Welcome to the latest monthly edition of DIGIT Movers and Shakers column.

Movers and Shakers gives you the low-down on recent news in the Scottish tech ecosystem, from recruitment and partnerships to expansion and awards.

This month’s column features a stellar mix of cutting-edge organisations and key players doing exciting things — read on to learn more!

Recruitment

Pro-Sapien Appoints Managing Director

Pro-Sapien, Glasgow-based provider of EHS software on Microsoft 365, has announced the appointed Mark Gibson as Managing Director.

Taking over from Murray Ferguson, who stays on as executive chairman, Mark will play a key role further developing the company’s business strategy, particularly in operations and sales channel expansion.

“This is an exciting time to join Pro-Sapien. Our unique approach of being 100% aligned to the Microsoft platform for deployment, together with our EHS domain knowledge and configurable modular technology puts us in a brilliant position,” said Gibson

Phlo Technologies Hires New Chief Pharmacist

Scotland-based digital pharmacy leaders Phlo Technologies have appointed Alistair Murray into a new Chief Pharmacist role.

He is a Fellow of the UK Faculty of Clinical Informatics, and previously held honorary teaching roles at UCL and the University of Nottingham. He brings to the team experience in scaling digital pharmacy products, and in delivering innovative patient access programmes in partnership with local and national commissioners.

“It is an incredibly exciting time to be joining the senior leadership team at Phlo. In the wake of an impressive raise and a ‘sector first’ acquisition earlier in 2023, their work to transform the UK’s digital pharmacy landscape continues to display impressive momentum,” said Murray.

DirectID Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

Open banking provider DirectID has announced the appointment of Chris Mills as Chief Executive Officer. Chris will succeed James Varga, who has served as CEO since founding the company in 2011.

Chris Mills brings a wealth of relevant experience guiding high-growth startups and a deep understanding of DirectID’s mission and market landscape. Chris has more than 15 years leadership experience in financial services, latterly as CEO of the UK’s largest independent mortgage broker, L&C Mortgages.

“I am honoured to lead DirectID and its remarkably talented team as we enter this exciting new phase of growth and opportunity. I look forward to building on the strong foundation that James established as we further our mission of financial inclusion and continue to pioneer the use of open banking data in credit and risk sectors,” said Mills.

Read more here.

Awards

Dr Carol Marsh, OBE, Receives Honourary Doctorate

Dr Carol Marsh, OBE, Head of Digital Systems at Scottish satellite communications firm Celestia UK, based in Edinburgh, has had her professional achievements and the positive difference she has made to the field of engineering recognised by being awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh Napier University.

Dr Marsh became an Honorary Doctor of the University at the summer 2023 graduation ceremony for the School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment.

“It is a real privilege to become an Honorary Doctor of the University and I am delighted as well as honoured with the award from Edinburgh Napier University. I first qualified in my chosen field of study here, which makes returning to be conferred the honour even more special,” she said.

“I have been fortunate to enjoy a rewarding career in electronics and had the opportunity to become involved with many diverse and challenging projects over the years in an industry I love. I am pleased I can continue to be an ambassador for engineering, STEM and women engineers, and have my contribution recognised in this way.”

Leap Automation Wins Scots Heat of KPMG Comp

Leap Automation has been crowned the Scotland winner of KPMG’s annual UK Tech Innovator competition.

The Aberdeen-based business won for its ‘ground-breaking use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in its end of line automation and machine vision systems for food producers’. The company’s Co-CEOs, Ben Stuart and Ben Bamford, will now go on to pitch at the competition’s UK final in July.

Ben Stuart, Co-CEO at Leap Automation, said: “It’s a real privilege to be representing Scotland at the UK finals. The standard of applicants at the pitch event was incredible and spoke volumes to the breadth, depth and ingenuity of the entrepreneurial community in Scotland.

Read more here.

Consider IT wins NCSC Accreditation

Consider IT, a leading Managed Service Provider specialising in IT Support and comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, announces its recent achievement as an NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) Assured Service Provider for Cyber Essentials. This milestone makes Consider IT the one of the first Managed Service Providers in Scotland to obtain this certification, and the third Scottish company overall.

The certification process involved a comprehensive assessment of Consider IT’s cybersecurity practices, infrastructure, and policies. The evaluation was conducted by the NCSC, the UK government’s authority on cybersecurity, which recognised the company’s exceptional dedication to maintaining robust security measures.

“We are incredibly proud to be one of the first Managed Service Providers in Scotland to receive the NCSC Assured Service Provider certification. This achievement is a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to cybersecurity excellence,” said Stuart Gilbertson, Managing Director of Consider IT.

Moves, Relocations, and Expansions

BetDEX Lands Irish License

BetDEX Labs lands a remote betting license from Ireland, marking its first entry into the European Union.

The company was started by FanDuel founder Nigel Eccles, along with executives Varun Sudhakar, and Stuart Tonner. FanDuel was founded in 2009 out of Edinburgh and grew to become a “unicorn” – a privately owned tech company with a valuation of over $1 billion.

“Ireland has long been a leader in innovation and adoption of new technologies,” said Nigel Eccles, BetDEX Labs chairman and co-founder. “This licensing is a testament to the country’s commitment to staying on the cutting-edge and I am proud to be able to bring the BetDEX Exchange back to my native country.”

Read more here.

Shot Scope eyes North American expansion

The company landed funding from the private equity firm Growthdeck for an undisclosed amount. Shot Scope recently raised a £2.7 million Series A led by Guinness Ventures in December last year.

Now Shot Scope is gearing up for North American expansion, which according to them has a golfing market eight times larger than the UK’s.

“Digital equipment is becoming as important a part of a golfer’s bag as their seven iron. Shot Scope is already a major player in the UK market and it’s capable of doing the same in the US,” says Rebecca Hodges, relationship director at Growthdeck.

Read more here.

Tata Group to build Gigafactory in the UK

The UK has been chosen as the home of Tata Group’s first gigafactory outside India, in a move set to create thousands of jobs and boost the UK’s automotive sector.

Tata Group confirmed the UK had secured one of the largest ever investments in the country’s auto industry. The gigafactory will secure UK-produced batteries for another Tata Sons investment, Jaguar Land Rover, as well as other manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Tata Group’s multi-billion-pound investment in a new battery factory in the UK is testament to the strength of our car manufacturing industry and its skilled workers.”

Read more here.

Centrica building Battery Storage Project in Perthshire

Centrica Business Solutions has secured the development rights to a 65MW two-hour battery storage plant in Perthshire, its largest battery storage acquisition to date.

The site in Abernethy is located near a connection for North Sea offshore wind farms and will help manage grid capacity by charging when demand for power is low, and discharging when demand is at its highest.

Gregory McKenna, managing director at Centrica Business Solutions, said: “The new battery storage site is our biggest project to date, and demonstrates our long-term commitment to improving the energy independence of the UK.

Read more here.

Orbex Expands Facilities

UK-based spaceflight company, Orbex, has extended its footprint by over thirty percent across its Scottish and Danish design and production facilities, in preparation for the launch of its Prime rocket.

The company is adding an extra 1,500 square metres of factory and office space to its existing 4,750 square metre estate in Forres, Scotland and Copenhagen, Denmark.

Orbex CEO, Martin Coates, commented: “Many people are eager to see the first successful launch of a satellite from British soil, as are we.

“But our focus has to be bigger than that, as we aim to build a robust and sustainable launch capability in the UK. Expanding our footprint is just one more step forward in that process. We are able to press ahead with our expansion, thanks to the incredible team we have in place and the confidence placed in us by our investors and customers.”

Read more here.

Partnerships

Mint Ventures Partners and British Business Bank partner up

The British Business Bank has announced that it is working with Mint Ventures – Scotland’s women-led angel investment syndicate – to improve access to finance for female business owners and to grow the pool of women angel investors.

With support from the Bank, Mint Ventures is raising awareness of the opportunities available to female investors and highlighting the potential barriers that contribute to an angel investor gender gap.

Gillian Fleming, MD of Mint Ventures, said: “Our mission is two-fold: to support women-led, diverse companies to unlock the capital they need to grow, and to debunk the myth that you have to be rich to be an angel investor.

“The bespoke training we offer over six months is instrumental in bringing more women into angel investing, particularly as we seek to build a sustainable pipeline of investors from earlier stages in their careers. Women want to share their expertise as well as make financial investments, so we are keen to capitalise on this spirit of collaboration.”

Read more here.

CGI boosts The Southern Knights Rugby Club

The Southern Knights are set to enjoy a boost in their programme of community activities in the Borders thanks to the renewal of their contract with global IT and business consulting services company CGI.

The agreement will see CGI play an active part in the Knights’ rugby development initiatives across the local community. The company’s logo will also continue to be displayed on the Southern Knights match and training kit for next season’s Super Series.

John Wordsworth Goodram, Vp of CGI said: “CGI is very happy to continue its support of Southern Knights as principal sponsor. The rugby club is an important pillar of the Borders community. Together, this coming season, we look forward to building on this foundation to strengthen the.”

Edinburgh Napier Partners with FinTech Scotland

Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) has announced a partnership with FinTech Scotland – the cluster management organisation which supports the fast-growing industry.

The agreement aims to strengthen Scotland’s leadership in the fintech sector by harnessing new technologies to address major societal, environmental, and industry challenges.

Professor Bill Buchanan, who leads the Blockpass ID lab at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Scotland is a unique environment for innovation and collaboration between academia and industry.

“This partnership will further world-class research and innovation capabilities, and focus on real-life problems. These, we hope, will grow the innovative companies of our future, and support the growth of existing ones – from little acorns, mighty oaks grow.”

Read more here.

FanDuel Forms Partnership with STEM Returners

Known for its offerings in fantasy sports teams and sports betting, FanDuel will offer a STEM Returners programme at their new Collaboration Hub in Edinburgh and roles include Software Developer, Senior Software Developer and Software Engineering Manager across different areas of the Engineering organisation.

The programme is part of several initiatives aiming to enhance diversity and employee experience within the organisation.

Natalie Desty, director of STEM Returners, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with an industry expert like FanDuel to support more women into the gaming industry.”

Read more here.

Consenna partners with AMD to launch new ‘try before you buy’ tech system

Consenna, a Scottish company that works with global tech giants to drive their multi-million pound sales portfolios through reseller partner channels, has partnered up with US multinational AMD to launch a new technology system that hugely simplifies the process of buying of new tech for smaller businesses and organisations.

The Renfrewshire-headquartered business has developed and is managing AMD’s new programme that allows allows public and private sector business – especially small and medium businesses (SMBs) – to try AMD’s Ryzen processor-powered devices before they buy.

Andrew Line, Northern Europe Senior Manager of Consumer and SMB Sales, at AMD comments: “Market conditions in recent years mean that most people read reviews and check ratings before committing to a purchase. For businesses, having the opportunity to review the experience of their peers, helps when deciding if a device will be appropriate for their own organisation – especially when costs are so closely scrutinised.”

CGI supports new coaching tech solution for Scottish Archery

The Scottish Archery U21 Pathway Academy, our programme to support young athletes in progressing to GB teams, is pleased to announce the creation of 360° Coach, a new low-cost and innovative technology solution for the analysis and improvement of sporting form, particularly that of archers. The solution allows a coach to guide archers in an in-person setting or to receive streamed or recorded footage and offer remote coaching. Archers can now quickly correct common form errors before they become bad habits.

“We were initially inspired by a set of large mirrors at one of our training locations, which allowed us to give a 360° view to the archer while shooting. This takes it one step further as receiving guidance from a coach is improved as the coach can have multiple viewpoints simultaneously,” said U21 Team Manager, Richard Radigan.

Eureka Solutions enters major partnership with iplicit

The partnership will allow Eureka Solutions to add iplicit to its portfolio of business software solutions, which includes Sage 200, Oracle NetSuite and its very own integration tool, Besyncly.

The collaboration aims to offer customers a broader choice of innovative business and financial software, solidifying Eureka Solutions’ position as a leading provider of business software solutions.

David Lindores, CEO at Eureka Solutions said: “iplict now occupies a significant position in Eureka Solutions’ comprehensive product stack, offering a multi-company, cloud-based financial solution for businesses who need to take the next step and migrate from entry-level cloud systems or legacy on-premise systems.

“We’ve been looking for a product which fits this target market for a very long time now so we’re really happy to have partnered with iplicit to offer their financial software to our existing and prospective customers.”

Read more here.

The Ministry of Defence to bolster their digital skills in new partnership with Microsoft

This partnership will help upskill the MOD workforce through deeper collaboration with Microsoft UK, in a bid to support the Government’s priority to grow the economy.

Key elements of the partnership in supporting the workforce in enabling training for Microsoft products and services; helping to raise awareness of additional skills programs and resources; and offering shadowing opportunities for Senior MOD staff to foster a culture of sharing best practice and adopting digital approaches.

Claire Fry, director functional integration commented on the need to ensure that Defence is digitally ready for the future: “Our ambition is to deliver and then continuously adapt a critical capability uplift for Defence through the delivery of a world class digital skills education programme for the whole workforce, our leaders and for digital professionals.”

Read more here.

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• DIGIT Movers and Shakers | May 2023
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• Amazon UK Expansion to Boost Scotland’s Tech Industry

Auticon joins forces with Unicus to help employ neurodivergent adults

As part of the merger, auticon and Unicus say they will together become one of the largest autistic majority organisations in the world, with 465 of their 575 employees (81%) on the autism spectrum, operating across 14 countries.

The companies are capitalising on the increased push for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting. Companies across the world are now either mandated or encouraged to report ESG findings. While lots of attention is paid to environmental practices due to the looming climate crisis, organisations’ social structures – such as diversity and inclusion standards – remain of equal importance.

With our shared DNA and vision for a more inclusive world, the combination of Unicus and auticon’s extensive experience sets the stage for meaningful change, innovation, and the creation of a leading social enterprise focused on neurodiversity,” said Lars Johansson-Kjellerød, founder and CEO of Unicus.

Read more here.

RM Technology and SaxaVord Spaceport partner to deliver virtual Starflight Academy

RM Technology, the UK’s leading Edtech solutions and strategies provider, and SaxaVord Spaceport, the UK’s first vertical satellite launch facility and ground station located on Unst, Shetland, have partnered to form Starflight Academy – a space STEAM initiative. Co-created with leading NASA astronaut teacher Mike Mongo, the programme will be unveiled by the space educator at the Goodwood Festival of Speed – Future Lab innovation pavilion (July 13th-16th 2023).

Starflight Academy will offer children and adults an opportunity to delve into the world of space exploration. During the four-day event, the STEAM initiative will bring the excitement of space exploration to the classroom with interactive virtual classroom sessions taking place from Durham to Somerset. The initiative offers access to content tailored to 21st century learning pathways.

Frank Strang, founder of SaxaVord Spaceport said: “STEAM skills are the building blocks for a thriving space sector that is accessible to all. With such an exciting space industry unfolding in Shetland and beyond, our mission is to prepare future generations with the interest and skills to support our sector’s exciting future.”

CivTech and Techscaler Partnership to help Drive GovTech Sector

Scotland’s startup support programme, Techscaler, has announced a tie-up with public sector innovation accelerator CivTech, as the global GovTech market grew to around $500 billion in 2022.

The joint initiative enables CivTech alumni companies to access Techscaler membership, maximising cross-ecosystem support for GovTech startups, while contributing to the growth of the growing GovTech sector in Scotland.

Steven Drost, CSO of CodeBase, which runs the Techscaler programme, said: “Innovation is already transforming the delivery of government and public sector-related services to citizens worldwide, the speed of transformation is only going to pick up pace globally, and the Techscaler-CivTech partnership is designed to provide an even stronger support system and playbook in Scotland for our most exciting and ambitious GovTech startups.”

Read more here.