online fraud, new Which? research shows.
The consumer research group is calling on the government to bring forward implementation of the Online Safety Act and fines for firms that fail to stamp out online fraud, as its research reveals around 6.6 million people in the UK lost money to online scams in the last 12 months.
The last week of November marks the one year anniversary of the signing of the Online Fraud Charter, where big tech companies pledged to stamp out the surge in online fraud and scams proliferating across their platforms.
Three quarters of those scammed online – just under five million – reported falling victim on platforms that committed to the Charter.
Tech companies – including Amazon, Facebook, Google, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube – vowed to adopt “a raft of measures” to protect users from scam content. These included verifying new advertisers and promptly removing any fraudulent content.
Scammers, however, are continuing to run rampant on these platforms, according to Which?.
Over 2,000 UK adults were surveyed to see if the charter had an impact on the number of scams they came across on these platforms, and if consumers feel safer online since the initiative.
Around a fifth (22%) said they had come across suspicious ads or messages every day when online in the last six months. This is likely to be several times a day for some people who may be on social media or search engines often, Which? said.
The majority of the 6.6 million who were scammed said they fell victim on social media (63%), but fraud was also common on search engines (42%), online marketplaces (39%), and messaging platforms (23%).
The most common platforms for scams were Facebook (37%), Google (33%), Instagram (20%), Amazon (18%), and WhatsApp (18%).
Tech firms that signed the charter agreed to take action within six months – but it appears online scams are still out of control. Since then, Which? has exposed scores of scam ads on social media including fraudulent ads for investments, luxury advent calendars, winter fuel payments, and restaurant offers.
The ongoing prevalence of online scams has left consumers anxious and distrustful. Nearly three-quarters of UK adults (73%) said they do not trust that the ads they see on social media or search engines are genuine.
Which?’s research found the Online Fraud Charter has not made consumers feel safer online. Trust in online platforms has not improved in the year since the Charter was introduced.
A third (34%) were less likely to trust online platforms now, compared to a year ago and only three per cent felt more confident using online platforms than they did a year ago.
It is clear that online fraud is still rife and the consumer champion is concerned there is a lack of urgency from the government and regulators to properly tackle the fraud epidemic.
Which? is therefore calling for the Online Safety Act to be implemented in full as soon as possible, saying that the government risks letting criminals target millions more people if this is delayed.
The current timetable, which suggests the platforms in scope of the fraudulent advertising duties in the Act may not be held accountable until 2027, is simply not good enough, according to the consumer champion.
“Our research has found that in spite of the Online Fraud Charter’s promises, fraud is still rife on online platforms in the UK – with 6.6 million losing money to online scams in the last 12 months,” Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said.
“For every week the government fails to take action, we lose millions to fraudsters and organised crime groups – taking money from productive firms, reducing overall levels of investment in the UK economy and damaging consumer confidence. The government and regulators need to act urgently to tackle the fraud epidemic or risk millions more falling victim to scammers.
“Under the current timetable for the Online Safety Act, platforms in scope of the fraudulent advertising duties in the Act may not be held accountable until 2027 – this is simply not good enough. Ofcom needs to put the regulations in place much sooner and the Fraud Minister must ensure a more coordinated approach working with regulators and the tech, banking and telecom sectors to stop the fraud epidemic.”
The University of Glasgow has launched Scotland’s first deeptech accelerator in partnership with advanced technology accelerator STAC.
The Infinity G accelerator numbers 15 ventures including 10 spinouts, from AI and quantum computing to biotechnology, and is designed to nurture and advance groundbreaking deeptech ventures.
Alessia, Glanadair, AevaSpec, Flora Wind, ForceBiology, Diabetes Companion, Hoofsmart, Orthovis, Quantcore, Quantrologee, RX Watt, Scotia Biotech, SepSense, and Unravel Health join the first cohort, a 13-week accelerator hosted at STAC’s thebeyond co-working and lab space based at Skypark in Finnieston, Glasgow. The Infinity G accelerator is partly funded by the Glasgow City Council -UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with STAC on this programme, which will bring enormous values and benefit to this first cohort. Each of these early stage ventures have been selected for the quality of their propositions, innovative technology, and scale of ambition,” Uzma Khan, vice principal, economic development and innovation, University of Glasgow, said.
“STAC brings a wealth of deep tech expertise to our doorstep, and particularly so at a time when the University has stepped up to unlock the significant potential of our deep tech spin-outs and start-ups, both from the University and in the wider city region.”
Melville Anderson, head of commercialisation at the University of Glasgow, said: “Infinity G is one of our new initiatives to provide specialist support to our entrepreneurs seeking to build ventures.
“These nascent companies will build on cutting-edge science and engineering innovations to product and services with scalable global market potential in areas ranging from quantum computing and sensing, industrial process energy efficiency, and women’s health. We’re excited to be collaborating with STAC and bringing their tech company building methodology to what could be the next generation of major employers in the city of Glasgow.”
Paul Wilson, CEO and co-founder of STAC, said: “We’re honoured to help develop the innovation brilliance coming out of University of Glasgow, moving towards commercialisation and getting founders prepared to make a global impact.
“The first cohort is full of high-potential ventures, and through our company scaling mentorship methodology, we are already confident we are building startups that can make a global impact. We are integral to Scotland developing a deeptech supercluster, with key constituents including our world-class universities, scale-up expertise, and funding.”
STAC says the Infinity G programme is unique in the UK because of its depth of mentorship, building vital startup ingredients across sales, marketing, IP & technology, investment, finance, legal and talent/HR.
Mentored by industry experts, the industry-led model mobilises technology and professional service partners to the university’s sourced ventures.
Yazan Haidar, co-founder of SepSense, originally a student-based team from the University of Glasgow that is now developing a self-calibrating biosensor to detect asymptomatic sepsis, said: “We think the Infinity G programme through STAC will give us a strong foundation from which to develop our prototype, gain access to industry, and start mapping out our future go to market and commercialisation strategy.
“The US market provides a huge opportunity for SepSense, we want to build internationalisation into our positioning from the outset, and we are impressed with the expertise made available to us on international markets.”
Paul Wilson added: “Overall, we want to create an environment that enables Scotland to become a deeptech powerhouse on the global scene with Glasgow recognised as an epicentre of impactful, scaled, and competitive brands.”
In September, STAC launched thebeyond, where companies and founders have access to a 250-desk co-working and event space, electronics and design labs supported by global tech giant Keysight Technologies, and a media lab – which STAC CEO Paul Wilson says will be Europe’s largest “smart things” hub and the perfect environment to support Infinity G cohort companies.
STAC is supported by a range of UK and international corporates, including Pelion, Plexus, and Keysight, and the technology accelerator announced its latest industry partnership in June, to provide an innovation pipeline for Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars, a pioneer in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
Young Enterprise (YE) Scotland has issued redundancies for 17 employees after it was delayed in securing funding from the Scottish Government.
Earlier in the Autumn, YE Scotland issued a plea after it was left out of its normal government funding round, which funds most of its operations across Scotland. It warned that without this vital funding, it would be forced to close its doors.
After securing emergency funding to the amount of £285,000, YE Scotland was able to cover costs for the financial year and avoid closure, but still, the charity was left in uncertainty.
Since then, the organisation has cut over half of its staff, and will now deliver its range of enterprise education with a team of just 12 staff members.
“It is a huge relief that we have been able to avoid a complete closure of Young Enterprise Scotland and we are grateful to the Scottish Government for providing us with emergency funding which prevented our worst-case scenario becoming reality,” YE Scotland chief executive Emma Soanes said.
“Sadly however, this will provide little consolation to the 17 valued members of our team who have lost their jobs just weeks before Christmas.
“Losing our major income source has been an enormously unsettling and upsetting time for everyone involved, and while we try to remain positive, there is no doubt there will be challenging times ahead as we refocus and prioritise what programmes we deliver within schools and colleges on such a reduced staff model.
“We will definitely be engaging our own entrepreneurial mindsets in the coming weeks and months as we reposition ourselves within the education ecosystem and continue with our commitment to deliver financial and enterprise education from primary one and early years, right through to S6.”
The majority of funding for YE Scotland, which has been operating for over 30 years, came from a core government grant as well as from a range of trusts and foundations, and, to a lesser extent, private sector funds.
Its normal grant process was replaced back in July with a competitive process, putting its normal funding source in jeopardy. The opening of the Entrepreneurial Education Pathways Fund in August offered other private and public sector firms grants of up to £250,000 to deliver educational courses to young people.
While this widened the opportunity for other organisations to gain financial support, YE Scotland’s bid for funding was not successful.
Following a public plea, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes announced that the government would be extending YE Scotland funding to cover its existing costs. The uncertainty in funding, however, contributed to the major reshuffle.
TechFest, an Aberdeen-based charity, has launched a programme “STEM into Innovation” to enhance students’ awareness of innovation processes used within the design and manufacturing sectors.
STEM into Innovation targets secondary school students, offering both in-school tuition and live masterclasses held in Scottish cities.
The initiative aims to equip young people with STEM and entrepreneurship skills and knowledge for further academic or STEM careers.
It kicked off with “Pioneers of Progress” in February, an initiative exploring the evolution of instant communications and an introduction to design.
The free programme, which is still available to access via TechFest’s website, is delivered in classrooms through video content accompanied by follow-up challenges that aim to enhance all participating students’ mathematics, writing, design, marketing and teamwork skills.
It is designed for teachers across all subjects, providing a variety of resources for classroom instructions from TechFest, such as student activity booklets and interviews with industry professionals.
Despite consistent calls for further support in digital education, Scotland still faces a shortage of computing science teachers, and developing digital skills is vital in preparing students for the future, as well as enabling Scotland to build a robust tech industry.
“STEM into Innovation taps into Scotland’s rich design and manufacturing heritage, equipping students with the skills and mindset to become Scotland’s next STEM leaders,” Sarah Chew, managing director of TechFest, said.
“It is a CREST-accredited programme that empowers students to unlock their full STEM potential, strengthens their CVs and UCAS applications while equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to bridge the industry skills gap.
“STEM into Innovation is committed to creating greater diversity and equality through encouraging more young people to consider a career in the engineering or science industries.”
TechFest delivered a range of masterclasses for students as part of STEM into Innovation, where students could roll up their sleeves and dive into hands-on design.
The masterclasses were held in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee, and provided an opportunity for young people to gain insights on entrepreneurship and product development from industry professionals.
A masterclass conducted by Horizon Educational, organisers of the Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP), concluded the 2024 programme on the 23rd of November in Aberdeen with a focus on engineering design and innovation.
“Being able to bridge the gap between the products we develop in our R&D centre and the students we serve has been an invaluable aspect of TechFest’s STEM into Innovation programme,” Tobias Lundsgaard, product development manager at Horizon Educational said.
“Getting to know these students – and being able to give them a glimpse into my own process of product development has reminded me of why I chose to pursue a career at Horizon Educational: to help build future leaders with a passion for STEM and Conscious Design.”
Participating students are provided access to the necessary knowledge to design a product, as well as practical insights and skills which will enhance their future academic and career prospects.
Calls for more entrepreneurial teachings in the classroom are continually brought up by advocacy groups and industry bodies like Pathways Forward.
“The Innovation Masterclass is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get first hand, close interaction with industry and support agencies, aimed to stimulate interest and ambition that could allow them to start to form their career path,” SMAs specialist at Scottish Enterprise, said.
STEM into Innovation was designed to equip students with in-demand entrepreneurial skills for employers and higher education institutions, enhancing their academic and career prospects in STEM fields.
The CREST-accredited programme: Pioneers of Progress, runs throughout the academic year, alongside all other STEM into Innovation events and will continue to be available in the next school year, offering students ongoing opportunities to engage with STEM.
The UK is well-placed to be a world leader in what Salesforce calls the third wave of AI innovation: agentic AI.
This is according to Salesforce’s new UK AI Readiness Index, which highlights the UK’s above-G7 average performance in AI adoption, while identifying key opportunities for improvement, including SME support, fostering partnerships and upskilling talent.
The report found that both public and private sectors in the UK have embraced the transformational opportunity offered by AI.
“The Salesforce UK AI Readiness Index highlights the UK’s strong position to lead the next wave of AI innovation,” Antony Walker, deputy CEO at techUK, said.
“In the year ahead, new productivity tools such as AI agents have the potential to deliver real productivity benefits to businesses. To build this progress, government and industry must collaborate to foster innovation, support SMEs, invest in skills, and ensure flexible regulation, cementing the UK’s leadership in the global AI economy.”
Strong innovation culture, robust tech investments, and ‘pragmatic regulations’ position the UK ahead of its G7 peers, Salesforce found.
The report assesses the UK’s readiness for AI adoption across three areas, including its overall readiness for AI adoption and innovation, government readiness and how AI is used across the public sector, and business readiness.
Against a G7 average of 61.2, the UK rises above with a score of 65.5. Both government and business readiness scores are also higher than the respective G7 averages.
At government level, readiness to adopt and innovate is supported by strong citizen participation in e-services. The UK is also seen as a stable, safe environment in which to invest in large-scale IT projects, the report found.
The UK has made moves to integrate AI into government organisations, recognising its vitality in today’s economy. Introducing the Office for Artificial Intelligence as well as hosting the AI Safety Summit has put eyes on the country for its AI ambitions.
Further, the new Government’s proposed risk-based AI legislation serves to highlight the UK’s global AI leadership on critical issues such as transparency, privacy and security.
On business readiness, the UK score of 52 again compares favourably with the G7 average score of 47.8. UK industries are performing well on adoption of AI, supported by the increasing prioritisation among SMEs for AI adoption.
It is interesting to note that the UK’s government readiness is higher than its business readiness, showing the despite a range of AI policies, the UK has yet to see this translate fully into tangible private sector outcomes.
The report also found that the UK is a hot spot for investment, but there are moves the UK can make to reinforce its leadership position.
This includes increasing collaboration between governments, business, and academia, as well as creating an adaptive regulatory framework to create a bridge between the EU’s AI Act and the US’s more relaxed approach to AI.
Further, supporting SMEs to adopt AI, and ensuring there is sustained and enhanced investment in innovation and research, will continue to set the UK apart.
Among the most pressing priorities is investment in people and digital skills, as well as defining centralised structures to support widespread training and development.
“These findings are further proof the UK is in prime position to take advantage of AI, and highlight our strength in spurring innovation, investment and collaboration across the public and private sector,” Feryal Clark, minister for AI and Digital Government, said.
“There is a global race for AI and we’ll be setting out plans for how the UK can use the technology to ramp-up adoption across the economy, kickstart growth and build an AI sector which can scale and compete on the global stage.”
Despite the continuous adoption of AI tools across different sectors, just over half (52%) of Information and Communication businesses are not currently using AI technologies.
The industry has noted several barriers to AI implementation; 11% of businesses note a lack of expertise as a factor, while 10% cite difficulty identifying practical business use cases. Six per cent of businesses noted security concerns as an issue, while 11% noted cost as a roadblock.
Industry leaders have forged ahead, with 39% of AI users developing in-house technologies. The majority (47%) of AI users purchased external or ready-to-use AI software, while 23% outsourced to external providers or third parties.
23% of Information and Communication businesses have begun using AI text generation using Large Language Models (LLMs), while 13% use AI for visual content creation. Around a fifth (19%) currently use AI for data processing.
Distinctly’s analysis found that phased integration of AI massively improved outcomes of AI experimentation, ensuring a more successful uptake of AI technologies.
A six month testing period of gradual AI implementation at Distinctly saw a 35% increase in AI competency, with a 67% increase in understanding of AI tools at executive level.
“Testing across a phased approach has been the key to responsible use and maintaining quality output,” Matt Foster, senior digital PR manager at Distinctly said.
“A phase-by-phase approach of slow evolution-based adoption has helped us integrate generative AI and LLM into processes where we know it can have an impact. More importantly, the approach allowed us to upskill the team as a unit, with focus on sharing, experimentation, and exploring ChatGPT and LLM use cases.
“AI is not a magic solution and absolutely requires quality human input and critical evaluation. Through experimentation across different stages of work, we found the tool fell short of our standards of output. This led us to develop policies around using LLMs as supporting tools to inject into our work, where human input and output are central to using it effectively and to a high standard.”
Senior digital PR strategist at Distinctly, Chloe Chamberlain, added: “Adopting AI methodically – away from the hype – has helped to organically improve our service. Setting a standards and use policy based on an initial research phase has ensured our use of AI maintains the high output standards required, while testing how AI and ChatGPT fit into our existing processes with workshops and experimentation meant evolution, not revolution.
“We placed significant emphasis on sharing learnings across the team, to ensure balanced development. Although still at an early stage of the adoption of AI and ChatGPT, we’ve already seen positive steps forward which have helped us to become more efficient and effective.”
Business confidence in Scotland fell 13 points during November to 31%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland.
Companies in Scotland reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down two points at 43%.
When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down 25 points to 18%, this gives a headline confidence reading to 31% (vs 44% in October).
Looking ahead to the next six months, Scottish businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example through training (57%), evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (41%) and introducing new technology, such as AI and automation (28%).
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
“While business confidence has fallen this month, Scottish firms are identifying fresh avenues for growth – whether that’s by investing in new technology, or developing new skills,” Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland Commercial Banking said.
“We’ll continue to be by their side to help them achieve their ambitions. This will include helping businesses make the investments they need to make the most of any seasonal spikes in demand, and to lay the foundations for an even stronger new year.”
National Picture
Overall, UK business confidence dipped slightly in November to 41% – down three points from October’s 44% – but remained above the long-term average of 29%.
While firms’ confidence in their own trading prospects strengthened two points to a net balance of 55%, their confidence in the economy fell nine points to 26%.
London was the most confident UK nation or region in November (57%), followed by the West Midlands (51%).
“In November, the overall confidence metric fell by three points for the third month running,” Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist, Lloyds Commercial Banking, said.
“This is the lowest level since June, but still above the survey’s long-term average, which is ultimately positive from a longer-term perspective.
“These results suggest that while firms have mixed views about the economy, they see their businesses in a good place to cope with any challenges they might face. Hiring intentions, although moderating this month, haven’t fallen by much which is also positive news.
“Overall, these results show that businesses are still positive and feeling resilient, albeit with tempered views on the economic outlook”.
Firms in the manufacturing sector reported the first rise in trading prospects in four months, with the net balance up three points to 49%.
Companies in construction and services also indicated stronger business growth outlooks with net balances of 56% (up six points) and 61% (up four points), respectively.
Retail firms, however, signalled softer prospects for a second month running, with the trading prospects’ net balance down six points at 45%.
“It’s clear that businesses are feeling confident in themselves, evidenced by their buoyant trading prospects, which is great news for the UK,” Paul Kempster, managing director for relationship management, Lloyds Banking & Commercial, said.
“There has been a significant improvement in manufacturing – for the first time in four months – as well as construction and services which is welcome news, considering our sectors can play a huge role in boosting economic growth.
“Despite a fall in some of the regions, it is encouraging to see resilience elsewhere. But no matter where businesses are based, we are here to support and continue helping them – and Britain – prosper.”
The Scottish Government has established a new Digital Capability Advisory Group (DCAG) to develop Scotland’s digital capability in its public and third sectors.
In partnership with the Scottish Digital Academy and the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, the DCAG will operate under the Scottish Government’s Digital Directorate.
The group will also act as the advisory and governance body for the Scottish Digital Academy, which provides guidance and learning to improve digital skills across the public sector.
The DCAG is a development on the Stakeholder’s forum of the Scottish Digital Academy, with guiding principles involving improving digital skills and talent, as well as working collaboratively and ensuring the cohesion of concrete actions and national strategy.
The group defined digital capability – its prime ambition – by digital, data, and technology skills underpinning the necessary people and infrastructure to support a thriving digital ecosystem,
The DCAG’s objectives include a range of supportive initiatives, including providing advice and guidance to learning and training with a focus on collective cross-sectional collaboration in procurement activity.
Providing guidance on matters related to digital capability, including profession management and professional learning is one of of the groups’ key objectives.
It is also set to advocate for the adoption of the Digital Scotland Service Manual’s resources and best practices while acting as a ‘critical friend’ in challenging existing systems and recommending improvements.
It will also be tasked with ensuring the Scottish Government is informed on major developments in transformation programmes, as well as offering insights on trends in funding and opportunities for digital jobs and organisations.
“We’re all aware of the challenges that the public sector faces over the next few years and the need to continue to improve digital public services,” Lee Dunn, head of the Scottish Digital Academy said.
“The advisory group is one approach that we’re taking to bring organisations together to align direction, coordinate effort and share resources.”
Verity Hislop, senior project manager, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government said, “A Digital Capability Advisory Group in the public sector not only drives informed decision-making but also promotes cost savings and operational efficiency.
“By leveraging shared resources and cross-functional expertise, it reduces duplication of efforts and encourages collaboration. This leads to streamlined processes, optimised use of existing capabilities, and more effective solutions to complex challenges, ensuring that public services are both innovative and cost-effective.”
The UK government is failing victims of cyber-crimes, the Cyber Helpline, an advocacy group, claims in their new report.
In their analysis of critical gaps in the system to protect and defend cyber-victims, The Funnel of Justice delves into the shortfalls of the government’s system of addressing cyber-crime and its society fallout.
According to the group’s analysis, cyber-crime impacts over 5 million individuals across England and Wales each year.
Technology is involved in 58% of all crimes across each nation as well, the group found.
However, just 36% of cyber-crime victims report the offense they experienced to police – this is only around 1.7 million.
Those that do report are seven times less likely to see perpetrators charged or even summoned compared to offline crimes.
Cyber-crime victims often underreport as they are unclear on the process of reporting, or simply fear they will not be taken seriously.
The low rate of conviction is also a resource problem – law enforcement agencies face significant resource constraints, limiting their ability to effectively investigate these crimes despite their commonality.
Less than one per cent of police resources are dedicated to cyber-crime despite it accounting for 40% of crimes, the National Fraud Strategy from 2023 admitted.
All this factors into the fact that 98% of cyber-enabled crimes result in no further action.
Cyber-crimes range from Computer Misuse Act (CMA) offenses and fraud, to online stalking and harassment and intimate image abuse.
The Cyber Helpline reports that less than 1% of CMA and fraud crimes – which amassed 3.46 million victims – result in a charge in summons, with only 1% of online stalking and harassment crimes leading to convictions, despite 1.4 million being victims.
The stat only rises for intimate image abuse, often referred to revenge porn, which has a 4% rate of charge or summons despite the UK seeing 25,381 cases.
The lack of funding and understanding on the side of law enforcement is only putting more people in danger of suffering cyber-crimes, and letting more cyber-criminals continue to perpetrate their crimes without facing any consequences.
Further, in terms of stalking and harassment, unchecked online behaviour can escalate to dangerous off-line incidences.
Similarly, the report revealed a lack of standardisation in the approach to treating cyber-crime victims, which can lead to uneven attention given to each claim, and only adds to the anxiety of reporting.
The Cyber Helpline made several recommendations to aid cyber-crime victims, such as establishing a 24/7 helpline, the creation of curated guides and resources for individuals, and police, government, and community training programmes.
While global data centre investors and operators are confident in the sector’s future, nearly all (98%) are concerned about the availability and reliability of power supplies vital to data centres.
This has been revealed in a new study from DLA Piper which surveyed 176 senior executives in the data centre industry during the third quarter of 2024.
The report found that though 70% of respondents predict increased investment in data centres in the next two years, with almost all foreseeing AI driving demand for data centres, primarily through machine learning and natural language processing.
This increased demand, however, is putting pressure on power supplies, with half of respondents identifying unreliable power sources and their availability as a principle barrier to investing in data centres.
The global data centre sector is expected to be valued at around $300bn in 2024, according to TMT Finance. With an average compound annual growth rate of approximately 10% over the next five years, the market is expected to reach $483.15bn by 2029.
However, despite its continued growth, infrastructure may be holding it back.
The report found that utility companies in the US are being flooded with power delivery requests for sites earmarked for data centres that they will not be able to satisfy until well into the 2030s.
In response, utility companies are reportedly requiring large upfront, non-refundable payments from investors in land and a committed off-taker of that power. Utility companies are also requiring developers to pay up front on all critical infrastructure, such as substations, required to bring power to the site.
Further, investors are also expecting sustainability concerns around data centre energy and water usage to continue growing with 70% of respondents saying they expect scrutiny and due diligence to increase over the next two years.
The EU has already introduced a range of measures which place significant obligations on data centre operators to report and take measures to reduce their emissions.
“Data centre capacity is key to the AI revolution and the wider global economy,” Anthony Day, partner at DLA Piper said
“To satisfy increasing demands for processing power, not only will significant investment be required from across the industry, but also a clear framework established to encourage coordination between policymakers, investors and power providers, that ensures the heightened future power demands can be met.
“It should be possible to fulfil industry needs and realise AI’s potential, however the need for sufficient and reliable power supplies to be in place must be a global priority.”
Alanna Hasek, partner at DLA Piper added: “The energy transition has led to an unprecedented increase in demand for grid access with data centres competing with the likes of renewable energy projects and electric car charging stations. Faced with demands from governments to prioritise the transition, already overstretched utility companies in the US are increasingly requiring data centre investors to fund their own grid connections. Investors and developers should be prepared to see this trend begin to be replicated across other markets.”
The tech industry, often seen as the cornerstone of Scotland’s economic growth, still faces the challenge of low female representation.
The gender pay gap is still looming and factors like unconscious bias, a lack of female role models, and antiquated workplace structures all have a part to play in pushing this gap further apart.
It’s down to the Scottish tech sector to embody an environment of inclusivity, where women not only enter but thrive and lead the industry.
Government bodies, businesses, and community organisations must come together in harmony to break down barriers and ensure that real change happens.
Identifying opportunities for women in tech
In a heavily male-dominated industry it’s critical for employers to understand their responsibility and influence when it comes to identifying opportunities for women in tech.
Whether a woman wants to pursue a career as a data analyst, data engineer, or business intelligence specialist, businesses need to offer clear pathways and create opportunities through mentorship and education methods where aspiring female tech leaders know that they have a seat waiting for them at the table.
Creating opportunities for women and breaking down barriers starts with having the right framework and messaging in place.
Worryingly, 72 percent of women in tech report experiencing a prevalent “bro culture” at work. Companies need to acknowledge this as an issue and establish how to adopt a working culture that’s free from gender bias.
Moving away from traditional recruitment methods, like changing the language used in job descriptions, reflects respect and equality, showing women who have a high skills aptitude that they are a vital part of their tech organisation.
Building a supportive, flexible environment
A gender-equal workforce is not built overnight; it requires commitment and actionable strategies from employers to enable women to break through and thrive in the tech industry.
Scotland boasts impressive initiatives, which employers should leverage to support their female workforce and build a positive working environment.
Scotland Woman In Technology (SWiT), a 15-year-strong charity network, promotes gender equality in tech and partners with organisations to move the needle in the sector.
SWiT supports women through mentoring programmes, targeted workshops, and industry events, continually championing diversity and working to close the gender pay gap.
For organisations to drive change, they must look to partner with companies and charities like SWiT that fight for the same mission of wiping gender bias and focus on building the right working environment for women to thrive in.
Building a supportive network where women can succeed in their roles is a multifaced approach, and it demands flexible work policies that accommodate diverse needs.
Scotland also supports generous maternity and parental leave policies that are often enhanced by employers, making it easier for women to return to work after having children.
Over the last five years, the Scottish government has committed to increasing free childcare for three-year-olds from 600 hours to 1,140 hours per year.
Additionally, shared parental leave and paternity leave options help to distribute caregiving responsibilities and create a more balanced workplace, giving women the opportunity to balance work and personal commitments.
Ultimately, flexible work policies go beyond convenience—they are a vital part of fostering gender equality in the workplace, dismantling systemic barriers, and ensuring that all employees, regardless of gender, have the support they need to succeed.
When it comes to empowering female leaders, it’s crucial that they feel heard and have a sense of belonging, as these are key ingredients to their engagement, confidence, and effectiveness in the workplace.
When female leaders feel heard, it rightfully validates their experiences, insights, and contributions to the wider team.
Networking events are perfect opportunities where women can exchange knowledge and experiences, in the hope of overcoming challenges and isolation that often accompany leadership roles.
Mentorship schemes and career coaching like the Scottish “Empowering Women to Lead” programmes create an immersive learning environment for women, which includes interactive group workshops, high-impact one-to-one coaching, and collaborative team projects.
These programmes run by the Scottish government, highlight the commitment to building a collaborative and powerful community of female leaders in digital transformation roles across Scotland.
Encouraging women to return to tech
It can be extremely daunting for women to step back into the fast-moving tech industry after a career break, whether that’s from becoming a parent, being made redundant, or a change in job role. FDM’s Returners Programme offers a structured pathway for women to re-enter the tech industry, addressing the critical need to upskill and reskill candidates.
Participants will be encouraged to develop a blend of hard and soft skills, aimed at rebuilding confidence, mitigating the stigma of career breaks, and facilitating a seamless return to work.
The Scottish tech sector will hugely benefit from adopting strategies that foster inclusivity, flexible working policies, and reskilling pathways for women.
Creating supportive environments, offering tailored training, and partnering with organisations that champion gender equality will bolster the industry to new successes for women in tech, driving sustainable growth and ensuring Scotland’s tech industry remains at the forefront of global innovation.
Law enforcement authorities across ten countries have jointly taken down one of the world’s largest piracy networks in a collaborative operation.
Over 100 properties were raided by police across the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden, and Switzerland in Operation Takedown.
Allegedly, the piracy network had generated more than 250 million euros from illegally pirated content each month from over 22 million European users.
Operation Takedown, which was supported by the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) seized 1.65 million euros in cryptocurrency and 40,000 euros in cash.
Currently, 102 people are under investigation, with 11 people already arrested in relation to the operation.
The operation also seized at least 29 servers, and took down 100 domains.
Besides illegal video content, other forms of contraband was seized including various drugs and weapons.
“The scale of these multi-jurisdictional law enforcement actions highlights the considerable challenge our industry faces when dealing with such sophisticated international pirate networks,” said Mark Mulready, co-president of AAPA.
“We are proud to have collaborated with our law enforcement partners to provide technical training and in-field support to assist them in successfully tackling the world’s largest pirate network.”
According to Europol, which supported the operation, there was evidence of other crimes perpetrated by the piracy group, including cyber-crime and money laundering.
According to Italian authorities involved in the operation, the illegal IPTV operation, where television channels are provided via broadband internet providers, caused about 10 billion euros worth of damage per annum to streaming services.
Enrolment in AI courses at university level have skyrocketed by 453% in 2022/2023 compared to 2017/2018, with women leading the way, new research shows.
A recent study by tech retailer Currys, took a deep dive into university admissions data to discover how the developments in AI has impacted course uptake in the UK.
The study found that although men have enrolled in these courses, with 5670 males enrolled in AI courses in 2022/2023 compared to the just 1075 in 17/18, a 427% rise, women’s percent increase was much higher.
In 2017/18, only 365 women were enrolled in AI courses, but the figure reached 2265 in 22/23, a whopping increase of 521%.
As well as the rapid uptake in AI across the world driving the uptake, it could also be influenced by the simple fact that AI courses are now more accessible.
In 2017/18, only 29 universities out of 291 analysed had enrolments into AI courses.
However, in 2022/23, there were 84 universities with enrolments into the same courses, nearly three times the number of universities from five years ago.
Currys also conducted a survey of 1000 students and recent graduates to understand their relationship with AI. Over three in ten of students asked said that the prospect of AI taking over has influenced their chosen career path.
Despite numerous articles stating which jobs are in danger due to this take over, 63% actually believe that AI has improved their chances of succeeding in their chosen career.
When looking at where in the country the most people are enrolling to study AI courses, the University of Edinburgh had the second most students enrolled in AI courses, at 405, only beaten by the University of Hull at 690.
Beyond specific AI courses, the research found that AI has influenced 37% of students in choosing which course to study. This mindset is reflected in the courses which have experienced a boost to enrolments over the past five years.
Technology and computing course enrolment have soared as a result.
Enrolment in information technology courses has skyrocketed 3514%, with business computing rising 2384%.
Software engineering (265%) and other computing courses (234%) have seen similar rises, with production and manufacturing engineering also seeing an 128% uplift in enrolment.
Equally, however, are decreases in enrolments in other areas, potentially influenced by AI’s rise.
Language and area studies have seen a decrease of a fifth (20%) in enrolment, with AI making translation and language processing more accessible and automated.
Education and teaching enrolments have also decreased by 11%, which could be influenced by AI-driven learning platforms and virtual instruction.
Media, and journalism and communications also saw a slight decrease in enrolment (7%), which may have to do with the scourge of AI-generated news and written content decreasing job security.
It must also be noted, however, that jobs in these arenas – education, languages, and media – often offer significantly less income than typical occupations in technology, even before the advent of AI.
Seven in ten (70%) of UK employees believe AI and new technologies are already reshaping their workforce, with benefits like increased efficiency (38%) and enhanced positivity (33%).
This is according to a survey of over 4,000 UK employees commissioned by WSP in partnership with Savanta, which found that while AI is positively impacting job efficiency and productivity, there is a significant gap between employees’ expectations for sustainability and the progress they perceive from their current employers.
The research delves into the influence of AI and technology, sustainability, and the current economic landscape on the UK workforce.
AI and Technology
Looking ahead, the majority (84%) of UK employees anticipate the positive effects of AI and technology will persist, with many expecting further improvements in efficiency (41%), and productivity (37%) as key outcomes.
Importantly, employers are taking steps to ensure that staff can adapt to these technological advancements. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of employees say their organisations are providing resources to help them navigate the shift to AI.
This support is especially evident in sectors like manufacturing (80%) and transport and communications (78%).
Sustainability
While most UK employees are eager to adapt their skills for a greener future, significant gaps in workplace sustainability practices remain. Nearly half (49%) of employees are aware of recycling schemes at work, but awareness of more impactful initiatives – such as renewable energy use (29%), sustainability training (27%), and water-saving measures (27%) is much lower.
This contrasts with employees’ growing demand for businesses to prioritise sustainability as over half (52%) are willing to re-train to adapt their skillset for greener roles, 45% would stay longer in jobs with stronger environmental policies, and 38% would consider switching jobs for organisations with better environmental goals.
Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, many UK employees are feeling prepared for the future.
Over half (54%) of the workplace say they are ready for workplace changes driven by sustainability and efforts to tackle climate change.
Additionally, just under half (47%) feel equipped to handle changes related to AI, reflecting growing confidence in adapting to technological advancements.
Interestingly, younger employees are leading the way in shaping a more sustainable workforce. Those ages 16-34 are more likely to emphasise sustainability when making career decisions (66%), compared to older age groups.
This trend is also seen among decision-makers, with 68% considering sustainability as a critical factor in their career planning.
“To fully leverage the transformative potential of AI in the workplace, we must rethink traditional approaches,” Dan Scott, director of data science at WSP, said.
“Our research shows that while employees recognise the benefits of AI, a significant gap exists between their expectations and current practices. It is essential for organisations to adopt AI technologies effectively and empower their workforce with the skills and vision needed to lead us into a future brimming with possibilities.”
AI is set to become an integral part of daily life, while privacy concerns around biometric data and advanced technologies will take centre stage in 2025.
This is according to Kaspersky‘s latest forecast which provides an outlook on the cybersecurity trends and threats expected to impact consumers in the coming year.
The predictions highlight the growing integration of AI into daily life, coinciding with rising privacy concerns.
AI as an Everyday Reality
AI is predicted to fully integrate into daily life in 2025, becoming a standard utility rather than a novel technology.
With prominent operating systems like iOS and Android rolling out AI-enhanced features, people will increasingly rely on AI for communication, workflows, and creative tasks.
However, this normalisation also brings challenges, particularly as personalised deepfakes become increasingly sophisticated in the absence of reliable detection tools.
Privacy Regulations and Data Ownership
The growing emphasis on privacy is expected to lead to new regulations that strengthen user control over personal data. By 2025, Kaspersky predicts that individuals may gain the right to monetise their data, transfer it easily across platforms, and benefit from simplified consent processes.
Global frameworks, such as the EU’s GDPR and California’s CPRA, continue to inspire reforms worldwide, while decentralised storage technologies could further strengthen user autonomy over their information.
Cyber-criminals are expected to target prominent gaming, console, and film launches in 2025. From video game releases to the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, releases are likely to attract scams involving fake pre-orders, counterfeit rootkits, and malicious downloads.
Similarly, blockbuster films may trigger phishing campaigns and counterfeit merchandise fraud aimed at enthusiastic fanbases.
Political polarization will fuel cyber-bullying
Increasing political polarisation is expected to exacerbate cyber-bullying in 2025. Social media algorithms that amplify divisive content, combined with the widespread availability of AI tools for creating deepfakes and doctored posts, are likely to intensify online harassment.
Cross-border cyber-bullying could also escalate as global platforms facilitate the targeting of individuals based on their political beliefs.
As the global economy shifts further towards subscription-based models, a rise in fraud related to fake subscription promotions is expected.
Cyber-criminals are expected to create counterfeit services that mimic legitimate platforms, aiming to deceive users into providing personal and financial information, resulting in identity theft and financial loss.
Additionally, the growth of unofficial resources that provide discounted or free access to subscription services is expected to become a significant threat vector, exposing users to phishing attacks, malware, and data breaches.
Social Media User Restrictions
Australia’s proposed legislation to ban social media access for children under 16 could set a global precedent. If implemented successfully, the restriction could pave the way for broader limitations on access for other demographics.
Platforms like Instagram have already begun adopting AI-powered age-verification systems, signalling a shift toward stricter governance of online spaces.
“As we look to 2025, the most significant impact on consumers is expected to arise from the intersection of innovation and regulation,” said Anna Larkina, Kaspersky privacy expert.
“Advances in artificial intelligence, privacy protection, and data ownership frameworks will reshape the way people interact with technology and manage their digital lives.
“These developments hold immense potential but also demand careful oversight to ensure they serve consumer interests.”
Interference (excess noise) to quantum signals from sunlight has slowed down the creation of a global scale quantum communications network, but now physicists at Heriot-Watt University have proposed a way to tackle this ‘daylight noise’ issue, paving the way for all-day satellite transmission.
While satellite quantum key distribution (SatQKD) offers global connectivity, it struggles with ‘daylight noise’. At present, operations are therefore limited to night time, limiting applications and connectivity.
Filtering out the daylight noise is essential to allow quantum systems to operate reliably, especially for applications like SatQKD that aim to secure communication over long distances.
Now a team at Heriot-Watt has proposed that using alternative encoding – the process by which data is converted into a quantum state – could allow SatQKD to operate, even at dawn and dusk.
Their newly published research proposes that using time and phase encoding could extend and enhance operations by three or four hours each day, a significant step.
Early simulations indicate that time and phase encoding unlocks the capability to filter in polarisation, yielding a reduction in detected daylight and allowing SatQKD to be performed at dawn and dusk due to the daylight noise being partially polarised.
“Current mitigation techniques are not yet sufficient to make daylight tolerable for SatQKD,” Dr Ross Donaldson, associate professor, School of Engineering and Physical Science, Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences, said.
“While all current SatQKD systems are polarisation-encoded, polarisation filtering has not been investigated – until now.
“We believe that by using time- and phase-encoded SatQKD, it is possible to filter in polarisation, allowing SatQKD to be performed at dawn and dusk, and paving the way for daylight SatQKD.
“One way to think about it is, if you put on a pair of polarising sunglasses, you’ll see some parts of the sky darker than others, because those parts are more polarised than others.
“We can use this filtering to overcome the issue of daylight ‘noise’ and eventually facilitate quantum communications via satellite, around the clock.”
The team will leverage their involvement in two missions (Quantum Communication hub’s Space Platform for Optical Quantum Communication (SPOQC) and Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite (QEYSSAT) being launched next year, to demonstrate their simulations experimentally.
Technology developed by Scottish biotech Biotangents, which has announced its latest investment round, which amounted to £2.3 million for its diagnostic device aimed at detecting diseases in dairy cows.
The company claims the device is set to revolutionise the dairy farm industry as a fast on-farm, point-of-care diagnostic device to combat bovine diseases such as bovine mastitis, which is estimated to cost the global dairy farming industry around £20 billion every year, costing the average UK dairy farm up to £25,000 per annum.
The company developed its technology due to the timeframe of existing diagnostics, which take so long that farmers resort to presumptively treating herds, predominantly with antibiotics that are estimated to be unnecessary in up to 40 percent of cases.
In turn, this increases the anti-microbial resistance of the herd, decreases life expectancy, and increases milk wastage, leading to negative environmental impact and significant costs.
Biotangent’s solution is a molecular diagnostic device that provides results in less than two hours, safely enabling farmers to make an informed and speedy treatment decision. Data is sent to the farmer’s phone, and, if required, can be sent to their management system, vets, and milk processors.
While focused on next generation diagnostics for the animal health sector, Biotangents also sees future applications for its technology, including in human healthcare and environmental monitoring.
Senior agritech adviser Nicky Deasy joins the board on behalf of Eos as an investor director. Following the investment, Biotangents will commence on-farm trials across the UK and internationally later next year.
Fiona Marshall, CEO of Biotangents, said: “Biotangents is on the cusp of full market launch with a technology that leads to better herd health, much improved productivity, and significantly higher levels of sustainability.”
Jill Arnold, investment relationship director at Eos, said: “Scottish science that improves lives, and has global market potential, is core to our focus at Eos and Biotangents fits that criteria perfectly, not just in terms of addressing antimicrobial resistance in livestock, but also in improved animal husbandry.”
Ross McDermid, CCO at Biotangents, said: “This investment endorses our game-changing technology, and means we can now seize the huge market opportunity to support farmers, vets, and the wider dairy industry.”
As a small business owner reading endless news stories about cyber-attacks against well-known enterprise names, it can be easy to think it won’t happen to you.
In reality, hackers don’t discriminate: businesses of all sizes can, and do, find themselves on the receiving end of data breaches, and the financial and reputational consequences that often accompany them.
According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024, half of all UK businesses, including many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), reported experiencing a cyber-attack within the last year.
Despite these high attack rates, only 22% of businesses have a formal incident response plan in place, leaving many SMBs vulnerable to serious financial, operational, and reputational damage.
This cyber complacency can have serious repercussions if not urgently addressed.
How to spot the signs
Understanding the reasons behind cyber complacency is the first step towards resolving the issue and ensuring full data protection, regardless of the size of the business. Here are a few common warning signs that an organisation may overlook.
Out-of-date security procedures
You can’t fix the future with yesterday’s tools. Many small companies are guilty of maintaining basic or outdated cybersecurity measures.
While financial or logistical considerations may play a part in this, the truth of the matter is that security threats are constantly evolving and hackers are constantly identifying new vulnerabilities to exploit. Using inadequate software is simply no longer an option.
Priorities elsewhere
Unlike larger firms, SMBs often have limited resources and may devote their time and energy into other aspects of their business.
Cybersecurity might be further down on their to-do list, especially when dealing with a variety of operational challenges. This oversight can also contribute to a lack of regular security checks, which means weaknesses are not identified until it’s too late. This approach to security must be avoided at all costs.
Cost dilemmas
For small business owners, investing in cybersecurity solutions might be seen as a waste of precious budget when the purse strings are tighter than ever. However, it’s been proven time and again that the cost of recovering from a cyber-attack can be far greater than any data protection expenses.
One report, for example, estimates the average cost to remedy an attack to be £21,000. If a business suffers multiple incidents, the costs can quickly rack up.
A cyber-attack poses serious risks to a company, including widespread disruption, huge financial losses, compromise of sensitive information and significant reputational damage.
While the initial investment in cybersecurity may seem steep, it’s much more cost-efficient in the long run than simply hoping for the best, and putting out fires when disaster strikes.
How to steer clear of complacency
Once aware of how cyber complacency can creep into a small business, preventing it from happening becomes much easier.
With a comprehensive approach, companies can protect themselves against the potential impact of a cyber-attack. Below are some key recommendations to bear in mind.
Be vigilant
It’s harder for cyber-criminals to compromise small businesses if they’re always on the lookout for threats. While much of the responsibility for this should rightly fall on the business itself, this is difficult to do comprehensively with limited resources.
This is where managed service providers (MSPs) have a major role to play. Rather than trying to deal with multiple security systems all at once, it’s useful for businesses to find a suitable partner to take care of their cyber needs. Many of these organisations offer advanced all-in-one solutions and frequent audits of a company’s cyber posture, making sure that businesses are constantly ahead of the game.
Cybersecurity education is not just an IT concern but a critical business imperative. Employees unfamiliar with common cybersecurity practices are much more likely to fall victim to phishing scams and ransomware attacks, two of the most prevalent methods cyber-criminals use to breach business defences.
Phishing, for example, involves tricking individuals into divulging sensitive information, such as passwords or financial details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in electronic communications. This vulnerability, often due to human error, can lead to serious financial losses and reputational damage.
By empowering employees with the necessary knowledge and skills to recognise and avoid phishing attempts, organisations can significantly reduce their cyber risk and foster a security-conscious culture.
Providing regular training, simulated phishing tests, and clear policies are all essential to effective cybersecurity education. Businesses should also keep employees up to date on emerging cyber-threats through engaging content and frequent updates to stay alert to potential dangers.
Implement immutable and air gap backups
Educating employees is of course vital, but even well-trained teams are not infallible, making robust data protection measures equally essential. For instance, cyber-criminals frequently target backups to compromise data recovery and business continuity, which is why implementing immutable and air gap backups has become so crucial.
Immutable backups are designed to be unchangeable once written, so even if cyber-criminals gain access to the backup system, they cannot alter or delete data. Air gap backups, on the other hand, involve physically isolating backup data from the network to prevent any electronic access, achievable through offline storage methods like tape drives or removable media.
Implementing these backup practices enables businesses to enhance their resilience against cyber-threats, ensuring data integrity, security, and availability. These strategies offer a powerful step towards maintaining operational continuity and safeguarding business-critical data in the face of potential cyber-attacks.
Have a plan in place
Although taking precautionary measures is the first line of defence, it’s also wise for small business leaders to have a plan in place if a cyber-attack does happen, and in today’s world, this is almost inevitable.
In the event of a data breach, the last thing anyone should do is panic. With a clear and methodical disaster recovery and business continuity plan at the ready, organisations can easily diagnose an issue, respond and recover from the attack, while learning from the experience to be better prepared for next time. This allows businesses to rapidly bounce back from a system failure or outage, reducing downtime and helping them to resume normal operations as quickly as possible.
Cyber complacency is an underlying threat for many small businesses, but the tools are very much there to help companies shore up their defences and achieve peace of mind.
Encouraging good cyber hygiene, putting comprehensive software in place and developing a calculated, forward-thinking defence strategy are all vital ways in which organisations can protect their data, reputation and bottom line. Partnering with the right cyber experts can go a long way towards achieving these goals.
Businesses in the UK are risking slower development as they fail to fully embrace technologies that support growth.
New data revealed by OneAdvanced shows that only a third of UK businesses (35%) are using fully-cloud-based solutions to support their business operations, while less than a fifth (14%) operating AI solutions at a strategic level throughout their business.
With nearly half (44%) of business leaders in the UK citing boosting efficiency and productivity as their top priority for the coming year, the reluctance to embrace technology risks slowing development among UK enterprises.
The 2024 OneAdvanced ninth Annual Trends Report analysed more than 6,000 senior executive voices from a cross-section of British businesses. The report indicates that UK business leaders are grappling with the challenges around technological advancement in the face of their objectives to grow.
The study, conducted in September 2024, also showed that more businesses are juggling both cloud and on-premise (42%) this year than last year (36%).
Meanwhile, a significant majority (85%) of leaders recognise the tangible benefits that properly implemented AI solutions can bring, however, almost half (48%) haven’t attempted to integrate AI and two-fifths of those who have implemented AI projects have seen them fail.
“Investing in digital transformation cannot be optional for British business success,” Julian David, CEO of techUK, said. “Technology can drive growth and support key objectives such as cybersecurity and sustainability, so business leaders will be looking to their CTOs to guide them to the right choices.
“It is concerning that so many businesses are struggling to modernise their technology solutions and update legacy systems. Underinvestment in this area is holding back UK economic growth. Leaders in all sectors must grasp the opportunity to accelerate digital transformation and empower their employees with agile data-driven tools that can boost productivity and help their organisations thrive.”
The report also revealed that 15% of business leaders are either unsure or lacking in confidence in whether their current technology infrastructure fully supports their growth goals, with two-thirds (66%) saying that they have current plans to upgrade their digital systems.
“Business growth requires the right infrastructure and software services to be in place,” Andrew Henderson, CTO at OneAdvanced, said. “It’s not at all surprising that so many leaders say that efficiency and productivity are their top priorities, but to find that so few are actively embracing the technology and services that will allow them to grow is quite astonishing.
“Cloud solutions are one example of where British businesses are lagging. Only a third of businesses are leveraging a complete cloud approach, and more businesses are juggling both cloud and on-premise this year than last year. This is a complex approach to systems management that prevents businesses from truly realising their growth potential.
“Meanwhile, slow uptake on AI projects – coupled with a high rate of failure – could put British businesses at a disadvantage on the global stage. Many businesses are currently implementing AI for fear of missing out rather than to address customer needs. Artificial intelligence has amazing potential to solve productivity concerns and elevate customer experience innovation, but without the proper adoption of cloud solutions and a lack of availability of reliable data, businesses will continue to find it hard to realise the full potential of AI tech.
“This is not a time for sitting back. If businesses are not moving, they are losing ground. They should experiment and then make practical investments in the technology, where aligned to clear customer outcomes. This will enable their growth plans to become a reality, boost the country’s knowledge and skills in this emerging area while supercharging the economy, cementing our place on the global business stage,” he added.
Four in ten UK adults say that they have encountered misinformation or deepfake content just in the past four weeks, according to new research from Ofcom.
Among those who have encountered false or misleading information, seven in ten (71%) say they have seen it online. Four in ten (43%) say they have seen misinformation on TV, and one in five (21%) via print newspapers or their associated websites/apps.
Men, young adults, people from higher socio-economic backgrounds, minority ethnic and LGBTQI+ groups, as well as those with mental health conditions are more likely to say they have come across misinformation.
The research took place in the week before the General Election (4 July) and found that respondents were most likely to have seen false or misleading information about UK politics, including the general election (39%), followed by international politics and current affairs (33%), and health and medical information (25%).
According to the Alan Turing Institute, however, AI did not seem to play a role in any misinformation campaigns ahead of the UK General Election.
The news comes as Ofcom announces the appointment of Lord Richard Allan, already a member of Ofcom’s board, as chair of the new Disinformation and Misinformation Advisory Committee. The regulatory body is also launching a recruitment drive to appoint more committee members with expertise in the field.
The newly created committee is required to advise Ofcom on some of its key duties under the Online Safety Act, including on how to deal with misinformation in regulated services, how Ofcom requires transparency from these services, and how it promotes media literacy.
Misinformation
Ofcom’s research revealed that for over three quarters of UK adults (77%), it is important to check different sources for news, while seven in ten (71%) acknowledge that online information will always be a mix of reliable and unreliable posts.
Almost half of people (45%) feel they can confidently judge whether sources of information are truthful. But only 30% feel they can confidently judge whether an image, audio, or video has been generated by AI.
When asked about how they deal with misinformation in practice, nearly half (47%) say they ignore the content and simply move on. A quarter (26%) say they use a search engine to find a more authoritative source, and a similar proportion (24%) say they’d check the information on a trusted news website.
“There is a growing body of research and expertise on the challenges posed by misinformation and potential responses to it,” Lord Richard Allan said.
“Our new committee will draw on this knowledge to provide the best possible advice to Ofcom and other stakeholders.”
Confidence in the News
Despite claiming to look at trusted news sites, these may be understood to be few and far between for the public. A significant number of people are sceptical of conventional news production processes.
Around four in ten (44%) agree with the statement that the more a story is edited, the less likely it is to be true, while a similar proportion think that important stories are deliberately covered up by traditional news sources (42%).
Similarly, only a third (32%) agree that journalists follow codes of practice.
This mistrust manifests in other ways too, the research found. When asked to decide which statements about current affairs were true or false, three in ten UK adults believe that there is a single group of people who secretly control the world together (29%), and a similar figure believe that there is significant evidence of large-scale election fraud (30%).
Young people need a new digital literacy qualification focussed on AI and modern tech skills, as part of reform to the school curriculum, according to BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
Pupils should be taught to get the best out of tools like ChatGPT, understanding their strengths and limitations, so they can succeed in life and modern careers, the professional body for computing said.
Responding to the Department for Education’s (DfE) Curriculum and Assessment review, BCS said that the current Computer Science GCSE works for just a narrow group of students due to its largely theoretical focus.
BCS analysis of DfE data found that 94% of girls and 79% of boys in England drop computing as soon as they can, at 14 years old. The lack of focus on practical outcomes puts off far too many students, the charity said.
The scope of the existing GCSE should also be broadened to include a focus on how AI is built, as well as its risks and opportunities – and do more to show teenagers the ways in which computing changes the world, the group said.
“The computing curriculum is abstract and unmotivating, and it doesn’t show teenagers how the subject can be applied to solve the world’s big challenges,” Julia Adamson, MBE, managing director for education and public benefit at BCS, said.
“The key stage 3 curriculum and the GCSE need updating to reflect this and to include areas like AI and data analysis, as well as understanding of the huge social and economic impact of computing.
“All young people deserve to leave school digitally literate, or they’ll be left behind. This needs to be recognised in a new qualification that proves this and gives employers, universities and training providers confidence. It should go beyond low-level functional skills and include critical thinking about the opportunities and risks digital technology presents for the world.”
Scottish global managed network, security, and cloud transformation specialist, Systal Technology Solutions, has been selected by NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) to accelerate delivery and increase capacity and capability of their Security Operations Centre (SOC), following a competitive tender process.
In December 2022, NHS NSS launched the Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) to enhance NHS Scotland’s capability to protect Scotland’s patients, data, and NHS staff from the threat of cyber-attacks.
NHS NSS has now partnered with Systal to create an increasingly effective SOC and Incident Response capability that ensures 24/7 protection across NHS Scotland’s assets, infrastructure, and patient data.
Under the agreement, Systal will provide support both remotely from the SOC within their Glasgow headquarters, as well as onsite at the Abertay cyberQuarter in Dundee. Based at Abertay University, the CyberQuarter is an £18m cybersecurity research and development centre that brings together students, academics, and organisations to help solve global cybersecurity challenges.
“We are delighted that Systal will play its part in helping NHS Scotland protect its critical healthcare infrastructure” said Neil Nicolson, CEO at Systal.
“As well as helping NHS Scotland today, our membership with Abertay’s CyberQuarter looks to the future. It reinforces Systal’s longer term commitment to fostering the development of the next generation of cyber industry specialists in Scotland.”
Scott Barnett, CISO at NHS National Services Scotland, added: “NHS National Services Scotland have recently appointed Systal as our Delivery Partner for the NHS Scotland Cyber Centre of Excellence.
“Their values align with ours, and we are looking forward to the opportunities of working together for the benefit of NHS Scotland and our patients.”
Professor Lynne Coventry, director of Abertay University CyberQuarter, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Systal as a partner at the Abertay CyberQuarter. As a global leader in network, cloud, and cybersecurity services, Systal brings a wealth of expertise that will significantly enhance our initiative.
“Together, we will use our collective knowledge to develop innovative cybersecurity solutions and expand our unique collaborative platform that connects industry professionals, academic experts, and students. With the support of our 10 current partners, Systal will further enrich our collaborative ecosystem, driving impactful advancements in cybersecurity and technology.”
Organisations are struggling to cope with their employee’s use of unsanctioned AI, with over a third saying they are facing challenges monitoring the popularity of ‘shadow AI.’
This is based on findings from Strategy Insights which polled 3,320 directors from companies in the UK, US, Germany, and Northern Europe, in order to gain a better understanding of AI management.
Without upgrades to legacy systems, businesses struggle to monitor the use of AI systems like chatbots across their tech stacks.
Shadow AI, which simply denotes any AI system that is not openly approved by a business to be used by employees, can increase cybersecurity and compliance risks as employees could accidentally share sensitive data, and the models used may not have the necessary or parallel security measures required.
Around half (48%) of respondents said that employee training will be required to ensure staff use AI responsibly and ethically, as well as informing them of the associated risks of using AI systems. This is especially important in industries like finance, healthcare, and social services.
Just over two-thirds (67%) said that stringent governance frameworks would be key to lessening the risks of shadow AI.
The use of large language models and generative AI systems can leave sensitive data vulnerable to cyber incidents and non-compliance.
Around one in five UK companies have potentially exposed sensitive corporate data via the use of generative AI by employees, a RiverSafe study showed.
Major corporations have taken extreme actions to try to stop unsanctioned uses of AI due to their cybersecurity risks, including Apple, Amazon, and JP Morgan.
Employees continue to use AI technology without informing their bosses in a growing trends, according to Gartner, showing that employees may not be taking the risks seriously.
It also points to the normalisation of AI technology in people’s everyday lives, and how this has potentially infiltrated the workspace.
The Scottish Government has unveiled a range of new measures to transform how Scotland attracts and supports capital investment into the country.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will take on a cross-government leadership role as the Scottish Government’s ‘Investment Champion’ to deliver a national pipeline of strategic investment opportunities and a seamless, co-ordinated approach to building relationships with investors and developers.
Practical steps being delivered include an Investment Unit to identify and tackle barriers to investment, the development of a single portal for investment inquiries and another detailing investment opportunities, and a new Cabinet sub-committee to co-ordinate activity.
The Scottish Government will also explore new financing models including how public sector guarantees could be used, a potential Scottish Bond, and public-private partnerships.
“Increasing the level of private investment into Scotland’s economy is essential to our ambitions – for growth, for jobs, for reaching net-zero, and for improving our public services,” Forbes said at an Investment Association Conference in Edinburgh. “Without investment and the growth it can catalyse, we can achieve none of those goals.
“I will be working to tackle barriers and blockers; and to ensure that the system as a whole works cohesively, effectively, and quickly, to support investors and to deal with issues as and when they arise.
“Scotland has the talent, skills and resources in abundance to be a major player in the energy transition and secure a prosperous and sustainable future. We need to work better, smarter, and quicker to ensure that we can create an investor-friendly environment and seize the many opportunities which lie ahead. ”
The measures aim to invigorate the Scottish government’s continued attempts to broaden investment attraction especially for green technology and sustainability.
This includes the Green Industrial Strategy which sets out the government’s priorities for the wind economy, carbon capture, hydrogen, green financial services, and clean energy-intensive industries.
Further, the Scottish Government announced the Offshore Wind Investment Programme, which allocates up to £500m over five years to stimulate private investment in port infrastructure and other opportunities to anchor our supply chain in Scotland.
In the dash to reap the benefits promised from AI, countries, not just companies, are competing to maximise their AI readiness to attract top talent, investment, and build the best infrastructure to enable the emerging technology to maximise its full potential.
The global AI infrastructure market was valued at $36.59 billion in 2023, and is projected to grow to $356.14bn by 2032, at a rate of 29.1%.
Countries across the globe are ramping up their efforts to lay the foundation for AI innovation, but where are they now?
ARKANCE created a point-based index to score countries on their AI progress. The analysis is based on several key metrics, including AI venture capital investment, AI talent, research output, broadband speeds, cybersecurity, and government tech maturity over the last five years to identify the countries leading in AI infrastructure.
The analysis found that the UK ranks third in terms of overall AI infrastructure with a 6.93 out of ten. This is behind Singapore (8.91) and South Korea (7.71), which came out on top, but does mean that the UK leads Europe.
The UK has a strong AI venture capital investment of $7.5m per 1K GDP, 17% higher than South Korea.
But the UK really stood out with its high cybersecurity score of 9.95/10, which was only beat by the US with a score of 10.
With broadband speeds of 112 Mbps, outperforming Luxembourg by 30%, and a government tech maturity score of 8.4/10, the UK is poised for strong AI adoption and advancement.
With 18.8% of its research publications involving AI, the UK exceeds France (16.7%) in this area, underlining its dedication to advancing AI capabilities.
While it came out on top in Europe, the UK was outperformed by Singapore and South Korea.
South Korea’s tech maturity, as well as its advanced AI-implementation capabilities, earned it a high score. Coupled with its broadband speeds of 160.6% and its strong cybersecurity index score (9.85), the country has a secure foundation of technological growth.
It was Singapore, however, which came out on top with a score of 8.91 in AI infrastructure. Singapore’s AI VC funding of $14m per 1k GDP far exceeds other countries, showcasing an environment primed for innovation.
It excels at AI talent, with ARKANCE measured by LinkedIn members, and leads in research with 31.8% of all research papers involving AI. The UK struggling in both these categories despite the range of top rate universities and broad talent pool.
Hiring across technology and IT looks set to increase in the New Year, but employees are still feeling the impact of the recent layoffs and are focused on job security over pay.
This is according to Robert Half’s 2025 Salary Guide, which surveyed 1,000 employees and 500 hiring managers across the UK, revealing that 46% of IT and technology hiring managers are planning to increase permanent headcount, while a quarter (25%) intend to increase contractor recruitment.
The most in-demand technical skills that employers are seeking include data analytics, automation, machine learning, and cloud.
In other sectors, tech skills are continually sought after. Experts in cloud, cybersecurity, data engineering and full stack development will be in high-demand across financial services, private equity, retail, manufacturing and energy.
However, following a difficult year with mass layoffs announced by many larger tech brands, employees remain cautious over job moves. According to the report, 43% of IT and tech professionals place greater value on job stability over pay.
Beyond this, nearly half (48%) of tech professionals would like to see financial allowances for working from home offered as a benefit, with many willing to take a pay cut to ensure they can work remotely.
“It’s been a tough year for IT and technology professionals, following mass layoffs from big brands, and this has clearly left a lasting impact, with job security highly valued by tech employees,” Tony Koyratty, client services manager at Robert Half Talent Solutions said.
“Running up to 2025, now is the time for businesses to reassess their employee value proposition to ensure it is fit for purpose and helps strengthen relationships with core talent pools. Doing so at a time when there are more generations of workers in the workforce – all with differing values and requirements – will necessitate an honest review of what candidates and employees want from work.
“And it might not always be what you think. Aside from job security, our data shows that 50% of IT and technology professionals would like access to sabbaticals or a paid leave of absence, while a further 48% want financial allowances for working from home offered by their employers as a benefit. An additional 37% would like access to extended parental leave.”
Customers are demanding more AI, and more from AI, new consumer research from Zendesk has revealed.
Zendesk’s 2025 Customer Experience (CX) Trends Report reveals a pivotal shift in customer expectations: today’s consumers demand AI interactions that feel more human, personalised, and engaging than ever before.
Drawing on insights from over 10,000 global consumers and business leaders, Zendesks’ seventh annual report uncovers five critical trends that will shape the future of customer service, underscoring how human-centric AI is redefining customer loyalty and becoming a strategic edge for companies.
“At Zendesk, we’re witnessing a transformative moment in CX, driven by the convergence of human-centric AI and rising consumer adoption”, says Matthias Göhler, CTO EMEA at Zendesk.
“Our new CX Trends Report highlights that 80% of CX leaders in EMEA recognize this as the most significant shift in the past 50 years. With 69% of service agents eager for AI co-pilots to enhance their work, it is part of the future to build customer loyalty.”
In the UK specifically, this trend is particularly pronounced, with 76% of CX leaders agreeing that only organisations that adopt AI at scale will survive the competitive pressures of the next five years.
The report highlights a growing divide between companies that embrace AI, termed “CX Trendsetters,” and those lagging behind in traditional approaches. As consumer expectations continue to rise, businesses that integrate AI with a focus on empathy and personalisation are gaining a strong advantage, building trust and boosting customer retention.
In fact, CX Trendsetters experience a third (33%) higher customer acquisition rates, 22% higher customer retention rates, and 49% higher cross-sell revenue, showing how transformative a thoughtful approach of AI can be for creating meaningful customer experiences as well as the bottom line.
In the UK, 90% of ‘trendsetters’ report positive ROI from their AI tools in CX.
For UK businesses, AI adoption is especially critical, as 82% of CX leaders agree that AI is changing everything in customer service, from operational efficiency to customer satisfaction.
“AI should be more than just another technology we use—it’s a way to bring companies and customers closer, and it’s redefining the relationships we can build,” said Zendesk CEO Tom Eggemeier.
“When brands focus on creating genuine, human-centered AI interactions, they don’t just make things run more smoothly—they create trust, loyalty, and a lasting connection. This report shows that putting customers at the heart of AI is more than a smart strategy; it’s becoming the new standard for building loyalty in a rapidly changing world.”
5 Key Trends
1. Autonomous Service Accelerates with AI Copilots
Companies are embracing AI copilots—AI tools that support agents by managing routine tasks and enhancing efficiency—as they move toward autonomous service models. 73% of agents believe that having an AI copilot would help them do their job better, freeing them up to focus on more complex issues, enabling a smooth and scalable experience.
While 90% of CX Trendsetters report positive returns on AI tools for agents, as copilots improve both the customer journey and operational agility, the use of shadow AI–external tools unapproved for agent use has jumped up to 250% year-on-year in some industries. This is putting customer privacy, security and service quality at risk.
As CX leaders move towards a model of autonomous CX, with 75% expecting 80% of customer interactions to be resolved without human intervention in the next few years, they are entrusted with the responsibility to ensure their customers’ data is kept safe and secure by providing AI solutions that prioritise reliability and security.
This is echoed in the UK, with 80% of CX leaders believing that within the next few years, 100% of interactions will involve AI in some way.
2. Consumer Confidence Rises with Human-Like AI Agents
In 2025, consumers are looking for AI that goes beyond efficiency and feels genuinely human. With 64% of consumers saying they are more likely to trust AI agents that embody traits like friendliness and empathy, companies are prioritising AI that’s engaging, relatable and authentic.
This focus on human-like AI is yielding strong results. CX leaders who invest in this approach report a significant boost in customer satisfaction and loyalty.
By infusing AI with personality and warmth, companies are better positioned to meet rising expectations, differentiate themselves from competitors, and build lasting relationships with customers. The desire for personalised AI experiences is strong in the UK, with 51% of UK consumers saying they would interact with AI more frequently if it were able to better personalise experiences.
3. Personal AI Assistants Shape the Future of Customer Interactions
Personal AI assistants, like Siri and Alexa, are becoming integral to daily life, leading consumers to expect assistant-driven experiences in customer service, too. 67% of consumers are ready to delegate tasks like tracking orders and receiving personalised recommendations to AI, indicating an opportunity for companies to embrace assistant-first experiences.
This shift marks the beginning of a more convenient, AI-led interaction model that frees consumers to focus on what matters most to them.
CX leaders preparing for an assistant-first world are already ahead, designing seamless interactions where AI handles routine requests, allowing human agents to focus on high-impact areas.
Looking at the UK specifically, 79% of agents believe having AI as a copilot supercharges their abilities, enabling them to deliver superior customer service.
With consumers increasingly expecting instant service through AI assistants, companies that prioritise these tools will deliver the frictionless, responsive experience that today’s customers demand.
4. Voice AI Gains Ground as the Preferred Channel for Complex Issues
As Voice AI technology advances, customers are finding it easier to articulate their needs through voice, particularly for complex issues.
Half of consumers have already engaged with Voice AI and want to adopt these technologies for their ability to have natural and conversational interactions.
Within the UK, Voice AI is gaining significant traction, with 88% of UK Trendsetters agreeing that it is finally showing promise, heralding a new era of voice-driven customer service interactions.
By helping companies better connect with consumers across multiple platforms, including phone, messaging, and in-app, Voice AI offers consumers the sense of being “heard” and understood.
This capability is especially valuable in handling nuanced inquiries, as Voice AI provides a more seamless experience that resonates with users seeking efficient yet personal support. In fact, 90% of Trendsetters recognise it as the next evolution in customer communication.
5. Personalisation Redefines Customer Loyalty
Personalised service is now a defining feature of customer loyalty, with 61% of consumers expecting AI-driven interactions to feel tailored to them. As their expectations for great service rises, consumers have increasingly low tolerance for bad experiences, with 63% willing to switch to a competitor due to just one bad experience – a trend that’s grown by 9% year-on-year.
As CX leaders double down on personalisation to enhance customer relationships, loyalty is becoming the ultimate power metric in today’s competitive landscape.
Through personalised recommendations and tailored responses, AI enables companies to create unique, meaningful experiences that meet and exceed customer expectations for relevance and value.
56% of companies seen as Trendsetters are prioritising using AI to personalise the customer experience. As they embrace AI, they are realising tremendous value and are 128% more likely to report high ROI from AI, solidifying their position as leaders in the AI-powered CX era.
This focus on AI-driven personalisation is recognised as crucial by UK business leaders, with 80% of UK CX leaders saying investing in AI is no longer optional but essential for the future success of their customer service operations.
The Path Forward for CX Leaders
Companies aiming to lead must integrate AI with a human-centric approach, focusing on empathy, personalisation, and transparency to meet customer demands.
This sentiment is echoed by UK consumers, with 71% agreeing that the next decades will be fundamentally shaped by AI advancements.
In October, the EU’s latest cybersecurity regulation – NIS2 – came into effect. Building on its predecessor, it aims to provide greater transparency and a more comprehensive cybersecurity framework across the EU.
It can’t be denied that this is good news – a rising tide that will lift all boats, with higher cybersecurity standards across the entire EU helping to protect both companies and citizens.
However, more regulation increases pressure on already stretched security teams and leaders. The patchwork of legislations organisations need to comply with is becoming incredibly complex, particularly for companies that span multiple geographical locations.
CISOs are increasingly being left in the firing line, often accountable for failures in both security and regulatory reporting. And the stakes are rising, with bodies like the SEC taking legal action against individuals that fall foul of rules.
Security leaders must foster a culture of accountability across their organisation, using data to drive compliance, helping CISOs to avoid fines and potential legal action.
Local compliance impacting the globe
The NIS2 Directive will enhance cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure across the EU – at a union, country, and company level. But its impact will also be felt by companies outside of the Union. Any company medium-sized or above, operating critical services within the EU, could have member state auditors knocking on the door.
This auditing will be proactive for those organisations designated ‘essential’ – and will apply in the case that there’s cause for concern for those classified at the lower level of ‘important’.
The list of sectors defined as critical is also broadening under NIS2, meaning it’ll encompass significantly more companies. ‘Essential entities’ who fail to comply with the cybersecurity risk measurement and incident reporting obligations the directive sets out can be hit with fines of up to two percent (1.4 % for those classified ‘important’) of their businesses’ global turnover, which could reach hundreds of millions of pounds.
Organisations whose EU-based customers and partners are in scope for NIS2 will also find themselves under closer scrutiny, as the directive emphasises the need to manage supply chain risk. EU organisations will be asking more questions of third parties, and if suppliers can’t show that they are up to standard they will be at risk of losing business.
Therefore, one of the biggest challenges that NIS2 presents for impacted companies will be being able to demonstrate that they have the necessary controls in place, configured correctly and performing as expected – making complete visibility and trusted data vital. This is likely to be more of a step-change for medium-sized organisations and those in sectors that may not have seen such levels of regulation previously. Indeed, any organisation that hasn’t yet achieved a mature controls monitoring approach could be faced with a sizeable challenge.
One critical ingredient in staying on the right side of NIS2 is, put simply, the right data. For CISOs, this means having access to a single source of truth that enables them to both improve security and prove compliance.
But while analytics tools have been commonplace in many other business units including finance, sales, and HR for decades, security leaders are often left to rely on data from disparate tools with no single, trusted view. CISOs are operating with one hand tied behind their back, and the regulatory Sword of Damocles held over their head.
Security leaders need total visibility over business assets – what controls they have in place, whether they’re deployed effectively, who has ownership over assets and where coverage gaps exist.
Armed with this golden source of truth, leaders and their team can address and prioritise risks more effectively, whilst driving accountability for security across the entire organisation. This alleviates the burden on security leaders and means organisations can reduce risk and ensure all regulations are met.
Trusted data for trust in compliance
While NIS2 represents a crucial step forward in strengthening cybersecurity across the EU, it also brings challenges for organisations across the globe. With mammoth fines for failing to comply with NIS2, compliance is now a critical financial driver for many more businesses.
Remaining compliant, and being able to evidence this, is a huge task, and trusted data is the key to spreading responsibility across all levels and teams. Organisations that aren’t able to effectively instil this data driven culture will ultimately feel the impact on their balance sheet.
The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has certified the £7 billion claim against Google brought by Nikki Stopford, a consumer rights campaigner, on behalf of tens of millions of UK consumers – rejecting Google’s attempt to torpedo the claim early, and adding to the Big Tech firm’s legal and regulatory woes.
The specialist UK court will require Google to defend its longstanding conduct in the search engine market, after approving the landmark legal action brought by Nikki Stopford and legal firm Hausfeld & Co LLP.
The claim accuses Google of exploiting its dominance in the search market to increase advertising costs, which were ultimately passed on to consumers.
With certification now secured, millions of UK consumers are poised to pursue compensation for the economic harm caused by Google’s conduct.
The CAT’s decision is the latest in a series of setbacks for Google’s parent company Alphabet, which is fighting to preserve its all-important dominance in online search globally.
Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) proposed that the US courts should force Google to sell its Chrome web browser, prohibiting Google from entering into agreements that make it the default search engine on smartphones and browsers, and additional restrictions to ensure its Android smartphone software does not favour Google Search.
The full CAT judgment can be viewed here. The UK court dismissed Google’s arguments in full, including its attempt to have the claim struck out.
The CAT held that Ms Stopford had put forward a serious case and authorised her to act as the class representative and permitted the claim to proceed to trial.
Following the CAT’s certification, Ms Stopford will represent all UK-domiciled consumers aged 16 years or over who, during the period from 1 January 2011 until 7 September 2023 (inclusive), purchased goods and/or services from a business selling in the UK, which used search advertising services provided by Google.
The action is being brought as an opt-out collective action, meaning that everyone in the UK affected is automatically included as a claimant in the case unless they opt out.
The collective action argues that Google used its dominant position in the UK search engine market to overcharge advertisers and that these costs were passed directly on to the consumer.
It alleges that Google forced mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install the Google Search and Google Chrome browser apps on devices that used Google’s Android operating system.
Further, it claims that Google paid billions to Apple to ensure that Google was the default search engine on all devices, such as the iPhone, that used Apple’s iOS operating system.
“This green light from the tribunal is a significant victory for UK consumers. Almost everybody uses Google as their go-to search engine, trusting it to deliver quality results at no cost,” Niki Stopford, class representative for the action said.
“But its service isn’t genuinely free because its dominance has resulted in increased costs for consumers. Google has been warned repeatedly by competition regulators. Yet it continues to rig the market to charge advertisers more, which raises the prices they charge consumers.
“This action seeks to promote healthier competition in digital markets, and to hold Google accountable and ensure that consumers are compensated for the harm caused by its conduct.”
Luke Streatfeild, partner at legal firm Hausfeld & Co LLP, who is leading the litigation, said: “This judgment is good news for UK consumers, as the case for compensation brought by our client on their behalf can now proceed to trial.
“The judgment is also helpful in clarifying the standard for assessing exclusionary conduct by dominant companies, in particular in digital markets with high barriers to entry, and it will be a useful reference point in future cases that aim to promote fairer competition and better outcomes for consumers in those marketplaces.”
US-based robotics company Launchpad Build has opened a new hub for research and development in Edinburgh.
The site, with a team of 24, will be aimed at driving the development of the company’s proprietary robotics technology Digitool, which aims to simplify automation tools and reduce manufacturing production costs.
The Los Angeles-based firm chose Scotland ahead of five international alternatives, the leadership teams says, following engagement with Scottish Enterprise’s Silicon Valley based team.
The company also received a £2m grant from Scottish Enterprise for the project.
“We see Scotland as our gateway to the UK, Europe and Middle East and Northern Africa,” Launchpad chief financial officer Jon Quick said.
“We’ve been hugely impressed by the quality of local talent, so much so that we’re exploring multiple ways to increase the scope and size of our Scottish operations and accelerating plans to bring the Digitool overseas.
“There are 500 million manufacturing and assembly jobs globally, but only 1.7 million robots doing them, which presents a huge opportunity,“ he continued.
“Historically the upfront costs associated with automation have been prohibitive for many, but we can deliver in half the time and at half the cost through the use of AI and machine learning.
“Instead of automation being a multi-million-dollar career defining decision it can now be a case of identifying the biggest problem in your factory – the job nobody wants to do – and automating it in a way that that seamlessly fits with your existing processes, creating savings from day one.
“As we look to the future more and more companies will need a blend of local labour and automation to remain competitive; that is the ‘secret sauce’ which will allow Scotland and others to reshore jobs from overseas.”
Adrian Gillespie, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “The fact that such an innovative company chose Edinburgh for its global R&D hub is a ringing endorsement of Scotland’s robotics and AI talent, our supportive business environment and world-class universities. We look forward to working with the Launchpad team to support their continued growth here.”
While venture capital deals and valuations in Q3 of 2024 are currently valued ahead of 2023’s figures, the number of rounds seems to have dropped, a new report shows.
Analysis from PitchBook has shown that VC funding is making a recovery from last year, as inflation and high interest rates ease across Europe.
As central banks continue to cut interest rates over the past year and inflation falls, the climate has been primed for better dealmaking.
While the number of rounds may have dropped, the size of deals and valuations tied to these rounts have risen.
Pre-money valuations are rising compared to last year at the pre-seed, late and venture stages of growth in the UK and Ireland. They have, however, stagnated at the seed stage, and even down at the early stage.
At the pre-seed stage, pre money valuations averaged £3.2m in the UK and Ireland, up 31% from last year. The average at the venture growth stage was £16.8m, up about 5% from 2023.
UK and Ireland have hovered slightly lower than the rest of Europe in terms of valuation, with £4m in the third quarter of 2024, versus the European £4.5m.
The UK average at the venture growth stage was £16.8m, significantly below Europe’s £20.8m average.
“The UK’s higher activity levels and wider dispersion of price points for deal sizes and valuations compared with other nations could be influencing medians,” the PitchBook report said.
“Nonetheless, the UK remains a robust benchmark and mirrors longer-term trends for European VC valuations.”
Funding in the UK dropped over the third quarter of 2024, a previous report showed, though the UK was still leading Europe.
UK businesses have lost around £44 billion in the past five years in revenue due to cyber-attacks, new research from Howden shows.
Over half (52%) of private sector firms reported at least one cyber-attack in the past five years as well, the research revealed.
On average, cyber-attacks are costing UK businesses 1.9% of their revenue, with larger companies racking up over £100 million more likely to face a cyber-attack.
A fifth of all cyber-attacks were due to email compromise, the most common cause, followed by data theft, which made up 18% of all cases.
Despite these common causes, less than two-thirds (61%) of businesses use anti-virus software, with even less (55%) using network firewalls.
Howden also found that the surge in ransomware attacks are becoming more disastrous as they often involve the extortion of sensitive personal information or commercial data, which only increases the complexity of the incidents. 2023 saw an 85% increase in global ransomware attacks, with ransomware revenue exceeding $1bn for the first time that year.
However, there was a 17 point decrease in the percent of victims paying a ransom in 2024 versus 2023.
Analysis from the firm also found that 90% of attacks recorded by CSIS between April 2023 and March 2024 were politically motivated, exemplifying how geopolitics continues to shape cyber trends, and how the cyber landscape has become the new frontier for influence and espionage.
“Hostile governments continue to shield criminal actors in their respective countries, allowing them to operate with near impunity when attacking Western companies and critical infrastructure,” the report said.
The firm also noted how cyber-crime and espionage as a service has been “one of the most market and important trends in recent years,” for the cyber landscape as a whole but also in terms of rising geopolitical tensions.
Further, the firm described the advent of GenAI as “a double-edged sword” as more companies adopt the technology for defence at a pace that still trails behind the rapid adoption of the technology by threat actors.
CodeBase has partnered with Aberdeen City Council and Scottish Borders Council to offer an artificial intelligence (AI) programme for local SMEs.
The ‘AI Navigator’ programme run by technology ecosystem specialist CodeBase is designed to help SME and small business leaders use AI to improve productivity, reduce costs, and make data-driven decisions.
The Aberdeen and Scottish Borders programmes, which are free for participating companies, take place between January and March 2025, with applications closing at the end of November.
The programme is jointly funded by each council and the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Qualifying companies must have 5 employees or more, and revenue in excess of £500,000.
Lauren Wilson, head of mobilisation at CodeBase, said: “In practice, AI is less about robots taking over the world, and more about tools that can boost your efficiency. When it comes to organising your business operations, AI can streamline processes, save time, and create efficiencies that benefit your team, your customers, and ultimately your bottom line.”
“At the speed that AI technologies are constantly evolving, it can be hard for SMEs to keep up and work through what will deliver tangible business benefits.
“AI Navigator is positioned to cut through the noise and help SMEs focus on what is really important – howAI can be transformational to their businesses’ efficiency and keep them competitive in fast-moving markets.”
Global research by workplace communication platform Slack revealed that the use of AI tools in the workplace rose 24 per cent during the last quarter of 2023.
Around 80 per cent of businesses said AI has improved their productivity. At the same time, while 42 per cent of the sample said they were “excited” for AI and automation to handle tasks from their current job, 31 per cent were “neutral”, and 27 per cent were “concerned”.
“There are still a lot of misconceptions around AI, that’s something we aim to cut through on the Aberdeen and Scottish Borders AI programmes,” Wilson said. “And overall, we’re excited to get going with talented local businesses in each region at the beginning of next year.”
Despite its rising and marked success in creating a bustling startup environment, Scottish startups often struggle to reach the next step in their enterprise journey – from startup to scale-up is no easy feat in any environment, but it seems as if the exceptional examples of startups that have managed to break through the mould are just that – exceptions.
At DIGIT’s sixth annual Expo, a panel of those that have successfully done it reveal the specific challenges, and also benefits, the Scottish scale-up ecosystem poses, as well as advice on how Scotland can continue to grow its tech and wider entrepreneurial ecosystem.
It’s already been nearly five years since the start of the pandemic which rocked the global economy and dramatically transformed the future of work.
Over 40,000 new businesses were created just last year in Scotland, with a survival rate of 43.7% for startups in their first five years.
“There is, however, a well-documented problem to scale businesses in Scotland, Esther Stringer, managing director of Border Crossing UX, who chaired the panel on growing pains at DIGIT’s Expo.
Delegates heard from Colin Hewit, CEO and founder of Float, Leah Hutcheon, CEO and founder of Appointedd, Rachel Jones, founder and former CEO of SnapDragon, and Greg Aitken, CFO of Quorum Cyber talk about their startup and scale-up journeys in Scotland.
Scotland: Close-Knit or Closed Off?
A pattern quickly revealed itself as the panel delved into the common pitfalls of the Scottish ecosystem – many of the variables that aided Scottish startups in their early-stages were holding back their scaling capabilities.
This seems the most true when it comes to market size – Scotland’s close-knit, tightly networked ecosystem is beneficial in startups that are trying to find the right funding and the right people, quickly. But when trying to scale, the size of Scotland’s market can be a major constraint to acquiring the higher level of investment necessary.
“If you look at getting started from a pure startup phase, I don’t think there’s an issue there,” Greg Aitken said. “In fact, having a concentrated economy can be a good thing, you can get yourself going and build relationships really quickly.
“But if you’re trying to scale a business, and bring a change into that business, then you do have limitations from the marketplace.”
Colin Hewit described the Scottish tech ecosystem as a bubble, which has its positives and negatives.
“There’s lots of good stuff happening in our ecosystem,” Hewitt said, going on to refer to the plethora of top rate universities in Scotland and the talent pool they offer.
“But you’re in a bubble, and I’m telling you to get out of that bubble.”
Spreading outside of Scotland, making that four hour journey to talk to London investors, going international even for a mindset shift, can be transformative and enable the next step in the scale-up journey.
Breaking out of the Scottish bubble can also provide invaluable insight into the scale-up experience.
Scotland offers a broad startup network that continues to grow, with an ever-increasing array of connection opportunities and ecosystem support systems. But it also lacks the maturity of other markets, meaning those embarking on a scale-up journey lack access to mentors, and the attitude that it can be done.
“If you’re in London, there’s a maturity of the network, with people who have scaled and can talk from a place of learnt and earnt wisdom about the challenges that might be around the corner,” Leah Hutcheon said.
The talk of London brought the panel to the idea of globalisation. Scotland’s small market is well known for certain things – whiskey, wool, and talent, but it can also lack an essential aspect to scaling up – access to capital.
“I’ve met investors who will not look outside a 10 mile radius of London because they think that they can deploy all their capital there and they don’t like anybody else,” Aitken said.
“As a Scottish business, you might be looked at as being a bit smaller, provincial, potentially.”
But an international mindset especially for a technology firm can be essential – in terms of service and funding.
Rachel Jones, founder of SnapDragon, said she entered the startup world with an international mindset, which she emphasised to delegates was essential to taking her company to the next step.
Since she didn’t come from a tech background, Jones widened her search for technical expertise and funding to across the globe, since her service was all online.
Hutcheon concurred: “As a tech company, we were born global, so we can take the best of both worlds.”
This best of both worlds – of Scotland’s homegrown, close-knit ecosystem, and tech’s inherent globalism, was a key theme throughout the panel. Offering technical capabilities allows tech businesses based in Scotland to reach a global audience – startups should be having a global outlook in seeking investment as well.
For Aitken, who joined Quorum Cyber when it was worth £3 million and now exceeds a worth of £30m, he noted that Scotland may not be the region relying on investment, but “we do rely on it for talent.”
“While we are powered by tech, we are a peoples business, we spend 80% of our expenditure on salaries.”
He referenced Scotland’s top universities, as well as the focus on cyber and technology across the Scottish higher education system. Quorum even introduced a graduate scheme to expand its staff and bring in young talent.
“One of the questions you get asked in funding rounds as you scale, is how are you going to increase your top line, and how are you going to deliver and scale by three times, four times, five times,” he explained. “We always have a strong answer because we can point toward the grad scheme, we can point towards the talent that is concentrated in Scotland.”
Hewitt agreed, noting the transformation of the tech and startup scene in Edinburgh and Glasgow in the past five years, largely driven by their universities.
An Attitude Problem?
The supportive ecosystem needs to be harnessed, however.
“As founders, it is your responsibility to look for the opportunities and look for the good,” Hutcheon said. “I have been unashamed in asking for help from a lot of people.”
The Scottish ecosystem has been lauded by the panel as supportive, but founders also noted the negativity in mindset.
“We can get in our own way for sure,” Hutcheon said, noting negativity in the press.
Aitkin noted the differences in international mindset, Aitkin referencing the positivity and boundless imagination of the ‘American Dream’ – even if it comes short in reality – and the enthusiasm for creating support in Middle eastern markets.
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” Jones noted. “No one talks about being an entrepreneur in school here. We need enterprise embedded in the curriculum.”
Hewitt noted that sending people across the pond to Silicon Valley and New York was some of the most beneficial things his company had done to shift mindsets toward entrepreneurial success.
He also noted that the international market can be tapped into not just for funding, but for leadership as well.
The change to remote work means companies can hire international board members.
“That means we get the benefits of local networks, university talents, a smaller ecosystem with better connectivity, but also bring in experienced mentors from an international pool,” Hewitt said.
International recruitment can also help in the growing skills shortage, Jones noted, pointed out that Scottish startups are often overly intimidated by visa charges and international recruitment struggles.
To strengthen Scotland further, Aitken hopes we do not lose sight of the fantastic education system fuelling one of Scotland’s greatest strengths, its talent pool.
“I despair at some of the conditions that young students are in,” he said.
“These are not environments conducive to creating world class talent, which we have.
“I hope we don’t lose sight of that.”
The mix of Scotland’s positives and negatives create a massive overlap, with a collective need to be positive, and not lose sight of the positive aspects of Scotland’s ecosystem, without being overly confined by it.
Since each panel member pointed out Scotland’s lack of scale-up mentorship, each speaker took the opportunity to use their platform to spread some advice to prospective scale-ups.
For Aitken, it was building momentum and being able to make fast, necessary decisions in order to scale a business.
“Try and find the right people and put them in the right place as quickly as possible,” he said. “Technical ability is key, but I wouldn’t underestimate grit, resilience, ambition, and determination.”
He called Quarom’s prolific rise – from £3m to £30m in three years – “exhausting.” Having the right people with ‘grit’ behind him made all the difference.
Hewit recommended getting “out fo your bubble.”
“We’re limited only by our mindset,” he said. Finding strength in the network, getting second opinions and finding a founder network is vital to the journey.
“Having no ego when it comes to doing things,” Hutechon said. She encouraged delegates to ask questions, ask for help, and to “Go out, be hungary, don’t have an ego, and just get stuff done.”
Jones offered up an important lesson that she herself learned when she stepped down as CEO of SnapDragon.
“Someone said I wouldn’t be the right person to run the business at a certain stage,” she said. “Nevermind egos, let’s just deliver,” she advised.
In a landmark case from the US, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has been told it must sell its search browser Chrome, and take other measures to ensure fairer competition in the search arena.
Google is facing a harsh sentencing over its monopoly on search – the company has cornered about 90% of the search engine market, and Chrome is the world’s most popular browser.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is also saying that Alphabet must share its data and search results with rivals, and potentially even sell Android, to further deconstruct its search monopoly.
The split would be in place for up to ten years, and enforced by a court-appointed committee to bring what the judge described as an illegal monopoly under compliance.
“Google’s unlawful behaviour has deprived rivals not only of critical distribution channels but also distribution partners who could otherwise enable entry into these markets by competitors in new and innovative ways, the DOJ and antitrust enforcers said in the court filing.
The decision would put a stop to the billion dollar contracts Google has with Apple and other companies to make it the default search engine.
“DOJ’s approach would result in unprecedented government overreach that would harm American consumers, developers, and small businesses – and jeopardize America’s global economic and technological leadership at precisely the moment it’s needed most,” said Alphabet chief legal officer Kent Walker.
The Proposals
The proposals seem to target a wide range of Google’s offerings, and would prohibit the company from re-entering the browser market for five years after its split from Chrome becomes official.
If all else fails to restore fairer competition, Google may be forced to sell Android, its mobile operating system.
Further, Google will be barred from buying or investing in search rivals, AI query-based products, and advertising tools.
Websites and publishers would also be given the power to opt out of being used for training Google’s AI products.
A technical committee – appointed by the judge and paid for by Google – would enforce Google’s compliance and be able to demand documents, look into software code, and interview employees.
Further, Google will not be able to require devices that run on Android to include its other products.
The decision also means that the search giant must licence its search results to competitors for a nominal costs and share data for free.
It can no longer collect any user data that cannot be shared due to privacy concerns – Google had previously used privacy concerns as a reason to withhold data from customers after the EU created similar stipulators, competitor DuckDuckGo alleged.
Hearts of Midlothian Football Club, based in Edinburgh, has entered an official agreement with data analysis firm Jamestown Analytics.
Football clubs that have utilised Jamestown Analytics’ recruitment database include Brighton & Hove Albion, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Como, as well as other client clubs that continue to strengthen their squads and improve their performances with the help of the data.
“There has been a lot of speculation about the coming together of Heart of Midlothian and Jamestown Analytics,” chief executive officer Andrew McKinlay said, “so I am pleased that we are now able to officially announce our partnership and get the facts out in the open.
“Jamestown Analytics’ reputation in footballing circles is second to none. It is no understatement when I say that they have made ground-breaking progress with clubs across Europe, so to be Scotland’s sole beneficiaries of their expertise is truly exciting.
“Already our football staff, soon to be under the guidance of Graeme, have been working with the data provided by Jamestown Analytics to plan for recruitment in January, next summer and beyond.
“I fully believe that the club will reap the benefits of embracing this modern, innovative approach to analytics and we couldn’t be prouder to be associated with Jamestown Analytics as we take Hearts into a new era.”
Justin Said, managing director of Jamestown Analytics, said: “We are very selective about the clubs we want to work with, and we feel that Hearts is a good fit.
“We are looking forward to working with [new sporting director] Graeme [James] and his team and, hopefully, help them to deliver success.”
The club has already utilised the analytics firm in their search for a new manager, from which Neil Critchley was selected as analysis highlighted him for its ability to improve player performance.
As part of International Fraud Awareness week, 11 industry partners including BT, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Abrdn, TSB, Virgin Money, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Fujitsu, Equifax and Dudley Building Society are collaborating to launch an innovation programme focused on addressing financial crime.
FinTech Scotland, SuperTech West Midlands, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, brought together through the Innovate UK Innovation Accelerators programme, will lead the UK wide innovation call aiming from within the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab to tackle financial crime challenges.
Innovators worldwide are invited to apply to join the programme by 13 January 2025.
Successful applicants will benefit from direct support from industry leaders, an unparalleled opportunity to refine and test their propositions within a robust framework. Participants will also gain insights through exclusive roundtables, masterclasses, and workshops led by leading academics from the University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, Aston University, and Birmingham City University.
This collaboration will deepen FRIL’s impact in tackling financial crime, with a specific focus on five use cases provided by industry.
The call will conclude on 20 March 2025 with a showcase event, offering innovators the chance to present their solutions to a broad range of senior stakeholders.
“FRIL is all about the power of collaboration, bringing together diverse expertise to deliver better outcomes for all,” Nicola Anderson, CEO at FinTech Scotland, said. “By partnering with other UK regions, we are strengthening the UK’s position as a leader in financial innovation, connecting the best minds and resources to address some of the industry’s toughest challenges.”
Hilary Smyth-Allen, executive director SuperTech said: “Joining this latest thematic call with FRIL, we are building on the strong base of cross-regional collaboration of innovation endeavour. As the partnership expands, the undoubted winner is the UK; this time in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing industry and citizens as result of financial crime.”
FRIL is a project funded by the Glasgow City Region Innovation Accelerator programme led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the pilot Innovation Accelerators programme invested £100m in 26 transformative R&D projects to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation clusters – Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester, and West Midland.
This is a new model of R&D decision making that aims to empower local leaders to harness innovation to drive regional economy growth, help attract private investment, and develop future technologies.
Google has pushed back against a new proposal that may force the tech giant to sell Chrome, the world’s biggest web browser.
The proposal, from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) will be sent to a judge this week, and will consider if Google’s continued ownership of Chrome would make it a monopoly.
Google has already been ruled to operate a monopoly of online search by US judge Amit Mehta back in August, who is now considering how the company can be allowed to move forward.
The tech giant, which operates the world’s largest search engine, the world’s most popular web browser, manufactures smart phones, app stores, has a cloud subsidiary, and offers a suit of software applications, is vehemently against the proposal.
“The DOJ continues to push a radical agenda that goes far beyond the legal issues in this case,” Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google executive, said.
“The government putting its thumb on the scale in these ways would harm consumers, developers and American technological leadership at precisely the moment it is most needed.”
According to the proposal, which was first reported on by Bloomberg, Google will also be required to create new measures around its use of data, its Android operating systems, and its AI.
Google’s search has cornered about 90% of the market, and is the default search engine on Chrome and Safari. Chrome has so far come out on top in terms of web browsers, with nearly two thirds of the market.
Following the ruling in August, the DOJ is expected to release its proposed remedies on Wednesday.
In October it was revealed that the government body was considering breaking up Google’s many ventures to decrease its monopolistic hold across the tech sphere.
Google has said that the proposed splitting would “break them”, as in, would hurt the company and their products if they were forced to split.
“Breaking them off would change their business models, raise the cost of devices, and undermine Android and Google Play in their robust competition with Apple’s iPhone and App Store,” Google said.
The company also claims that the proposed split would make it harder to secure Chrome.
UK energy minister, Michael Shanks MP, has marked the start of work on the £9.1m project in Aberdeen, backed by UK government, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and industry funding, and unveiled its new title: ETZ EnergyWorks.
Expected to be operational in early Autumn 2025, ‘EnergyWorks’ will be the flagship of the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ) Innovation Campus in the Granite City, with the 3,000 square-meter premises providing a mix of industrial and collaboration space alongside advanced manufacturing and entreprenurial support for firms ready to develop and scale.
ETZ EnergyWorks was founded by ETZ Ltd, bp, and Scottish Enterprise, supported by the UK and Scottish Gvernments, with delivery partners National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC).
The UK Government has funded £5.5m towards the project, with £2m from Scottish Enterprise alongside additional Scottish Government funding, and £1.25m from bp.
The energy incubator and scale-up hub will be a “one-stop shop” for companies working across sectors including offshore wind, hydrogen and battery storage, with the building itself being created with net zero principles at its heart, running on 100% green electricity, partly generated on site via solar panels, and use of sustainable construction materials.
EnergyWorks will be equipped with a workshop operated by NMIS for advanced manufacturing support towards prototype development and commercialising new technology, alongside an array of industrial units for tenants as well as meeting, collaboration and co-working space.
Its offering will include an ecosystem of mentoring and entrepreneurial support from the EnergyWorks project partners, designed to allow tenants to grow and, ultimately, outgrow their space to go out into the local economy.
The facility aims to attract an initial 15 tenants in its first year and generate dozens of green energy jobs annually. EnergyWorks is a key facet of ETZ Ltd’s goal to position North East Scotland as the net zero capital of Europe.
“Our mission to become a clean energy superpower starts with building a world-class supply chain, that will revitalise our industrial heartlands and power homes and businesses with British-made infrastructure,” UK energy minister Michael Shanks said.
“Aberdeen is already at the heart of our clean energy transition as the host of Great British Energy’s headquarters. This new government-backed EnergyWorks hub will build on the city’s highly skilled engineering workforce and cement Scotland’s role as a pioneer in renewable technology.”
ETZ Ltd chief executive Maggie McGinlay said: “Supporting innovation and entrepreneurial energy businesses is vital as we position the North East of Scotland as the Net Zero Capital of Europe.
“EnergyWorks will play a crucial role, providing practical support for companies seeking to bring their products to market as they get on with the business of the energy transition.
“A one-stop shop for firms working across the transition, from offshore wind to hydrogen, this hub will deliver a blend of support for innovation, entrepreneurship and growth for the next generation of tech pioneers right here in the North East – the work starts now.”
Scottish Enterprise chief executive Adrian Gillespie said: “It’s fantastic to see construction starting at EnergyWorks, set to become a critical location for helping entrepreneurs across the North East and Scotland access the support and funding they need to kick start and accelerate growth.
“Helping businesses identify opportunities to be part of Scotland’s energy transition future is one of our missions at Scottish Enterprise as we work to accelerate economic transformation. We look forward to working alongside our partners to support energy entrepreneurs at EnergyWorks.”
NMIS chief executive officer Chris Courtney commented: “It is vitally important we maximise the supply chain opportunities from the energy transition, particularly in Aberdeen with its globally recognised skill base and heritage. We are delighted to join our partners to support entrepreneurs, allowing them to rapidly scale their businesses.
“We will help entrepreneurs bring transformative products and services to market quickly by developing and de-risking new technologies they need, developing the future skills they need and connecting them to the network of innovation in Aberdeen and across the UK.”
Worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services is forecast to total $723.4 billion in 2025, up from $595.7 billion in 2024.
“The use of AI technologies in IT and business operations is unabatedly accelerating the role of cloud computing in supporting business operations and outcomes,” said Sid Nag, vice president analyst at Gartner.
“Cloud use cases continue to expand with increasing focus on distributed, hybrid, cloud-native, and multicloud environments supported by a cross-cloud framework, making the public cloud services market achieve a 21.5% growth in 2025.”
Gartner predicts that 90% of organisations will adopt a hybrid cloud approach through 2027, and the most urgent GenAI challenge necessary to address over the next year will be data synchronisation across the hybrid cloud environment.
Overall, all segments of the cloud market are expected to record a double-digit growth rate in 2025 highlighting how I&O leaders are pressured to effectively integrate I&O into their GenAI strategies and prepare for running AI and GenAI infrastructure at the edge.
The growth of industry and vertical specific GenAI models which are curated, private and secure, and that require advanced training, inferencing and fine tuning, will continue to drive the growth of public cloud services spending globally.
In 2025, organisations will increasingly be attracted to the efficiencies of cloud infrastructure and platform services (CIPS) offerings. Gartner defines the CIPS market as a full-featured platform in which IaaS and PaaS capabilities are delivered as integrated cloud services.
“Organisations are choosing CIPS because workloads of today are complex, and organisations are seeking integrated platforms to simplify development, deployment, and operations. Organisations deploying a multicloud adoption model, which is still recording growth, are also driving spend on CIPS,” said Nag.
Furthermore, cross cloud integration framework (CCIF) that makes multicloud a reality will be a key driver of the CIPS adoption model. For example, organisations will demand cross cloud federated GenAI capabilities to service advanced AI workloads and use cases.
Gartner expects end-user spending on CIPS will grow 24.2% in 2025 to reach $301 billion. In 2025, CIPS offerings are projected to account for 72% of IT spending on IaaS and PaaS, up from 70% in 2022.
Innovators from across the UK can now apply for the second round of the Manchester Prize, a funding initiative now aimed at pushing forward the use of technology to deliver new clean energy systems.
Teams of innovators, academics, startups and entrepreneurs based in the UK will be able to apply for funding to develop solutions which will decarbonise the nation’s energy grid and boost the UK’s energy security.
These innovations could prove crucial in the coming years to support the government’s broader mission of transforming the UK into a clean energy superpower.
Over the next eight weeks, applicants are invited to come forward to demonstrate how their innovations will boost low-cost energy, reduce energy demand and make energy use more efficient across the country – with the competition also extended to solutions from around the world which partner with a lead UK-based organisation.
These could include new avenues for boosting the power generated by wind and solar farms, using AI to increase energy efficiency in homes and businesses, and tapping into the technology to build up a better understanding of future spikes in energy demand.
The launch of the second round of the Manchester Prize comes as global leaders gather in Azerbaijan for the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference. The use of technology in tackling climate change will feature heavily on the agenda, with talks also covering the role of AI in developing new climate solutions.
“AI can transform our public services, make us more productive and tackle some of the biggest shared challenges in society. AI is already having a positive impact on so many aspects of our lives, but there’s much more waiting to be tapped into,” minister for AI Feryal Clark said.
“The second round of the Manchester Prize will bring brilliant British innovation to bear to deliver a clean, secure energy future for the UK. Whether in energy, healthcare, or beyond, we’re backing AI innovations to deliver real and lasting change across the country.”
The Manchester Prize was launched in December 2023 by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology and is being delivered in partnership with Challenge Works. It marks a decade-long commitment for the UK to support AI innovations which will tackle some of society’s biggest shared challenges with Round 1 focusing on the areas of energy, environment, and infrastructure.
As part of Round 2’s ‘AI for Clean Energy Systems’ focus, the UK government will back up to 10 innovators with £100,000, with a panel of judges set to whittle down these 10 finalists to one winner next year, securing a £1 million grand prize to further support their innovation.
Increased adoption of AI across the energy sector could not only lead to ground-breaking new solutions to tackle the climate crisis, but lead to lower bills for British bill payers and reduce the country’s energy demand by ensuring better efficiency across the energy network.
“The greatest long-term challenge we face is the climate and nature crisis: that’s why we have our world leading targets to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050,” chief scientific adviser at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Prof Paul Monks said.
“We need an ambitious approach to using artificial intelligence across the development, engineering and operation of our energy systems and so I am pleased to see the Manchester Prize recognising that with its dedicated new round on decarbonisation.”
Applicants for Round 2 of the Manchester Prize have until 17 January 2025 to submit their solutions, with a shortlist of ten finalists due to be confirmed in spring next year.
DIGIT Expo is Scotland’s largest gathering of technology personnel, with 2023’s event attracting over 1500 delegates.
This year’s massive conference will feature a keynote theatre and three seminar rooms holdinh talks on cybersecurity, data, AI, ML, analytics, cloud services, networks, connectivity and much more.
The Expo floor will be populated by 60 market-leading tech companies and Scottish tech stakeholders giving you the opportunity to get up close with the new disruptive products and services that are shaping future business.
Speakers at DIGIT Expo 2024 include:
Dr. Laura Gilbert – Chief Analyst & Director of Data Science, 10 Downing Street.
Umang Patel – Chief Clinical Information Officer, Microsoft
Marine McCormack – MD: Head of Engineering Practices, JP Morgan Chase
Catriona Campbell – CTIO, EY
Laura Ellis – Head of Technology Forecasting, BBC
Bryan Ross – Field CTO, GitLab
Hazel Savage – VP of Music Intelligence, SoundCloud
Kelly Paterson – CSO, HM Revenue & Customs
Megan Hughes – Global Head of Data Science & Strategy, Gurenthal
Popular children’s game and creation platform Roblox is updating its parental controls after international alarm rose concerning the safety of children using its system.
In a ‘major update’ by the company, Roblox will no longer enable users under the age of 13 to directly message others on Roblox outside of specific games or experiences.
Those under the age of 13 using the platform will not be able to directly and privately message others, and will only be able to send messages that are broadcast publicly within games played on the platform.
Existing parental controls will also be expanded, allowing parents to monitor their children’s activity remotely more closely using their linked account, as well as providing controls to adjust their child’s screentime allowances, view friends lists, and set limits for playing.
To help parents make more informed decisions when it comes to the content their child can access, Roblox created simplified content labels to describe games.
Labelling games based on age recommendations has been replaced with different content labels that better describe the level of mature themes involved, including violence, fear, humour, and strong language, to minimal, mild, moderate, and restricted.
By default, Roblox will not allow users under the age of nine to access minimal and mild-rated experiences, and will block users under 13 from searching or playing any experience that has yet to be reviewed and labelled.
Restricted content will remain as such until a user is at least 17 and has verified their age with Roblox.
Recently, Roblox was accused of lacking enough safety measures to keep kids safe across its platform my US investment firm Hindenburg Research.
Child safety advocacy groups urged Ofcom to take action after the firm claimed Roblox was an “X-rated paedophile hellscape.”
Around 20% of Roblox users are under the age of 9, with the majority under 16 years old. The nature of the Roblox game – its user-created games and chatrooms allowing people to socialise – made it rise in popularity, but also creates a mindfield for parents trying to regulate the content their child can access.
“These updates should provide parents greater clarity to make informed decisions about what is appropriate for their child,” Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer, assured.
Despite companies claiming to take their sustainability goals seriously, few are putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to investing in the necessary technology to lesson their carbon footprint and increase their overall sustainability.
This is according to research from Kyndryl and Microsoft, which shows that 38% of companies continue to increase their ambitious sustainability goals since last year, showing an overall trends of the topics significance.
The study, conducted by Ecosystem in late summer 2024, presents the perspectives of 1,355 sustainability leaders across 20 countries and nine industries.
While 84% of organisations recognise sustainability’s strategic importance, only 19% have implemented data-driven initiatives, revealing a stark gap between intent and action.
The report delved deeper, however, showing that organisations struggle to engage employees in their sustainability programmes. Most organisations report that while employees are somewhat aware of their company’s broader goals, over two thirds (67%) still have a limited understanding on sustainability.
These two factors combined can reduce many sustainability platforms to simple lip service, with many programmes limited by insufficient access to information and data, and only a third of organisations ensuring staff are fully informed about sustainability progress, roles, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Further, staff may lack encouragement, as less than a tenth (9%) of organisations link sustainability to compensation.
Further, despite widespread recognition of technology’s importance in achieving sustainability goals, only 40% of organisations fully utilise it to reach their ambitions.
In addition, just 15% effectively manage to use sustainability data to inform their sustainability transformation.
While 80% of organisations recognise the importance of technology in achieving their sustainability goals, only around a quarter (27%) feel they can tap into the technology’s potential effectively.
Only around one in five (21%) of organisations globally recognise technology’s duel role in reducing carbon footprints and advancing sustainability goals.
This seems especially true for AI: 54% of organisations are able to recognise AI’s potential to impact sustainability goals, it is underutilised for critical applications like assessing risks, forecasting energy consumption and preparing for natural disasters.
The University of Strathclyde’s former Student Union building will be transformed into a digital, entrepreneurial and social engagement hub following an alumnus donation.
Named Charles Huang Advanced Technology and Innovations Centre (CHATIC) in recognition of a £30 million contribution to the project by Dr Charles Huang, a founder of private equity firm Pasaca Capital Inc, as part of a £50m donation he made through his foundation to Strathclyde in 2021, marking the largest philanthropic gift seen by the university.
Situated in the heart of Glasgow City Innovation District, CHATIC will provide additional facilities for advancing Health Technologies, 5G Communications, Industrial AI, FinTech, Quantum Technologies and Space research, alongside housing an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub and a Social Innovation Hub.
With space for businesses to co-locate within the University, CHATIC will create a critical mass of companies and innovation support organisations, alongside community engagement facilities that will deliver increased economic and social impact.
The building has lain empty since Strath Union moved location, though part of the building incorporates the University’s combined heat and power district heating system.
Scheduled for completion in 2026, the refurbishment of the 10-storey, 5,535 square metre former student union premises, originally built in 1959, will emit around 67% less carbon when compared to a new-build, while retaining a building which holds many memories for Strathclyders and Glaswegians more widely and continuing to contribute towards the city.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal & vice-chancellor of Strathclyde, said: “I am delighted that CHATIC will facilitate new opportunities to: partner and innovate with industry; enhance research capabilities by actively developing our research leaders of the future; grow entrepreneurial and social innovation opportunities open to staff, students and the wider community; and, it will create opportunities for our students to engage with industry research partners.
“We are hugely grateful to Charles for his very generous contribution to this project and are delighted to recognise this through the naming of the new building.”
The £50m donation from Dr Huang also enabled the creation of the Stephen Young Institute for International Business, funded two professorial chairs in the Institute and supported the establishment of The Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Awards and The Stephen Young Global Leaders Scholarship Programme.
Lina Tullberg, CEO of the Charles Huang Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to see our donation to the University of Strathclyde come to fruition and meet with Dr Charles Huang’s original objectives. The CHATIC is the last piece of the programmes funded by the donation, with the other elements progressing well.”
Ahead of Black Friday, the day of retail sales, the UK’s cybersecurity and law enforcement chiefs have issued an alert to bargain hunters after new figures revealed rising losses to online scammers during the festive shopping season.
Clothing, high-end tech products, and even cars were among the products featuring in scams as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Action Fraud revealed that Brits reported losing over £11.5 million to online criminals between November 2023 and January 2024. Each victim lost £695 on average.
This is an increase of nearly one million from last year, which saw losses amounting to £10.6m.
The figures coincide with the launch of the NCSC’s new nationwide campaign, Stop! Think Fraud, which aims to encourage people to set up two-step verification on their most important accounts.
The latest figures, which are sourced from reports made by Action Fraud and analysed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) revealed that 7,168 reports (43%) mentioned a social media platform, while online marketplaces were mentioned in 18.9% of reports.
Further, those aged 30-39 submitted the largest number of reports (23%), closely followed by 40-49-year-olds (20%). The average age of a victim was 42.
“We know that more needs to be done to tackle online fraud,” fraud minister Lord Hanson said.
“That’s why we are delighted to support initiatives like this, through the Stop! Think Fraud campaign, which provide practical, actionable advice to the public to stay safe from scams.
“And our message to anyone shopping online as we approach Black Friday is simple: if you come across anything that doesn’t feel right – stop what you’re doing, break contact, and do not click any links.
“This government is committed to defeating this scourge and we will continue our work with industry and other partners to better protect the public from this appalling crime.”
The NCSC’s guidance encourages shoppers to exercise vigilance against tactics that push them to act quickly without thinking. Criminals often create false urgency by using limited-time offers or promoting items that seem scarce or not widely available.
Researching the company or seller and looking at reviews or trusted review sites can be the first step in determining if a sale will be safe or fraudulent.
If something seems suspicious, the NCSC encourages shoppers to break contact immediately to not click on any links, as these may be malicious.
“Everyone will be looking to snap up good Black Friday deals and bargains whilst shopping this festive period, but unfortunately this doesn’t stop fraudsters from targeting members of the public online,” Adam Mercer, deputy head of Action Fraud, said.
“With Action Fraud data revealing more than 16,000 reports of online shopping fraud over last year’s festive period, we are urging people to shop safely online – especially if you’re buying on social media – and avoid being left empty handed for the holiday season.
“Never feel pressured into buying anything online – creating a false sense of urgency is a tell-tale sign of a fraudster. Whether you are shopping on online marketplaces, social media or retailers, avoid bank transfers if you can, and use a credit card as it can provide more protection if anything goes wrong.
“You can protect yourself from fraudsters this festive season by following the practical advice on the Stop! Think Fraud website to help you shop online safely.”
Shoppers are also encourage to secure their accounts by adopting multifactor authentication which provides an extra layer of protection to accounts.
“As we head into the holiday shopping season, people are understandably eager to find the best deals online,” NCSC CEO Richard Horne said.
“Unfortunately, this is also prime time for cyber criminals, who exploit bargain hunters with increasingly sophisticated scams – sometimes crafted using AI – making them harder to detect.
“To stay protected, I strongly recommend following our online shopping guidance, including setting up 2-step verification and creating memorable but secure passwords using three random words.”
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has released new guidance to organisations looking to adopt Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) to best utilise the technology and understand its costs and benefits.
As part of its guidance, the ICO has released a new tool to assess the cost-benefit awareness of PETs adoption, with a specific focus on emerging PETs.
These emerging PETs include a group of technologies that provide new solutions to privacy challenges in modern, data-driven systems. These include trusted execution environments, homomorphic encryption, differential privacy, and multi-party computation.
Uptake of these emerging technologies is currently low as organisations struggle to ascertain the cost and benefit of adopting these technologies that have yet to reach full maturity.
However, PETs can help organisations unlock more value from their data, and protect people’s privacy in new, innovative ways.
The ICO’s tool, which was created in collaboration with the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), aims to help organisations better understand the potential impact these technologies can have.
The tool, which is informed by interviews with industry and academics, is structured around examples of using different PETs for “privacy-preserving federated learning.” The example revolved around training machine learning models without centralised data collection, whilst protecting the privacy of data in the wider system.
Through the example, the ICO provides ways in which the tool can be used to access the costs and benefits of using PETs.
Use cases would include making data available to external audiences, carrying out collaborative statistical analysis on data, and securing data processing activities in digital environments with various security measures.
The tool helps organisations balance the benefits of PETs, which include reducing individual risk, as well as how it can actually reduce long-term compliance costs.
The ICO recommends those considering using PETs should explore the guidance and use to tool to see what PETs would be appropriately implemented across their organisation.
Organisations are continually underestimating the security needs of sites containing fewer complex applications, new research from Black Duck reveals.
The report, 2024 Software Vulnerability Snapshot, offers insights from over 200,000 dynamic application security testing (DAST) scans across around 13,000 applications in 19 industries.
The report revealed the top three sectors with critical vulnerabilities, which include finance and insurance, healthcare and social assistance, and information services.
Top Sectors
Small and medium-complexity sites tend to have more critical vulnerabilities than those with larger complexity, particularly in finance and insurance, which had the highest number of critical vulnerabilities (1,299). The sector, which is highly regulated, therefore still faces substantial risk, despite threat actors continually targeting this industry for maximum financial gain.
The healthcare and social assistance sector was closely behind with 992 critical vulnerabilities, which raises concerns about patient data protection and compliance with regulation.
In the UK, the NHS has been continually targeted, either directly through NHS councils, or through high-profile breaches of affiliate labs such as Synnovis.
Data-centric industries are also in danger, as information services was the third highest sector in terms of critical vulnerabilities, with 446.
Top Vulnerabilities
In terms of what these vulnerabilities looked like, Black Duck rounded the 96,917 vulnerabilities it identified into three critical categories.
Cryptographic failures, or sensitive data exposure, accounted for 30,726 vulnerabilities, including nearly 5,000 critical risk instances.
These affected 86% of clients, representing one of the most common and serious security issues across industries.
4,814 were identified as injection vulnerabilities, with over half of those classified as critical instances. These vulnerabilities, which include SQL Injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), allow for the potential for data theft and compromised systems, posing a significant threat to security.
Misconfigurations to security systems affected nearly all (98%) of clients Black Duck scanned, with over 36,000 identified vulnerabilities. However, while many of these were deemed information by Black Duck, as in, no immediate action was indicated, they still represent significant potential for security risks.
Black Duck also found variations in the remediation times for security incidents across various sectors.
Despite having the highest amount of vulnerabilities, the finance and insurance sector demonstrated the fastest response times, which varied based the complexity of the sites. with 28, 23, and 78 day response times for small, medium, and large complexity sites respectively.
Utilities, on the other hand, had the longest remediation time, with small sites taking 107 days, and medium complexity sites taking 876 days on average
Recommendations
The report highlighted the mounting challenges faced in application security across various industries, and recommends that organisations prioritise sensitive data exposure and injection vulnerabilities, particularly in high-risk sectors like finance and health.
Further, they recommend reducing time-to-close for critical vulnerabilities to mitigate the long-term effect any breaches may have.
Addressing misconfigurations and implementing a multifaceted security approach centered around testing and comprehensive coverage is also vital.
Thousands of jobs are set to be supported across the UK as the UK Prime Minister supports the aerospace industry with £975 million over the next five years for the growth sector.
In a boost for aerospace centres in places like Broughton, Filton and Derby, the Government has extended the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme. The extension will speed up innovation, create job opportunities and support an industry that is a source of pride for communities across Britain.
“From modern aircraft engines to helicopters, the UK’s aerospace industry is truly world-class,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
“The UK is at the forefront of cutting-edge aerospace industry, and by accelerating our investment we will unlock the tech of the future and take a crucial step forward in our mission to deliver growth and opportunity across our country.”
The government’s investment aims to provide the industry with long-term confidence in the UK as a place to in turn invest in cutting-edge aerospace technology and help extend the UK’s place in wings and engine manufacturing, whilst working to deliver zero-emission flights.
Bidding for the funding will open in January, with projects expected to begin from the Autumn.
Aerospace will also be at the heart of the government’s Industrial Strategy, while also having an important global role in achieving our Net Zero targets and defence, with the RAF and Royal Navy both relying on its technology. Aerospace will also be at the heart of the government’s Industrial Strategy, while also having an important global role in achieving our Net Zero targets and defence, with the RAF and Royal Navy both relying on its technology.
“Our world-class aerospace sector added almost £40 billion to the economy last year, supporting high-skilled jobs in every part of the UK,” business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said.
“Backing the sector with this funding will ensure the UK can continue to pioneer new technologies, all while delivering the economic growth that will be felt in communities across the country.”
Meta is facing a fine of 797 million euros from the EU for breaching its antitrust rules and breaching its market dominance in its Facebook Marketplace.
According to the case, the European Commission found that Meta was giving Facebook users an unfair advantage across Facebook Marketplace by automatically giving them access to classified ads services associated with the marketplace.
It also found that the tech giant further abused its dominance in the market by unfair trading conditions it imposed on other online classified ads service providers that advertised across Facebook.
“Facebook users can choose whether or not to engage with Marketplace, and many don’t. The reality is that people use Facebook Marketplace because they want to, not because they have to,” the Meta said in a statement, saying they would appeal the fine and ruling.
The company said that the ruling chose to overlook “the realities of the thriving European market for online classified listing services.”
The EU contented that because Facebook Marketplace was tied to Facebook, the marketplace benefited from “a substantial distribution advantage which competitors cannot match.
“All Facebook users automatically have access and get regularly exposed to Facebook Marketplace whether they want it or not,” it continued.
The EU also said that Meta implemented unfair conditions on competing classified ads service providers who advertised on its platforms, contending that Meta used “ads-related data generated by other advertisers for the sole benefit of Facebook Marketplace.”
Meta completely denied these allegations, saying that it did not “advertisers’ data for this purpose” and in fact has “built systems and controls to ensure that” it does not happen.
In setting the nearly 8m euro fine, the EU accounted for the “duration and gravity of the infringement,” as well as Facebook Marketplace’s turnover, as well as Meta’s total turnover.
While the EU says that companies exhibiting market dominance should not exist in principle, those that display market power need to uphold a certain set of standards as to not abuse this power.
Meta’s revenue last year totalled 125bn euros, or £104bn.
The majority of UK businesses will soon be outsourcing their security operations, according to a new report from security solutions provider Logpoint.
Its European Cybersecurity Sector 2024 report, which surveyed 1,762 senior decision makers and influencers in leadership, technology and security roles across Europe found that while 48% manage their security operations inhouse versus 52% who use a third party, more than a quarter (28%) of UK businesses intend to outsource over the course of the next two years.
For comparison, in France about two thirds (65%) take an inhouse approach while 35% outsource, of which 24% intend to outsource. In Germany 77% opt for inhouse and 23% outsource and 27% intend to do so, and in the Nordic region, 54% keep operations inhouse and 46% outsource with 14% intending to externalise.
All of these markets are experiencing a swing in favour of outsourcing that will see the practice become equal to or outstrip inhouse provision.
Key reasons given for the switch include the ability to benefit from external skills and knowledge, cost efficiencies linked to clear and predictable pricing, and effective security management which is likely to see a spur in demand for MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers).
The main reason given for keeping security inhouse was utilising internal skills and knowledge which could well change as organisations struggle to recruit the necessary expertise due to the skills shortage.
In fact, 60% of those that do outsource said this was because they were missing internal skills and knowledge and 48% said it was because they couldn’t recruit candidates with the requisite skills/knowledge.
The ISC2 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Study reveals that the UK has the widest workforce gap in Europe, having grown 27.1% over the course of the past year while at the same time its workforce has shrunk 4.9% due to layoffs and economic stagnancy, supporting the argument that a diminishing talent pool is contributing to the outsourcing trend.
Interestingly, almost a third (30%) said they outsource security management to a third party to shift accountability.
Organisations are increasingly relying upon an MSSP to prove compliance or to satisfy the requirements of a cyber insurance provider.
It’s a factor that could well prove an even bigger draw as compliance regulations such as NIS2 prioritise personal accountability and the need to maintain oversight of security processes and procedures.
The main selection criteria for choosing an MSSP today is the quality of the service offering (46%), followed by the reputation of the provider (19%), price (12%), breadth (11%) and the ability of the customer to influence the technology used (9%).
“The burden of regulatory compliance coupled with the onus being placed on individual members of the board and senior management is driving demand for MSSP services.
“Using a third party can provide the organisation with access to the latest technology and skilled experts but also enables them to prove compliance through tailored solutions that can meet the requirements of specific regulations such as GDPR and NIS2,” said Innes Muir, regional manager, MSSPs, UK, EIRE and RoW, at Logpoint.
“Going forward, the expectation is that more regulations, such as the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, will follow suit and make accountability part and parcel of risk management and incident reporting, further driving the shift to outsourcing.”
The survey also questioned MSSPs to gain their perspective on what motivates customers to outsource.
Reasons included the overall security benefits, external skills and knowledge, and availability of services 24×7, as well as cost efficiencies, trust and the offering of a centralised hub or portal.
Transparent and predictable pricing was deemed more important than offering a lower cost solution, demonstrating that cost isn’t necessarily king even during an economic downturn.
The importance of the Channel was evident, with MSSPs naming technology partners, specialists and suppliers as their primary source of information when selecting security solutions.
Selection is predominantly focused on the solution’s effectiveness in managing and mitigating security incidents (63%) and proven effectiveness (62%) but in third place was the ability of the solution to meet GDPR and local regulations (61%).
This reflects the growing demand for solutions that not only comply but offer compliance-specific monitoring and reporting. Likewise, compliance was third on the list for those that manage their security inhouse (56%) behind proven effectiveness (61%) and ease of integration (59%).
The survey found compliance with these regulations was the number one factor for choosing a security solution from an MSSP in the UK for an overwhelming 93% of those questioned.
Other key issues noted by 87% of respondents in each case were the ability to support growth/change, to keep pace with cybersecurity trends and technology, and the storage of data within the jurisdiction of the EU.
Looking to the future, the survey revealed that MSSPs are also likely to look for bundled offerings from cybersecurity vendors with solutions that align with the flagship platform, with 94% expressing an interest in this type of offering.
Ahead of the new year, Google Cloud has predicted that cyber threat actors will increasingly use AI for sophisticated cyber-attacks in 2025.
The company’s Cybersecurity Forecast 2025, which uses current trends to project what could happen in the coming year, anticipates a “second phase” in AI’s deployment in security on both defence and malicious offense.
They expect to see the rapid adoption of AI-based tools by cyber-criminals to continue, leveraging the use of large language models (LLMs) and deepfakes too improve social engineering tactics and create new avenues of cyber espionage.
Further, the report forecasts that threat actors will increasingly turn to AI for other use cases, including code development, reconnaissance, and vulnerability research.
AI for IO
Threat actors targeting Information Operations (IO) will increasingly use generative AI tools to support their crimes.
The use of AI in this realm has already progressed from the early used of generative adversarial network-created profiles used to backstop inauthentic personas, and has evolved to use LLMs to create more seemingly genuine content posted to fraudulent websites.
Google Cloud expects this trend to continue, with threat actors using more commonly available genAI tools for a range of ends, at scale, to reach more victims than ever before.
Geopolitics
Cyber is the new frontier in warfare, and the rise in geopolitical tensions is set to make the cyber landscape all the more tempestuous.
Conflicts across the world are set to be a major driver in threat activity across the cyber world, with Russia, China, Iran and North Korea set to remain actively engages in espionage operations and cyber-crime.
The report says there is no sign that the targeting of critical industry, public services, and government organisations will decrease in the coming year.
In EMEA countries in particular, Google’s Mandiant incident response teams observed increases in investigations stemming from cloud misconfigurations, inadequate monitoring, weak security practices, and credential reuse within unmanaged cloud environments.
This region is also experiencing rapid cloud adoption, so Google expects this trend to only increase as more and more organisations take up the cloud.
Securing cloud environments is therefore expected to be a major priority for EMEA countries in the coming year.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has signed a seven-year contract with Motorola solutions to enable a cloud-hosted Control Room Solution to digitally transform their operations.
The £29.5 million contract with Motorola will provide a single, cloud-based solution to mobilise firefighters to emergencies following a 999 call.
The technology is set to deliver an enhanced day-to-day and major incident response capability, replacing the ageing systems currently used by the SFRS’s three operations control rooms in Johnstone, Edinburgh, and Dundee.
Last year, the Service attended around 80,000 incidents – each requiring one or more 999 calls.
Statistics revealed by the Service last week show that the number of house fires in Scotland was at its lowest since records began – with firefighters responding to 3,800 accidental dwelling fires.
However, the number of non-fire incidents such as flooding and road traffic collisions, was at 16,000 – the second highest on record.
The new system is set to allow SFRS Operations Control staff to deal with day-to-day incidents effectively and efficiently.
The initial contract period will be seven years with the option for a three-year extension.
“Our 180 Operations Control staff across Scotland are the unseen frontline of the service, working together they play a critical role in the safety of Scotland’s communities,” Andy Watt, the SFRS’s deputy chief officer said.
“Operations Control rooms by their very nature and existence, are fundamental elements in the delivery of SFRS core services and are a key component in ensuring we keep the communities of Scotland safe.
“A settled future platform is essential in enabling us to do that, this cutting-edge technology will further enhance our capability by delivering a whole new level of day-to-day flexibility and resilience, providing SFRS with a single, stable and interoperable system across our three Operations Control rooms.”
The SRFS will now work closely with Motorola Solutions on the delivery of the new mobilising system.
It is the latest investment from the Service which included the re-opening of Dingwall Community Fire Station last month following a £4.6m renovation.
“We are proud to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service teams that operate in complex and fast-moving environments where every second counts,” Fergus Mayne, country manager for UK&I at Motorola Solutions.
“Our advanced control room technology helps to synthesise vital information and simplify workflows, allowing emergency services to quickly and efficiently respond to 999 calls from their communities.”
Following its AI Act coming into full force this August, the EU is taking consultations to develop guidance for compliance.
The European Commission is seeking input from relevant parties and EU citizens on two different matters, including how the law defines what an AI system is, and what AI applications should be banned.
The first consultation aims to create a more precise definition of what an AI system is, seeking opinions from businesses, academic and civil societies, as well as the AI industry itself.
Respondents are tasked to rate the importance of different facets of AI’s definition as it currently stands in the AI Act, from ‘a machine based system’ and ‘predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions,’ to ‘designed to operate with varying levels of autonomy’ and ‘for explicit or implicit objectives.’
It also askes respondents to provide examples of software systems or programmes that do not fall under the scope of the AI system definition provided in Article 3(1) of the AI Act.
The second portion of the consultation deals with instances where AI would be banned if the use case is deemed to be harmful.
Respondents are asked if certain stipulations or reasons for the bans require clarification in order to make the law as comprehensive and understandable as possible.
Further, it asks respondents for any concrete examples of existent AI systems that fall under these restrictions.
AI systems that use facial recognition, emotional recognition, or decision making based on scoring face certain restrictions, and AI systems that have the potential to be misused for malicious activity also face bans.
The consultation, which provides information about the current Act as it stands, will run until 11 December 2024, but the Commission is urging for early responses.
It expects to offer an update on banned uses and definitions of AI systems by early 2025.
The threat actor behind the MOVEit exploit, which lead to the breach of 2.8 million lines of employee data from Amazon, has now claimed themselves to be an ethical hacker.
The hacker, who goes by the name Nam3L3ss on the dark web, claimed in a round of posts to have been the culprit behind the MOVEit exploit which took place last year and stole data from 25 different organisations.
Hudson Rock verified the data, showing that targeted organisations include McDonalds, HSBC, Amazon, Charles Schwab, Lenovo, and Delta Airlines, with five million records leaked and counting.
Contact information, as well as more sensitive information about departmental roles and assignments, were breached, which could lead these to further security incidents in the future.
However, the culprit, which released the data to Hudson Rock researchers, is claiming that they leaked the data to draw attention to lacking security posture from major companies.
“People, I am not a hacker! If something requires a username or password, even a default password, I will not try and use it! I track all of the ransom group sites and have my own tools that auto find AWS, AWS and other sites’ open buckets,” Nam3l3ss wrote on Monday on the dark web. “I download everything I can from ransom group TOR sites and from open cloud services. Once I have it I then clean the data and remove duplicates from the source and sometimes remove fields/columns where the data is useless.”
Later on Tuesday, the perpetrator posted again, defending their data leak further, as seen by Infosecurity Magazine.
“Companies and governments alike have a responsibility to make damn sure they are encrypting PII data,” the post read.
“Too many companies blame third-party vendors, yet they themselves are transferring unencrypted data to these third parties,” they said. “Those that are sending encrypted data have a responsibility to make damn sure the third-party is keeping it encrypted.”
Amazon has recently admitted that the data breach of nearly 3 million lines of employee data was related to a vulnerability in the MOVEit transfer software.
Amazon says that its services, as well as AWS, remain secure, and they have not experienced a security incident.
It remains unclear, despite the claims of Nam3l3ss, if the data was scraped from alternative sources or if they were leaked directly from the MOVEit exploit. The MOVEit exploit was originally carried out in 2023 and was linked to the Cl0P ransomware group.
The large scale and nature of the breach, as well as Amazon’s claims, bring doubt to the culprit’s motive and method.
Nam3l3ss has said that the leaked data it shared with Hudson Rock is just a “tiny portion” of the total data they have, and more can be expected to be leaked in the coming days.
More UK organisations than ever before are experiencing API security incidents, with the total soaring from 69% to 83% year-on-year vs 2023.
This is according to Akami’s API Security Impact study, now in its third year, which explores the state of API protection based on a survey of 1,207 leaders and practitioners across the US, UK, and Germany.
The study find that collectively, 84% of respondents report suffering an API security incident over the past 12 months, with the UK experiencing the sharpest year-on-year increase of 14%.
Alarmingly, the figure stands much higher across the UK’s critical infrastructure. 94.1% of the UK’s government/public sector organisations, 92% of the financial services industry and 90% of the healthcare industry reported suffering API security incidents.
The survey also found that nine in 10 US and UK respondents are not testing their APIs in real time. In 2024, only 13% of respondents reported doing so.
Worryingly, testing is not gaining ground as the figure has fallen from 18% in 2023.
A lack of testing can lead to disastrous financial consequences, as the average cost for UK organisations to address API incidents in the past 12 months amounts to £420,103. This includes system repairs, downtime, legal fees, fines, and other associated expenses.
UK respondents specifically called out the dual nature of API incident’s impact, however, with 31.2% of respondents sharing that it led to increased stress or pressure.
Across the board, respondents ranked the heightened stress and pressure notably higher than the monetary costs.
But consumers should also be concerned, as oversight on sensitive data is falling. In the UK, only 28.5% of enterprises with full API inventories know which APIs return sensitive data – down from 40% in 2023 and compared to 27% globally.
This becomes even more concerning considering the UK government and public services are the most targeted industries, with 94.1% of organisations in the sector experiencing incidents over the last 12 months.
Conversely, retail/eCommerce reported the lowest number of API incidents at 68% and cited API security as a top priority at 21.3% – higher than any other industry surveyed.
“Our research shows that API security has yet to become a key element in a comprehensive security strategy,” said Richard Meeus, director of security technology and strategy, EMEA at Akamai.
“Organizations mostly treat API threats as emerging, when the attack data — as well as the financial impact and stress on security teams — shows they keep growing. We believe that the API Security Impact Study will help companies to better assess API protections and improve them where needed.”
NatWest Group has told employees to only use “approved channels” for business conversations, blocking WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype across company devices.
Following a previous warning, the banking group has made the platforms inaccessible on work devices, including phones and computers, to prevent workers from using them to communicate about business matters.
Non-approved communication channels are of concern as messages can be more difficult to retrieve and can even be set to disappear, making it a challenge to recall messages for investigations into any wrongdoing.
“Like many organisations, we only permit the use of approved channels for communicating about business matters, whether internally or externally,” the bank said in a statement.
While the policy came into effect earlier this month, it follows the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announcing that it would consider a probe into how bank sector employees use messaging services in relation to their work.
Ofgem, the UK’s independent energy regulator, even fined Morgan Stanley for breaching record-keeping regulations for phone calls made on private devices over WhatsApp.
Banks in the US have also faced fines, amounting to £2.18bn over the past few years for not keeping their records up to standard, with many workers unable to retrieve important messages over certain messaging services.
WhatsApp has been under similar lime light for its use in the public sector, with the UK Covid inquiry revealing deleted WhatsApp messages that were exchanged during the pandemic between ministers and government officials.
Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon also faced backlash for deleted WhatsApp messages, though she denied any secrecy from the public.
Senior executives of social media giants and online marketplaces could face high personal fines if they fail to remove illegal content swiftly, as part of the UK government’s attempts to curb the sale of illegal weapons and knives.
The proposed measures from the Home Office will make senior tech executives personally liable if they do not do enough to prevent the sale and marketing of illegal weapons across their sites.
The new crackdown on posts that ‘glorify violence’ could lead to a personal fine of up to £10,000 from the police, under the new plans.
Police will have the power to issues notices to senior executives of online companies, ordering them to remove specific pieces of content, potentially within two days.
If the company fails to act on this, the police will send a second notice to the senior executive in that company, who would then be personally liable if they too fail to act.
Labour says this proposal is the latest step in their pledge to halve knife crime over the next decade.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper recently chaired the first meeting of a dedicated new taskforce focused on rapid action to curb this trend.
“The epidemic of knife crime that has grown over the last decade is devastating families and communities right across the country,” she said.
“That’s why this government has set out an unprecedented mission to halve knife crime over the next decade and today we’re taking determined action to get lethal blades off Britain’s streets.
“That means tough new sanctions for technology executives who fail to tackle illegal knife sales on their platforms, and a comprehensive ban on ninja swords.”
The new powers are set to support the work of commander Stephen Clayman of the National Police Chief’s Council, who is leading a review into the sale of knives.
“For far too long, deadly weapons have been far too easily accessible online, with content promoting their use for protection and combat rife on many platforms and seemingly little being done to remove it.
“We welcome the chance to take part in the consultation and explore the most effective means of achieving this, including using the findings of the ongoing online sales review.
“Policing continues to work hard to tackle knife crime but we cannot do this alone. The announcement today will provide additional measures in the fight against tackling the supply of these weapons and support us in our mission to drive down knife crime and make our communities safer for everyone.”
The unemployment rate in Scotland fell by 1.1% in the third quarter of 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The data from July to September 2024 showed that the unemployment rate fell to 3.3%
Economic inactivity was up in the third quarter, by 0.6%, rising to 23.7% for those between 16 and 64 years of age. This does not match the general UK trends, according to ONS data, which shows that year-on-year, economic inactivity decreased.
The employment rate stayed largely unchanged at 73.7%, according to the data.
Median monthly pay for employed people in Scotland was also up in the year leading to October, increasing by 6.2% to £2,466, though this was lower than the UK average which was at 7%.
In the UK overall, the number of people reporting redundancy increased over the year since July to September 2023, but decreased in the latest quarter to 3.1 per thousand employees.
The unemployment rate back in April to July was at 4.4%.
Following those statistics, deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for economy Kate Forbes said that the Scottish government would continue to invest in businesses to shore up employment in the nation.
“We will continue to work with the UK Government where we can, while encouraging them to support investment in Scotland’s economy and an end to spending cuts from Westminster,” she said.
Despite this, Scottish business confidence in October slipped, but only fell in line with the rest of the UK as the country braced for Labour’s first Autumn Budget since being elected to government.
The first publicly funded Shared Rural Network (SRN) Total Not Spot site has been switched on.
The new site delivers 4G to areas that previously had no mobile broadband coverage from any operator. The development provides 4G coverage from all UK mobile operators, significantly enhancing connectivity for residents, businesses, and tourists.
The mast on South Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides, provides mobile broadband to people living and working in the villages of Balivanich, Grimsay, Liniclate, across almost the entirety of Benbecula, to more than 30km of the A865 and many kilometres of other smaller roads and tracks.
Whether visiting Ushenish Lighthouse, walking the Hebridean Way, or wildelife watching around the lochs, visitors on this part of the Outer Hebrides now have access to reliable 4G for the first time.
In addition, seafarers and fishermen passing through and working in The Little Minch between South Uist and Skye will also benefit.
The mast was built by Virgin Media O2 and will deliver commercial coverage from all four operators, including EE, Three and Vodafone.
Access to broadband is one of the top concerns for rural and remote businesses and communities – a lack of accesses can exacerbate social inequality and be a hurdle to business success, education, and upward mobility. Without broadband access, many are unable to start businesses, get a higher education, and can fall victim to social isolation.
Even with continued rollout of broadband, environmental concerns have now arisen as masts cement themselves across some of Scotland’s most pristine environments.
Still, for rural communities, broadband can be a deciding factor in their population retention, tourism attraction, and business viability.
“For too long, island communities in Scotland have struggled to get online while on the go. This milestone for the Shared Rural Network means vast swathes of Uist are now covered by 4G for the first time, boosting productivity for local businesses and safety for those in remote areas,” telecoms minister Chris Bryant said.
“South Uist is the first location to benefit from this new phase of the programme, which targets areas with no 4G coverage at all. We will continue to work with the mobile network operators to maximise the benefits of this rollout for local communities while preserving areas of natural beauty.”
Torcuil Crichton MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, said: “I’m delighted that the Western Isles is the first area in the UK to have this publicly funded scheme switched on with the major mobile networks co-operating to fill in the blanks in the service.
“There are dips and black spots in mobile provision which islanders are familiar and frustrated with but by collaboration, and with government support, I hope that businesses, households and visitors to the islands can soon have full mobile broadband and 4G reception from Barra Head to the Butt of Ness.”
A new Funding Accelerator programme has been launched to help Scottish startups secure investment, with a programme delivered by CodeBase-run Techscaler in partnership with Focused for Business.
The 3-month Funding Accelerator programme is designed for startups looking to raise their first or second rounds of equity investment, in the £100,000 to £1 million range.
Research indicates that while early-stage startup funding in the UK dropped by only 7 per cent in Q1 of 2024 against Q4 of 2023, the year-on-year quarterly decline was closer to 25 per cent.
Lauren Wilson, scaleup programme manager at CodeBase, said: “Scotland’s tech startup scene is going from strength to strength, but getting early-stage funding can feel like a major uphill battle.
“It is also time consuming and can take founders away from running the business. So, we want to give them the knowledge, tools and networks to navigate the investor community, with a view to giving them the best chance of success.”
Founders and executives on the pilot programme will be exposed to areas including valuation and financial planning, investor engagement, pitching, building ‘data rooms’ for investors, maximising advisory services, through to negotiating and closing deals.
The first Funding Accelerator cohort numbers 10 startups – Seeker, 20 Photos, PracTest, Rethink Carbon, RAVEN, beEmbedded, Nursery Story, Tax Torch, Afterword, and Unbaggaged – and started earlier this month, running until February next year.
Zoe Russell, co-founder and chief operating officer at Aviemore-based Rethink Carbon, a startup that has developed a technology platform to maximise sustainable land management, said: “As a startup planning to raise investment, Funding Accelerator ticks a lot of boxes for us – specifically the focus on financial forecasting, investor outreach, and understating valuations.
“We also love the collaborative working environment with other founders and their insights. By the end of the programme, our goal is to finalise a terms sheet with investors.”
Scotland is to host a quantum light source that is travelling across 12 countries in Europe.
Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh is set to be the sole Scottish stop on the QuanTour, which aims to raise interest in quantum physics ahead of next year’s UNESCO International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025.
The quantum light source is a device that produces single particles of light, called photons. By engineering on a microscopic level, scientists are harnessing the physics of these single photons to develop ultra-high performance applications, including more powerful computing and unconditionally secure communications.
At Heriot-Watt, the QuanTour will arrive today (Monday 11 November) at the lab of Brian Gerardot, an expert in quantum photonics – the science of light – who is a Professor of Physics at Heriot-Watt’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and head of the University’s Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPAQS).
IPAQS carries out a wide range of world-leading research in photonic physics, engineering photonics and quantum sciences, building on Heriot-Watt’s 40+ years legacy in global photonics research.
Professor Gerardot said: “We’re very excited to be hosting the QuanTour light source. It’s a great opportunity to connect with the research community in this area and also to celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
“Heriot-Watt has been at the forefront of this field of quantum optics for more than 25 years and a lot of the technology behind the quantum light source has been developed here and in the other laboratories taking part.”
From its starting point in Germany, the QuanTour is visiting labs in Austria (Linz), Italy (Rome), Switzerland (Basel), Spain (Madrid), France (Paris), England (Cambridge), Ireland (Cork), Scotland (Edinburgh), the Netherlands (Leiden), Denmark (Copenhagen), Sweden (Stockholm) and Poland (Wrocław).
The quantum light source is being carried in a silver metal case and will arrive in Scotland from Cork in Ireland, before heading to Leiden in the Netherlands.
The tour aims to show how photons are being used in quantum communication and why this is important.
“Using single photons to encrypt data makes communication completely unhackable,” explained Frederik Brooke Barnes, a postgraduate research student working with Professor Gerardot and an expert in quantum cryptography – which broadly involves using quantum mechanics in cybersecurity.
“It means that someone trying to eavesdrop on the information being sent can’t do so without being detected. This means that the information is always going to be secure and is guaranteed by the laws of physics.”
The quantum light source was built at Technische Universität Berlin, a research university in Berlin, and generates photons using a ‘quantum dot.’ This is a tiny structure made of semiconductor materials commonly found in our mobile phones, but in this case shrunken to just a few nanometres in size.
A nanometre is one billionth of a metre. The quantum dot is embedded in a bull’s eye-like structure, which acts like mirrors to direct the single particles of light into a beam that can be transmitted long-distances.
“The bull’s eye is about 20 times smaller than the width of a human hair,” Frederik explained. “And the quantum dot is about 1,000 times smaller than that.”
Frederik and fellow PhD student Sheena Shaji have organised a welcoming event for the QuanTour, including a Scottish bagpiper.
During its three-week stay at Heriot-Watt, the team will measure and record the characteristics of the photons produced and share this data with the other quantum teams taking part.
Although the QuanTour’s visit to Edinburgh won’t be open to the public, Heriot-Watt University is hosting a separate Single Photon Workshop event that is open to all. This takes place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre over five days from 18 to 22 November, 2024, and will showcase cutting-edge advances in photonics and quantum technology.
The Cyber Security Research and Networking Environment (CRANE) NetworkPlus, led by the University of Oxford, is supported by a £6m investment from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EPSRC).
The goal is to drive better cybersecurity across the economy, including sectors from manufacturing and healthcare to law enforcement. This will make businesses, charities, communities, and people more resilient against cyber-threats.
The network will provide leadership in spotting emerging global trends and national strengths in cybersecurity, including understanding the potential of game-changing technologies from AI to quantum computing.
The network aims to strengthen collaboration, knowledge exchange and skills across the sector to ensure the UK maintains its position as a leader in cybersecurity research and innovation.
It is set to establish the first learned society for cybersecurity research, bringing together researchers from across disciplines to focus on topics and nurture relationships that will turn into research collaborations.
The new society will provide UK businesses, government and the voluntary, charity, and community sectors with a key connection point to access experts nationally and internationally.
“Since taking office we’ve made shoring up our cyber defences a national priority,” minister for cybersecurity, Feryal Clark, said.
“To make sure they’re stronger than ever, we’ll be bringing in new laws next year as we continue to take steps to ensure our online economy and critical services are safe, resilient and secure.
“This network will bolster those efforts, building up a better picture of where our strengths lie and where the gaps we need to plug are, all while supporting our expert cybersecurity workforce to drive forward their careers and become the UK’s cyber leaders of tomorrow.”
The network was created to address the aims of the UKRI Building a Secure and Resilient World strategic theme which highlights the importance of enhancing national security across virtual and physical spaces by improving the awareness or risks and threats, preparedness and decision-making and responses.
With investment delivered in close collaboration with the NCSC, the network also aims to contribute to the government’s work to develop the UK cyber ecosystem, ensure technology is safely developed and deployed, and help drive growth and skills across the country.
It plans on supporting career development through events, special interest groups, regional activities, research grants, and through promoting diversity and inclusion through equality of opportunity.
Nearly one in four small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are concerned about how they can secure remote working environments for employees working away from the office.
This is according to a new study by Markel Direct, a small business insurer, which surveyed 500 SME owners to share their cybersecurity challenges.
Securing remote environments was a key concern for 23% of SMEs, ranking second place in the list of cybersecurity concerns for the future of SMEs, with the increased sophistication of cyber-threats firmly in the top spot with an overwhelming 62% of respondents reporting it as a concern.
When asked how those with remote workers ensure the security of company data when accessed by employees working from home, the majority (52%) said they use virtual private network (VPN) access, 48% train their employees on secure remote work practices and 46% have remote access policies and controls in place.
The study also found that nearly half (49%) of SMEs wouldn’t know what to do in the event of their business suffering a cyber-attack, and 69% didn’t have a cybersecurity policy in place.
Despite this, most UK SMEs are taking some proactive measures to prevent cyber-attacks, with 72% having invested in antivirus/anti-malware software. Nearly seven in ten make sure they regularly update their system software (69%) and 52% are making use of multi-factor authentication.
However, there is more that could be done, as 43% said that their employees are not trained on best practices and potential threats, and over half (53%) do not have cyber insurance in place in case of a breach, leaving their business vulnerable.
“Staying ahead of cyber threats is crucial for small business owners, especially as AI-driven attacks continue to evolve,” Rob Rees, divisional director of Markel Direct, said.
“Having a robust cyber security policy in place can help create a framework to safeguard against ongoing threats, whilst cyber insurance can help to protect your business in the event of a targeted attack.
“Almost half of SMEs reported not knowing what to do in the event of a cyber-attack – something that can be key to mitigating its impact.”
The UK is committing to work with international partners to dismantle the cyber-criminal ecosystem and take down illicit ransomware gangs, the country declared at the UN Security Council.
UN ambassador James Kariuki, the UK deputy permanent representative to the UN, address the security council regarding the rise in ransomware and the importance of combatting cyber-crime as a concerted, global effort.
“Ransomware actors have consistently attacked critical national infrastructure, local government, and hospitals for personal financial gain,” he told the council.
He said that most ransomware groups tend to operate and exists in “jurisdictions that allow them to operate with impunity,” calling on these states to “to more” to stop these criminal gangs.
Kariuki noted the ransomware incident that targeted the NHS in 2017, which was targeted by the Wannacry ransomware strain, costing the government $118m.
He also noted the Synnovis cyber-attack, in which a ransomware gang infiltrated the London hospitals provider, which delayed over 10,000 health appointments, and 1,700 medical procedures.
Citing this and its potential to impact the UK’s wider critical infrastructure, he noted “it is why the UK considers ransomware one of our most significant cyber-threats to national security.”
The UK is taking steps to mitigate the issue of ransomware attacks, but says that global collaboration is necessary to stop its surge.
Kariuki urged other countries to join the UK in not paying ransoms to gangs.
“In October, the UK and 49 other members of the Counter Ransomware Initiative signed a public statement committing governments not to not pay ransoms,” he said.
He also said that “coordination will be our best defence,” explaining that UK law enforcement had led a global coalition to disrupt Lockbit, the most prolific ransomware group of 2024.
To increase resilience, Kariuki said that others must join the UK by sharing information to build cohesive understanding of cyber-threats.
“We will continue to cooperate with international partners and industry to counter ransomware and dismantle the cyber criminal ecosystem,” he concluded.
In an effort to combat the growing threat of malvertising and reduce the risk of cyber-facilitated fraud, government guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has been released for brands and their advertising partners.
This initiative aims to make it harder for cyber-criminals to deliver malicious advertising and enhance security standards across the digital advertising industry.
To protect against the rising threat of malvertising, digital advertising partners are advised to adopt several critical security measures.
Firstly, digital advertising partners are encouraged to implement robust ‘Know Your Customer’ measures to verify customer identities and monitor customer activities, making it difficult for malicious actors to infiltrate their advertising ecosystems.
Additionally, partners have been advised to introduce robust cybersecurity practices by securing infrastructure such as servers, code and data transfers, with a focus on transparency and thorough vetting of third-parties.
Partners must adhere to reputable data usage practices by complying with GDPR and using verified data channels to safeguard sensitive information. Industry standards like ads.txt and buyers.json should be implemented to improve transparency and combat malvertising, with independent certifications signalling best-practice compliance.
Effective malvertising detection and removal measures are crucial for maintaining safe user experiences and protecting campaigns from malicious content.
“This is a great step forward and it’s encouraging to see the government are taking the security of digital advertising seriously in today’s tech landscape,” Ben Green, chief revenue officer at adCAPTCHA, said.
“It’s crucial to consider the growing threat posed by bots in the digital advertising ecosystem, as bot activity has become a worrying challenge for advertisers and brands by compromising their security.
“Bots often disguise themselves as legitimate human users to conduct malicious activities such as distributing malware or manipulating ad auctions.
“To counter this threat, digital advertising partners must implement sophisticated bot detection and mitigation systems to protect themselves and clients from harmful activities.”
AI could displace up to three million jobs in the UK’s private sector, though actual job loss is predicted to be only in the hundreds, according to new research from the Tony Blair Institute.
The thinktank predicts that between 60,000 and 275,000 jobs are set to be displaced every year over two decades at the height of AI disruption, but new roles will also be created as the technology proliferates.
The Institute did say that this scale of job displacement is unlikely to compound into long-term job losses, since AI is likely to create new worker demands in different fields and overall, the economy will retain many of its workers.
Jobs where workers perform “routine cognitive tasks” such as administration, and data-heavy industries are more likely to be impacted than industries that require complex manual labour, the thinktank’s report said.
Though one to three million jobs may be impacted, the resulting losses will be “relatively modest” in comparison to the job losses seen in the past decade in the UK, which amounted to 450,000 per year.
The thinktank also predicts that AI’s potential for time saving and positive impact on productivity will boost economic growth across the UK, though it is unlikely for these benefits to be evenly distributed across businesses.
Smaller firms may find bespoke AI systems prohibitively expensive to adopt and therefore may not be able to see the economic benefits of AI due to this hurdle.
Still, the Tony Blair Institute found that AI could increase the UK national income by five to 14% by 2050.
Despite these lofty estimates, the thinktank expects it to be a while before AI’s impact reaches its peak. It predicts that the AI’s impact will be “relatively modest in the near-term,” with GDP raising just between 0.1 and 1% in the next five years, and unemployment up by 180,000 by 2030.
However, by 2035, the Institute imagines GDP will have risen from 0.6 to 6%, saying that AI can have a profound “slow-burn effect” on the economy.
Scottish scientists have developed a low-cost, flexible compression sensor that can help prevent blood clots in patients after an operation.
The flexible sensor was invented by Dr Philip Hands of the University of Edinburgh alongside Professor Marc Desmulliez and Doctors Vasileios Mitrakos and Lisa Macintyre of Heriot-Watt University.
The polymer-based sensor fits underneath bandages and compression stockings like a sticking plaster, and a handheld reader measures whether the bandage is exerting the correct pressure on the body.
The body’s circulatory system relies on blood return from the heart, but also on muscular activity. Compression therapies such as stockings exert a gentle gradient pressure on the body to support blood flow while someone is immobilised.
This helps to prevent blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis and reduces pain and swelling for people with lymphedema, but currently pressure exerted by commercially available compression garments is poorly controlled and difficult to measure.
Badly fitting stockings are either ineffective, in that they don’t help prevent DVT, or, if the pressure is incorrect, they can reduce blood flow and even raise the chances of an embolism or blood clot.
The new sensor is wireless, thinner, more sensitive and more flexible than similar devices, so it doesn’t distort the compression garment as it measures the pressure.
“Currently most people who have an operation wake up to find themselves wearing compression stockings, and often they don’t fit well,” Dr Hands said.
“Our device is unobtrusive, and with a wave of the handheld antennae near the body you can measure the pressure and adjust the stocking or bandage. We think this simple, cheap device has huge potential. Existing sensors are bulky and have protruding wires that can damage the skin.
” At the Scottish Microelectronics Centre (SMC) in Edinburgh we have developed a method of manufacture that outperforms other devices due to our sensor’s low cost, high precision and ultra flexibility.
The team received £75k of Scottish Enterprise High Growth Spinout funding, as they move towards forming a company, supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service.
Funders include Innovate UK’s ICURe programme, a PhD studentship funded by Heriot-Watt University through the Edinburgh Research Partnership in Engineering, a grant from the EPSRC-NIHR HTC Partnership Award: MDVSNPLUS, and a joint award by the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Accounts at the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University.
