Recruitment

The Scotland 5G Centre

The Scotland 5G Centre has appointed three Business Engagement Managers to the S5GConnect Team – the Centre’s core programme deploying regionally relevant 5G innovation hubs and testbeds across Scotland.

Ahmed Sabir joins as Business Engagement Manager for S5GConnect Aberdeen, based at ONE Tech Hub.

On his role, Sabir said: “I am humbled by the opportunity to participate in the efforts to accelerate the adoption and deployment of private 5G networks in Scotland.

“5G offers transformational improvements in efficiency and a route to digital inclusion for our remote communities in rural Scotland. I am glad to be working in my home city of Aberdeen, where I am already collaborating with a thriving tech community.”

Also joining the S5GConnect team is Kirsty Scott, who joins as Business Engagement Manager for Dundee, based at Abertay’s Cyber Quarters.

Scott commented: “I am thrilled to join the team and to be able to raise the profile of 5G locally from Dundee.

“The 5G era is here and it’s a key enabler for a digital evolution where we are embarking on a bright future characterised by Scottish innovation.

“I am excited to be part of that journey as a Dundonian in developing the next modern industrial age for the people of the region. I want the Dundee Hub to be the centre of advanced connectivity to showcase how ‘The City of Discovery’s potential for transformation can be truly endless.”

At the forefront of our S5GConnect HALO Kilmarnock hub based at the HALO Urban Regeneration Centre, is Sharon Neely who joins as Business Engagement Manager.

She said: “I am so excited to be joining this amazing team. I look forward to showcasing my innovation hub and demonstrating how 5G technology can help businesses and communities grow and flourish.

“I am passionate about working in the community and making a difference through digital and technology – I believe that working at The Scotland 5G Centre will provide me with the tools, technology and education to make this vision a reality.”

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Barracuda

Cloud-first security provider Barracuda announced that Chris Ross has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

He will be responsible for worldwide sales and partnerships. Ross joined Barracuda in 2015 as senior vice president of international sales and brings over 30 years of technology experience to the company.

As CRO, Ross will focus on accelerating the company’s current growth trajectory across its geographic sales regions.

Hatem Naguib, CEO at Barracuda, said: “We are delighted that Chris has taken on this role at what is an exciting time for Barracuda. Supported by KKR, we are driving innovation across the business as we evolve our integrated suite of advanced security solutions to meet the needs of customers and partners.

“Since joining Barracuda, Chris has driven rapid expansion and acceleration of Barracuda’s international business. As CRO, he will help our worldwide sales team to harness best practice, power growth, drive efficiency and further deepen the alignment of sales with key supporting functions.”

Ross said of his appointment: “I am excited to be taking this next step in my journey at Barracuda. This is a pivotal time for the company, as we embark on the next stage of our accelerated growth journey and complete the acquisition with KKR.

“I’ll be working to integrate our global sales teams and to share and adopt best practices across the teams as we deliver our next generation cloud-first cybersecurity solutions that protect our customers from the ever-evolving threat landscape.”

iboss

US-based cloud and network security firm iboss have strengthened their position in Scotland with the appointment of Craig Gibson as Sales Executive, as they build out their UK sales

Prior to that Gibson spent 11 years at Dell Technologies, last four of which were in Dell’s cybersecurity business where I supported UK and wider EMEA customers across all industries and verticals.

DataVita

Data centre and multi-cloud services provider DataVita has appointed James King as its new business development director to lead its ambitions for international growth.

A chartered accountant with a background in corporate and project finance, King joins from the Scottish Futures Trust where he was an associate director. He previously held roles at accountancy giants EY and PwC.

King’s experience working with global partners in the data centre and subsea infrastructure sectors will see him lead DataVita’s plans to build on its domestic success by attracting companies with international data centre requirements to Scotland.

On his role, King said: “Having worked alongside Danny Quinn and his team for many years, I have been able to see first-hand how dedicated DataVita is to its clients and to providing a first-class service with a very keen focus on sustainability.

“The company’s Fortis data centre facility is unrivalled in Scotland – and arguably the rest of the UK – in terms of its green and security credentials and I am really excited to build on its success to date.”

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Recycl8

Aberdeenshire technology firm, Recycl8, has announced the appointment of new CEO, Mark Gillespie.

The former energy executive will be working with the Recycl8 team to drive the firm’s business strategy as they enter the next stage in their development.

Recycl8 founder and nationally regarded authority on waste management, Ian Skene, will move into the role of chief technology officer (CTO), where he will work closely with Mark and the wider team to bring their ground-breaking low carbon green concrete to market.

Skene commented: “I’m delighted to welcome Mark to the Recycl8 team, and have no doubt he will excel in the role. Mark’s strong track record as a leader in the energy industry, with his particular expertise in the renewables sector, places us in a very strong position to work with all our stakeholders to bring our unique product to market.

“By working with us, concrete manufacturers can deliver a significantly reduced carbon footprint to our ever-growing demand for concrete, and waste-to-energy facilities have an alternative, circular economy solution to sending ash to landfill.

“Mark’s appointment is extremely timely. We were recently awarded patent status for our low-carbon concrete solution, which means we are the only company in the UK permitted to process IBA and transform it into our concrete mix. As we look to build on this milestone, Mark’s appointment will strengthen our team and drive our progress in this next exciting phase of the business.”

Mr Gillespie added: “I’m excited to join Recycl8 and work alongside Ian and the team. I’ve long admired Ian’s pioneering work in the waste management industry, and I’m passionate about helping Recycl8 in their bid to foster the circular economy and reduce the carbon footprint of the construction and waste-to-energy industries.

“I look forward to building on the excellent work that Ian and the team have done over the past three years.”

AstroAgency

AstroAgency was on the hunt for new staff to join its marketing, technical and public relations support teams in September.

The firm is looking to employ a Marketing Project Manager who will lead the customer relationship experience of a set number of clients, whilst working alongside the company’s marketing and technical teams.

In addition, Account Executives are being hired to support Account Managers to deliver strong results, while a Digital Content Creation Specialist will come onboard to create, manage, and deliver digital content using a range of techniques across social and online platforms.

Finally, the company seeks to appoint an Executive Assistant who will work directly with the firm’s senior management team, including Scottish space entrepreneur Daniel Smith, in coordinating internal and external communications.

AstroAgency’s Chief Operating Officer Daria Filichkina states: “The first two years proved our concept around providing strategic guidance and communications to companies already working within, or seeking to join, the incredibly fast-growing but admittedly niche commercial space industry.

“Having recently completed projects for the UK Space Agency, Australian Government, Science and Technology Facilities Council, New Anglia LEP and Scottish Enterprise, we have noticed an opportunity to also grow our work with public sector bodies as they develop a clearer understanding and need for space-related services.

“These appointments will arrive at a crucial point in our evolution and we’re delighted to be in a position where we can recruit multiple people in one sitting. The whole team is looking forward to working with lots of new faces!”

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Pufferfish

Pufferfish has made its third high-profile appointment in four months amid ambitious growth plans.

Brian Henderson is joining the company as Chief Operating Officer (COO), having previously been Group Chief Information Officer at UK media giant, DC Thomson.

He brings more than 35 years’ experience in business, technology, and operations across multiple industries, including nearly 15 years with the UK’s leading mutual insurer, Royal London.

The appointment comes after the arrivals of former Disney executive Garry Sinclair as Head of Creative in September, and technology industry leader Elaine Van Der Berg as CEO earlier this year.

Commenting on his new role, Henderson said: “Pufferfish delivers unforgettable experiences. Its impressive global client list is a testament to the products it delivers and joining the company at this stage in its journey is extremely exciting.

“I’m only a matter of days into the role and I can already see endless opportunities for the company. My immediate focus is on improving the supply chain, production, and product development practices.

“I will be working with the team to ensure we’re delivering new products and scaling operations effectively to take advantage of the growing market.”

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Reactec

Reactec has announced appointment of two senior professionals to its leadership team.

Sam Thomas has been promoted to Sales Director and Mark Heesom is taking up the new role of Software Engineering Manager, heading up the software team at a pivotal time for the tech company.

Thomas will lead the sales team across the UK and Europe with responsibility for the international promotion of Reactec’s R-Link technology to global audiences in the construction, utilities, rail, and manufacturing sectors.

Heesom will lead Reactec’s software team which has created the R-Link smart watch. Reactec’s wearable tech provides real-time alerts to notify workers of unsafe situations.

Commenting on his new appointment, Thomas said: “I am excited to be leading Reactec’s motivated sales team.

“Having previously spent nearly 10 years in an industry focused on improving safety in the workplace, it is great to be able to apply my international experience to Reactec’s innovative R-Link.”

Heesom added: “This new role is an excellent opportunity for me to lead and build on the impressive R&D work that the Reactec team has delivered to improve workplace health and safety.

“I am eager to get started on the further development of R-Link which I believe is a vital innovation for the workplace.”

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Virgin Money

Virgin Money has made a senior appointment by way of Sarah Wilkinson, who arrives via her previous role as chief information officer at Thomson Reuters.

Prior to that role, Wilkinson was the CEO of NHS Digital, responsible for systems and data for health and social care nationally, and before that was CIO at The Home Office.

Wilkinson will join Virgin Money at the start of 2023. Her new role will combine the existing roles of Fraser Ingram, chief digital and innovation officer, and Fergus Murphy, chief customer experience officer.

Commenting on the new role, Wilkinson said: “Virgin Money’s digital transformation journey is well underway.

“I’m delighted to join the bank at this exciting time to help deliver its strategic ambition to be the UK’s best digital bank and bring innovative new customer propositions to market to support its growth ambitions.”

David Duffy, Virgin Money CEO, added: “Sarah brings leadership expertise in delivering change, innovation and digital customer experience, and has a strong track record of digital transformation.

“Along with her extensive knowledge of financial services, this will enable us to build on the good progress we’ve made in aligning our customer touch points, operations and technology, as we focus on continually improving the services we provide to customers.”

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The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) has appointed former UKRI Made Smarter Innovation Challenge Director, Chris Courtney, as Chief Executive Officer.

Courtney will be responsible for providing direction, vision and commercial and operational leadership, working with businesses, universities and public sector partners to drive growth through innovation, new talent and novel advanced manufacturing technologies.

The role will also include oversight of NMIS headquarters, currently under construction next to Glasgow Airport, and the aligned research Centres which form the NMIS Group, and which will initially include the Advanced Forming Research Centre, Lightweight Manufacturing Centre, Digital Factory, Digital Process Manufacturing Centre in North Ayrshire, and the Manufacturing Skills Academy.

Courtney commented: “Across all parts of manufacturing we face considerable challenges and opportunities. In order to boost competitiveness, sustainability and resilience we must accelerate manufacturing innovation and create new products, services and businesses.

“NMIS brings together a really powerful coalition of innovators from world leading companies, universities and start-ups that will play a vital part in that transformation.

“I’m delighted to have been asked to lead the NMIS team as we create the future we want for manufacturing in Scotland and across the UK.”

Partnerships

CodeBase and AccelerateHER

AccelerateHER teamed up with CodeBase in a new partnership to increase female company founder participation.

The collaboration is part of a Scotland-wide programme designed to inspire and support a new generation of tech entrepreneurs.

With support from the Scottish Government, the programme will involve a series of tech clinics between now and the end of March aimed at helping female and non-binary founders develop the startup playbook knowledge required to enhance a great tech business.

The first of these events, held on 26 September and led by CodeBase CSO Steven Drost, focused on helping early-stage women founders build tech and MVPs (Minimal Viable Products) to test their market.

A follow-up event on 13 October will be led by female-founded Valla, a tech disruptor company which is unbundling the legal industry by reducing costs and increasing access to services.

CEO and co-founder of CodeBase, Stephen Coleman OBE, said: “We’re delighted to be working in close partnership with AccelerateHER to further enhance diversity across the Tech Scaler programme. For Scotland to be one of the most tech startup friendly places in the world, it is crucial that we foster a more diverse and inclusive ecosystem.

“We look forward to working with AccelerateHER and their vast network of women founders to support them in building their businesses via education programmes, community building and networking.”

Jackie Waring, AccelerateHER Chair said: “We are incredibly excited to partner with CodeBase and build on the close long-term relationship that’s developed between the two organisations.

“This initiative adds value to the thousands of female founders that we support and will further enable CodeBase to increase diversity across the Scottish Government’s Tech Scaler programme.”

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Scottish Government, SDI, and Startup Grind Scotland

Startup Grind Scotland, the Scottish Government, and enterprise agency Scottish Development International (SDI), will partner to take 10 founders on a funded programme to the Slush tech conference in Helsinki in November.

Billed as “The World’s Best Startup Event”, Slush takes place between 17th-18th November in Finland’s capital, with over 4,000 startups and over 2,000 investors in attendance.

The Slush 2022 Foras Programme was designed by Startup Grind Scotland executives Dec McLaughlin, Nick Murray and Carolina Melendez.

Startup Grind Scotland Co-Director Murray commented: “This trip was born out of the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review and the success of our team’s previous cohort trip to Silicon Valley.

“The term ‘Foras’ means to go forth, to look outwards, to meet, and to create a forum for discussion, and that’s at the root of what we aim to achieve in Finland and going forward with these international programmes.”

The trip will run between 12th-20th November, taking in other meetings and events aimed at learning, peer-to-peer connections, ecosystem immersion, and investor engagement.

Want to know more? Click the link here.

Adarma and the Prince’s Trust

Edinburgh-based cybersecurity firm Adarma has announced a partnership with The Prince’s Trust to launch a ‘Get Started in Cybersecurity’ programme.

The aim is to empower individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 with cyber skills training and drive greater cybersecurity inclusivity.

Adarma CEO John Maynard will join the trust’s Technology Leadership Group and sit alongside representative members of over 50 companies, including Deloitte, Cognizant, Google, and AWS, to offer support through fundraising and volunteering expertise.

The firm said it hoped to provide an environment for inspiring and nurturing talent and building a route into cyber more accessible for neurodivergent communities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

While the Prince’s Trust will lead recruitment for the programme and provide pastoral support, Adarma will ensure cyber industry experts are on hand to deliver content and to share experiences. They will also establish apprenticeships within the company and across their wider partner network, allowing participants to realise a career in the field.

Finally, Adarma will advise and support The Prince’s Trust, as required, on a programme of work to strengthen the charity’s cybersecurity posture in today’s intensified threat landscape.

Julia Beaumont, Chief Technology Officer of The Prince’s Trust, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Adarma.

“Adarma’s passion for solving cybersecurity challenges in the real world aligns with the ambitions of The Prince’s Trust to ensure that every young person should have the chance to embrace exciting opportunities.

“Cybersecurity is central to our own digital transformation here at The Prince’s Trust and Adarma’s help will be invaluable.”

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Addleshaw Goddard

Five Scottish tech companies are among the 13 businesses chosen to participate in international law firm Addleshaw Goddard’s AG Elevate mentoring scheme.

The largest AG Elevate cohort to date sees early-stage companies from across the UK join the fast-track 10-month programme, which is designed to advance tech businesses in all sectors through legal challenges that arise as they scale-up.

Elvan Hussein and David Anderson, Partners and co-programme leads at Addleshaw Goddard, said: “The interest in this year’s AG Elevate programme was greater than ever, and we were delighted with the response and with the final 13 businesses who will participate this year.

“The focus of the programme has expanded as the acceleration of tech integration in all sectors and all aspects of our professional and personal lives speeds up. We know the challenges these businesses face and our specialist mentors are ready to help them negotiate an ever-changing landscape and thrive.”

“The breadth of this year’s AG Elevate cohort illustrates the demand for disruption and innovation across all sectors, and also show the increasing push for tech to show us the way to a more sustainable economy. Every one of them is a fantastic business in its own right, with huge ambitions, and we will bring our experience and expertise of advising others in the high-growth technology space to help them reach their goals.”

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IONATE and IBNE

Energy storage and power solutions provider IBNE has announced it will work together with deep-tech power innovator IONATE.

Set out in the agreement is a framework through which IBNE’s portfolio of newly built projects can benefit from IONATE’s Hybrid Intelligent Transformer (HIT) technology.

The first deployment is expected to be a pilot project launching in 2023, followed by deployment of IONATE’s HITs in IBNE’s portfolio of projects and partner distribution grids in the UK. The goal is to make these systems more robust, flexible, and productive in support of Net Zero.

IONATE’s CEO Matthew Williams said “IONATE is an enabling technology at its core: we maximise not simply asset productivity, but the range of possibilities that connected assets can be used for in delivering a flexible and responsive energy system.

“Storage is an essential pillar of our sustainable energy future and highly synergistic with what we do at IONATE. We are excited that in IBNE we have found a visionary collaborator in this field.”

William Andrews, IBNE’s CEO commented: “We are delighted to have commenced this collaboration with IONATE, a truly innovative partner that shares our vison of deploying technology to deliver a flexible and efficient energy system for the UK.

“The journey to Net Zero remains challenging and collaborations, like this one, are essential if we are to deliver more sustainable, secure, and ultimately cheaper energy. Together, we are enabling UK’s Net Zero future.”

Awards

EIE22

Nine startups have been selected for extended pitches at this year’s EIE22 online tech investor conference on Thursday 6th October.

Startups selected are CyberShell, Continulus, FC Labs, InFix, Lenz Labs, Microplate Dx, Pogo Studio, SMASH, and Hoolr.

The companies were seeking between £500,000 and £3 million in investment. The remaining 28 cohort companies at this year’s EIE will be making shorter pitches on the day.

Danny Helson, Head of Programme and Investor Relations at EIE, said: “Our extended pitch companies this year cover technologies like artificial intelligence and data science, and come from sectors ranging from healthcare, to climate, fintech, and creative design.

“It was hard to pick from such a strong bunch, as we have massively talented founders and companies across the board from Scotland, around the UK and beyond, but we think the presentations on show will put the best foot forward for these exciting young technology companies.”

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CyberScotland Summit

Scotland will host a major industry gathering on the 27th of October focused solely on cybersecurity, as online attacks on organisations in Scotland reach a record high.

Keynote speakers include Britain’s most senior cyber government official Lindy Cameron, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown.

The summit is being hosted by the CyberScotland Partnership, a collaboration between 16 key organisations including Scottish Government, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Business Resilience Centre. It is open to everyone to attend, not just the industry.

Jude McCorry, Chair of the CyberScotland Partnership, said: “This summit is coming at a time of huge importance for the cyber sector. Digital attacks on organisations have reached a record high in Scotland; it is vital for the business community in our country to come together and combat this ongoing scourge.

“The responsibility to help Scotland be digitally resilient – and a safe place to conduct online business – falls on all of us, not just people working in tech. We welcome anyone interested in knowing more about fighting back against cyber-crime, whether they work in the public, private, or third sector.”

Lindy Cameron, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, added: “The CyberScotland Summit is the perfect opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge, and experience that will provide Scottish businesses with the best tools to defend themselves against the latest cyber threats.

“With an ever-evolving threat landscape, it’s vital that we are able to come together and support one another to stay ahead of those who seek to do us harm. I look forward to speaking to fellow delegates about the measures they are taking to future proof the UK’s public and private sector organisations from cyber attacks.”

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Converge 2022

The 28 finalists who will compete for over £300,000 of equity-free funding and startup support as part of the Converge 2022 competition have been unveiled.

In addition to individual equity-free cash awards of up to £50,000, the finalists are competing for in-kind business support from Converge’s network of professional partners which includes some of the country’s leading investors, lawyers, and business experts.

The company creation programme for the university sector whittled down the current list from over 200 initial entries.

Organised in collaboration with Scottish Development International and featuring an address from Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, the event will enable UK wide investors to see the very best innovation and entrepreneurship emerging from Scotland’s universities.

Claudia Cavalluzzo, executive director at Converge, said: “Scotland’s world-class universities continue to be brilliant hotbeds of innovation and creativity, as exemplified by this year’s Converge finalist cohort.

“The judges who reviewed this year’s cohort’s business plans believe that these emerging entrepreneurs are leading projects with real market potential and the power to strengthen our economy while creating a fairer future for all.

“The promise for all these 28 fledgling companies is huge, and the Converge team will be right behind them in championing their ground-breaking ideas.”

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Edinburgh Uni AI Accelerator

The University of Edinburgh’s AI Accelerator, which is also delivered by innovation the Bayes Centre, has selected a group of emerging companies from Scotland, the UK and globally for this year’s business commercialisation programme.

Companies supported by the programme have gone on to attract more than £10m in grants and investment over the last year.

This year’s programme welcomed John Brodie to the role of Entrepreneur in Residence.

Brodie commented: “I am hugely excited to be joining the AI Accelerator and working with the fantastic organisations selected this year.

“My two passions over the last 20 years have been driving actionable data science projects and enabling early-stage businesses to scale.

“This role allows me to combine both of these, and I am very much looking forward to helping these companies develop their potential”

Charlotte Waugh, Enterprise and Innovation Programme Lead at Edinburgh Innovations said: “Congratulations to all the companies selected for the new AI Accelerator.

“As we have seen from the progress of many past participants, the programme has a successful track record in helping companies using AI for good to scale their business and make them investable so they can achieve their maximum potential.”

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Exizent

Glasgow-based bereavement tech firm Exizent announced it has become a member of the Law Society of Scotland and achieved Approved Supplier status.

The Law Society of Scotland – the professional body and regulator for Scottish solicitors – granted this membership and status after completing its assessment process.

The parties plan for the relationship to foster discussions and action at an industry level on legal technology adoption and on how the legal processes associated with a death can be improved to deliver better experiences for all involved.

Jack Rowberry, Business Development Manager at the Law Society of Scotland commented: “As a UK-wide legaltech business based in Scotland and providing a modern technology solution which enables our members to work better, Exizent is exactly the kind of organisation we want as a member of the Society and involved in our flagship Lawscot Tech programme.

“It is great to have them on board as one of our approved suppliers and I look forward to working with their team.”

Aleks Tomczyk, Founder and COO of Exizent, added: “Becoming members of the Law Society of Scotland and being granted Approved Supplier status is great news, validating our product’s ability to help legal professionals.

“That our existing Scottish users vouched for the software and praised the difference it has made to their current work processes during the assessment activity, is further testament to the hard work the team here at Exizent are putting into delivering a great product for our users.

“Our ultimate aim is to become an integral part of the bereavement landscape to the benefit of all. While we are pleased to have achieved so much already, we are still only at the beginning of our mission to help improve the experience of bereavement. We look forward to working with the Law Society of Scotland as we continue this journey.”

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AV One Solutions

Aberdeen audiovisual company AV One Solutions is celebrating six years in business this month and expanding its client base in the central belt and south of the border.

The Bridge-of-Don based firm offers audiovisual equipment sales and installation, event services, maintenance and technical support to clients across Scotland and the UK.

“We’re delighted to be going into our seventh year in such a strong position,” said Managing Director, Graeme McGuire. “The last couple of years have been challenging for everyone – not least the events sector – but we’ve come out thriving, and have recently been delivering on projects in Glasgow, Bristol, Surrey and London, as well as here in Aberdeen.”

The firm has seen a major uplift in business since the start of the year. The work relates to the audiovisual equipment sales and installation side of the business, resulting from a significant growth in the events sector, as well as an increase in demand for AV installations and infotainment systems offshore.

McGuire said that having the option of live streaming will become a standard feature of all future events, allowing audiences to attend and participate remotely.

“Businesses of all shapes and sizes are investing in their audiovisual systems to enhance video conferencing facilities and remote collaborative working.,” he said.

Abertay University and ScotlandIS

A student from Abertay University has been named Young Software Engineer of the Year at the 33rd annual ceremony from ScotlandIS.

Daniel Gearie took first place at the awards ceremony, held as part of the ScotSoft 2022 conference, for developing software that can physically locate the position of a drone operator using a variety of tools and techniques.

Lilli Freischem, of University of Edinburgh, was named runner up for producing a new software tool that can identify essential genes – ones that are critical to the survival of an organism – in a wide range of life forms.

Freischem’s software can communicate seamlessly with tools that are already widely adopted, and end users can use its improved predictive power with little additional training or technical expertise.

Robert Gordon University graduate, Raufs Dunamalijevs, was also a runner up for his work to implement two new penalty estimation algorithms in quadratic unconstrainted binary optimisations, improving the accuracy of combinatorial optimisation problems, which forms an important and complex part of computer science and AI.

Callum Inglis, Computer Science graduate from the University of Strathclyde, was awarded the Leidos Best Engineering Prize at the ceremony. He won the award for developing a low-cost, off-grid sensor monitoring system, capable of remote sensing in areas without any existing infrastructure.

Karen Meechan, CEO at ScotlandIS, said: “This year, we are celebrating ideas that display an impressive combination of innovation, creativity, and scalability. Each idea brings a potential real term impact to its related sector, making a genuine contribution.

“For decades we have recognised some of the best minds coming from our universities, demonstrating the strength and breadth of tech talent being developed within Scotland.

“In a sector that shows consistent demand for skilled talent, it’s important that, as an industry, we take time to recognise the individuals who truly embody the definition of talent.”

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FinTech Scotland

UK fintech innovation has been given a significant boost with the announcement that FinTech Scotland has achieved a new level of Cluster Excellence accreditation.

The accreditation, which is the highest level achieved by a fintech body in UK and Europe, comes at a time when economic clusters are increasingly being highlighted by government as an enabler in driving innovation – two prime examples being the UK Government Innovation Strategy and Scottish Government’s Economic Transformation Strategy.

The globally recognised European Secretariat for Cluster Accreditation (ESCA) confirmed the excellence award for FinTech Scotland following an in-depth audit of the organisation’s progress and delivery record since the bronze level award was achieved in January 2020.

Sir Ron Kalifa OBE, author of the HM Treasury Fintech Sector Review in 2021, said: “Congratulations to FinTech Scotland who are a bellwether example of leveraging the outputs of fintech innovation and accelerating the regional fintech development and growth, the importance of which was highlighted in my Fintech Sector Review.”

“This excellent recognition is a testament to the FinTech Scotland model that Stephen and Nicola have led, and I know they are continuing to use their expertise to further advance national connectivity and provide support to UK regions through the FinTech National Network as well as the new Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology”

Commenting, Stephen Ingledew, FinTech Scotland Executive Chair and Founder, said: “I am very proud of the team in achieving this significant milestone and my sincere thanks to all the committed cluster participants.

“The award further recognises our leadership and collaboration across UK reinforcing the pivotal interdependence with each other in fostering progressive innovation within all regions, so the tide rises for everyone”

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Insurtech Isle of Man

Insurtech Isle of Man and F10 have announced the selection of seven startups to join the first Isle of Man Insurtech Acceleration Program.

The open call for growth-stage Insurtech startups attracted over 70 applications from businesses across the world.

Following the review by the selection committee, seven startups have been selected to join the programme, which commenced on 26th September and will run for 12 weeks.

Simon Pickering, Head of Insurance and Pensions, Finance Isle of Man said: “I am delighted to formally announce today the successful entrants for the Isle of Man’s inaugural Insurtech Accelerator Program.

“The quality of applications has been extremely high, and the selected startups represent businesses at the cutting edge of Insurtech technology.

“Under the mentorship of F10 and our Program support partners, I look forward to seeing this cohort develop and scale up their Insurtech solutions, building on the Isle of Man’s success as a hub for growth and insurance expertise.”

Marc Hauser, Head of F10 Europe, commented: “We’re excited to introduce the startups that are part of this unique Insurtech Accelerator Program. We got very strong applications, and I congratulate all the selected founders!

“We are convinced, this batch of international startups has a lot to offer to the Insurtech ecosystem on the Isle of Man and beyond.

“The F10 team will support definition of collaborations, provide relevant masterclasses, facilitate face-to-face meetings as well as mentoring from F10 coaches and relevant partners.”

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Moves and Relocations

Besyncly

Cloud software platform Besyncly, formerly Cloud Data Exchange, has rebranded and boosted its product offering targeting global markets.

Besyncly’s offering is a business software program integration product which helps ecommerce and other firms to ensure their vital systems “speak to each other,” automating data transfers across accountancy software, ecommerce platforms and CRMs.

Mike Hall, Managing Director of the Besyncly arm of Eureka Solutions, said: “This reimagining of our brand comes at a perfect time and has galvanised the whole business.

“The manual transferring of data is still the bane of business life. While the platforms businesses use every day can be brilliant, they rarely speak to each other leaving gaps that must be filled – a laborious and unrewarding task.

“The result is damaging for businesses on three fronts: the huge amount of time that is lost, the delay in data being updated and ultimately the errors that creep in and render data unreliable.”

He added: “For customers that can result in products showing as being in stock when they aren’t, shipments delayed, dispatch notices failing to send – and even lost orders. Besyncly helps address all of this – leaving businesses to focus on growth and the future.”

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Forensic Analytics

Digital forensics tech company Forensic Analytics has announced plans for further expansion in Scotland.

The decision comes following significant contract wins for the company, along with positive operational outcomes and recognition in the form of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Since opening its Edinburgh office, led by Chief Executive Steve Rick, the company has grown its Scottish headcount to seven, including hiring Celtic FC Head of Marketing and Multimedia Kerry Keenan as Chief Marketing Officer.

In October, Forensic Analytics will partner with Amazon Web Services to deliver a roadshow event in Edinburgh, featuring discussions with law enforcement experts on enhancing digital policing in Scotland.

Rick said: “In our field, working in support of law enforcement at a time when over 90% of all crime has a digital component, the need for innovation in tackling the ingenuity of the criminal world has never been greater.

“Whether it’s drugs, violence against women and girls, kidnap and extortion, or some of the new and emerging trends in criminality like courier fraud where criminals prey on vulnerable members of society, perpetrators continue to innovate and so must we.

“We’re delighted to continue our growth in Scotland, welcoming Kerry Keenan who brings a wealth of marketing experience to the team and is already building partnerships such as the one with WiFi SPARK.”

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FanDuel

Located in Scotland’s capital, FanDuel’s new Collaboration Hub in Edinburgh is designed to connect colleagues across the UK.

After recent restrictions to the ways of working, the opening is a UK first for the firm, bringing together project teams across the tech, engineering, product and UX communities as the company seeks to create 250 engineering jobs this year in support of FanDuel’s mobile sportsbook, casino, and racing platforms.

The FanDuel Collaboration Hub can accommodate up to 550 people and is open to staff across the UK and those visiting from the States.

Mathew Taylor, FanDuel Vice President of Software Engineering, said: “We believe a collaborative approach is the best way to drive results and truly innovate when it comes to product delivery.”

“The official launch of our new Collaboration Hub today signals an exciting new chapter in the FanDuel story that will proactively bring together the best talent from across the country to innovate and excel in this dedicated creative space.

“The continued boom of the UK and Scottish tech sector is undisputed, and we wanted to create a new world-class environment to match our world-class engineering teams. Investing in our people is key and the Collaboration Hub helps us continue to recruit, develop and support our colleagues as we further grow our UK employee base.”

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The National Robotarium and Tata Consultancy Services

The UK’s National Robotarium has opened along with the announcement of a major applied engineering and research collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

The £22.4 million centre for robotics will collaborate with TCS on applied engineering and joint research across multiple disciplines including soft robotics, field robotics, co-bot and tele-operations. The agreement also covers areas of urgent societal need including social and geriatric care.

Utilising expertise from both Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, TCS Research will collaborate with the National Robotarium to create solutions to global challenges using robotics and AI research, product design and new technology creation.

Stewart Miller, CEO of the National Robotarium, said: “This exciting collaboration is a fitting milestone to announce during the official opening ceremony of the National Robotarium. The partnership will enable TCS and the National Robotarium to bring together our vast combined experience and expertise, elevating the robotics and artificial intelligence offering of both organisations as a result.

“Together we will deliver applied solutions across a range of challenges informed by TCS’ clients, utilising the unique facilities of our new building and adopting an enhanced approach which aims to de-risk and speed up adoption in the market. We will shortly announce a joint programme of focused research, which will outline some of the future technologies required in the field of robotics and AI.

“This announcement is the first of many for the National Robotarium as we ramp up our global collaborative activities. Britain has a long and rich heritage of delivering cutting-edge innovation on the world stage. The opening of this dedicated, state-of-the-art facility is another important milestone in that story and one which I believe demonstrates Scotland and the UK’s role at the forefront of global developments in AI and robotics.”

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