Welcome to October 2025’s edition of Movers & Shakers.

The year is quickly winding down and the nights are drawing in, but Scotland’s business scene shows no signs of cooling yet, with last month seeing everything from top-level appointments at the likes of FinTech Scotland and KPMG to international breakthroughs for homegrown AI startups.

Plus, we break down the newest partnerships making waves in Scotland’s tech scene, including a standout deal between a Scottish chipmaker and a global automotive giant, as well as a rundown of the latest awards across the industry.

All that and more coming up.

Appointments

FinTech Scotland Announces New CEO

FinTech Scotland has announced that CEO Nicola Anderson will step down from her leadership position this year to be replaced by Aleks Tomczyk.

As the incoming chief executive, Tomczyk will join the cluster management body with immediate effect as designate CEO, and work with Anderson over the remainder of 2025.

After five years heading FinTech Scotland, Anderson is leaving to take up a new senior director position with Scottish Enterprise, having been instrumental in the growth of the fintech organisation, which now counts over thirty industrial and academic strategic partners, and a highly engaged fintech community of 250-plus entrepreneurial SMEs.

“We can all be proud of the fintech cluster we have collectively built and the positive impact of businesses and people in shaping the economy,” said Anderson.

“I know Aleks will be a huge success in this role and look forward to continuing to work with him.”

Read more here.

KPMG UK Appoints Jo Thomson to Lead Edinburgh Business

KPMG UK has appointed Jo Thomson to lead its Edinburgh office.

Based at the firm’s Saltire Court office in the heart of the capital, Thomson will lead a team of more than 400 people, strengthening the firm’s connections within the city’s business community.

Alongside leading the Edinburgh office, Thomson has also been appointed as Public Sector Lead for Scotland. In this role, she will bring the full breadth of KPMG UK’s expertise in tax, audit and advisory to help public bodies navigate Scotland’s evolving policy landscape and reform agenda.

Thomson, having worked at KPMG UK for over six years, succeeds Arleen Arnott as Edinburgh Office Senior Partner.

“It’s a real privilege to be leading our Edinburgh office,” said Thomson. “My mantra for this first year is to listen, learn and really understand what is unique about Scotland, while also bringing a fresh perspective and the benefit of my wider experience.”

Read more here.

Burness Paull Boosts Competition Law Offering with New Appointment

Burness Paull has strengthened its competition law offering with the appointment of Tom Usher as a senior advisor.

Highly regarded by clients and the wider market, Usher was most recently a partner with Macfarlanes in London, and has advised on all aspects of EU and UK competition law for more than thirty years.

These include competition compliance, merger clearance and challenges to regulatory decisions, cartel cases, vertical and horizontal agreements, and market studies and investigations.

As well as being ranked a senior statesperson by the Chambers and Partners legal directory, Usher has experience acting for a range of clients, particularly in the financial services sector and other regulated industries.

“The competition landscape is evolving, as the CMA seeks to fulfil its statutory mandate to promote competition and protect consumers while also responding to the government’s ask of all UK regulators to help attract investment and drive economic growth,” said Peter Lawson, chair at Burness Paull.

“Tom’s appointment reflects our commitment to ensuring that our clients have access to the best possible advice as they navigate what continues to be a dynamic trading environment.”

Partnerships

Sixth Cohort Sign On to Ana Stewart’s Pathways Pledge

Pathways Forward, the social enterprise founded by private investor and Scotland’s chief entrepreneur Ana Stewart, has unveiled its newest Pledge cohort and announced the appointment of Jo Forster as industry lead.

Burness Paull, FWB, Investing Women Angels, and Cazenove Capital are among the latest organisations to sign high-level Pathways Pledges, committing to targeted support for female entrepreneurs, reviewing internal team structures and incentive models to drive gender diversity, and conducting diversity audits to ensure equal access and opportunity.

With the addition of these latest signatories, the Pathways Pledge now counts 36 members across six cohorts.

“We are excited to welcome our latest cohort and follow their progress over the next twelve months,” said Stewart. “It’s great to see so many organisations collaborating to drive impact and to shift the dial for women in business.”

Read more here.

Scottish Firm Dukosi Partners With Kia For Battery Passport Project

Scottish semiconductor and battery intelligence firm Dukosi has announced a partnership with Kia Europe to deliver the carmaker’s first public trial of a cell-level battery passport.

Using a Kia EV3 fitted with Dukosi’s battery cell monitoring system, which transmits live data from each cell to a digital battery passport, the project will allow drivers, mechanics, and regulators to view real-time information on the battery’s health, with the aim of improving transparency, repairability, and trust across electric vehicle lifecycles.

The research, coordinated by Delft University of Technology with support from Hyundai Motor Group and partners including TNO, will test how digital battery passports can securely share data between multiple stakeholders.

“Through testing cell-level battery passports, we gain insights on what ownership benefits we can offer our customers,” said Mark Hedrich, President and CEO of Kia Europe. “On top of advantages such as extended battery life, we will be building on a relationship of trust as well.”

Read more here.

Converge Secures £1.26m and Scottish Enterprise Partnership

Academic enterprise programme Converge has secured its largest-ever multi-year funding package of £1.26 million over the next three years from the Scottish Funding Council.

The investment will allow Converge to support more university entrepreneurs and strengthen partnerships between Scotland’s universities to drive commercial development.

Alongside this major funding announcement, Converge has also revealed a new strategic partnership with Scottish Enterprise that will help to create smoother pathways for university entrepreneurs to access business support, from initial concept through to business growth.

Both organisations will work together to identify promising intellectual property-rich ventures and provide a coordinated approach to help academic founders navigate the journey from laboratory to market.

“The multi-year Scottish Funding Council investment provides the stability we need to plan long-term support for university innovators, while our collaboration with Scottish Enterprise creates enhanced end-to-end connectivity across Scotland’s innovation ecosystem,” said Adam Kosterka, executive director of Converge.

Read more here.

SWURF Launches On-Demand Private Meeting Pods with Two Major Partnerships

Edinburgh traveltech SWURF has agreed partnership deals with Edinburgh Airport and Yotel to install its new private meeting pods at both locations.

Two pods will be installed at Edinburgh Airport, with an additional unit being installed at Yotel’s Queen Street site. The pods are designed to address the modern trend of ‘meetings in motion’, which was identified as one of the key Business Travel Trends for 2025 by forecasting agency Globetrender.

The ‘SWURF Pod’ features advanced soundproofing, private Wi-Fi networks with security-grade encryption, smart LED lighting, air filtration systems, and ergonomic seating for those who suddenly find they need a private space for sensitive business calls.

“Our research consistently highlighted that taking private calls whilst travelling is the biggest challenge facing hybrid workers and business travellers. Traditional meeting room hire at airports and hotels can be prohibitively expensive and often unavailable at short notice,” said Nikki Gibson, founder of SWURF.

“The SWURF Pod solves this with an on-demand, affordable solution that can be accessed within minutes. We are now focused on deploying 100 pods across the UK in the next 12 months with key commercial partners in the pipeline. We’re also looking to raise further investment early in 2026 to support global growth.”

Elementz and Sword Launch Tech Partnership to Support Subsea Software Growth

Subsea software firm Elementz has announced a new partnership with global IT provider Sword to boost the development of next-generation solutions for the sector.

Elementz said that the tie-up will drive forward product development and accelerate innovation, including for its newly launched AI-driven platform, Tide Breaker, which aims to connect startups directly with industry data, infrastructure and expertise.

The deal will also allow the Aberdeen-based company, which is experiencing unprecedented demand for its subsea integrity and inspection software solutions, to enhance operations in line with rising industry demand.

“This partnership is a game-changer for us,” said Jason Brown, chief executive officer of Elementz.

“By embedding Sword’s talent directly into our teams, we have the ability to scale quickly without compromising on efficiency or focus. It’s the perfect solution for accelerating our product roadmap during this high-growth phase.”

Label Sessions and Future Fashion Assembly Partner to Accelerate Fashion Innovation

Edinburgh-based Label Sessions and Future Fashion Assembly have announced a new collaboration to support fashion, sports and lifestyle brands through a time of “significant transformation”.

Bringing together fashion industry expertise and a cross-sector innovation model, the partnership aims to help brands move faster, with board-ready strategies, venture acceleration, and executive learning, while also supporting the creation of sustainable strategies, new revenue models, and next-generation products.

“Global supply chains have been disrupted by material and labour issues, on top of the tariff situation. Our goal is to help fashion brands through those challenges by accelerating change and innovation.”

Expansions

Edinburgh AI Firm Tomoro Expands into Australia and Singapore

Edinburgh-based AI consultancy Tomoro is continuing its global expansion with new Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore offices, building on major growth in its native Scotland.

The firm previously announced a £4m investment in creating 20 jobs in Edinburgh, which are now all filled. They confirmed that this further global expansion will continue to drive growth in their Scottish base, with an announcement expected soon of at least doubling the size of the Scottish team.

Headed by former Accenture AI Industry Lead, Dan Edgar, the firm’s Australian operations two new hubs in Australia, will aim to speed up AI integration, address the country’s widening skills shortage, and unlock productivity gains of up to 40% within the next four years.

“We’re all about working on the most ambitious AI projects in the world and hiring the top AI talent. Our Scottish base has been instrumental to that, providing us with an unbelievable base of talent and production solutions to expand across Asia Pacific,” said Ed Broussard, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Tomoro.

Read more here.

Edinburgh Uni’s ‘Trail Blazing’ Tech Incubator Goes National

The University of Edinburgh has expanded its flagship tech incubator programme for the first time, welcoming bold new ideas from across Scotland’s university network.

A fresh cohort of thirty-six rising tech entrepreneurs will receive backing from Edinburgh’s Venture Builder Incubator, gaining access to funding, office space, and mentorship at the Bayes Centre, the university’s innovation hub for AI and data science.

Among this year’s projects from across ten Scottish universities are an AI that can detect fake alcohol, an app offering support for young people with brain tumours, and an award-winning AI to streamline admin tasks for lawyers.

In partnership with the Scottish Government’s Techscaler programme, the accelerator will become a nationwide initiative, which the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, called a ‘major step’ in expanding support for transformative academic projects.

Read more here.

Solar Startups Expands to Scotland in Partnership with Snugg

London-based solar subscription provider startup Sunsave is expanding to Scotland in a partnership with Edinburgh-based home energy plan provider Snugg, after raising £100m over the summer to scale its offering across the UK.

The solar company, which is the first FCA authorised provider, offers subscription plans for the panels they install through a monthly rate, increasing access to solar power for households that may be hesitant due to the upfront costs.

“Launching in Scotland is another major milestone on the Sunsave journey. Already, customers in England and Wales are saving hundreds of pounds a year on their energy bills with a Sunsave Plus subscription,” said Sunsave co-founder and chief executive Alick Dru.

“Our partnership with Snugg is a natural fit, making it easier to reach customers earlier in their journey and bring them a clear path to solar power. We’re looking forward to bringing lower energy bills to people all over Scotland.”

Read more here.

Tech Consultancy TDS Expands to Edinburgh

Technology consultancy Test Driven Solutions (TDS) has revealed plans to open a new office in Edinburgh next year, ahead of further expansion in Latin America.

Already operating across offices in Newcastle, Poland, and Canada, the 160-person consultancy specialises in end-to-end software solutions, from development and testing to platform engineering and UX design.

As part of its next stage of growth, TDS has introduced a new senior leadership team, which will work to expand the firm’s offering and further the firm’s innovation through AI and emerging technologies.

Among the appointments is David McAvelia, as TDS’ chief revenue officer, Andy Thompson as the firm’s chief of staff,  Adrian Pollard as financial director, and Jack Reed, who will move to serve as head of technology services.

“As we enter this next phase of expansion, I’m proud to welcome our new leadership team, who bring the experience, insight and drive needed to take TDS to the next level, while staying true to who we are,” said Sam Clark, founder of TDS.

“The opening of our Edinburgh office and our expansion into Latin America mark an exciting new chapter in our journey, and I’m confident the best is yet to come.”

Tech Pair Launches to “Redefine” Recruitment

Grangemouth-based tech recruitment firm Tech Pair has officially launched, bringing what it describes as a human-centred methodology to technology and change recruitment.

Built on nearly five decades of combined experience, founders Michael Phair and Stuart Alexander have designed a founder-led, video-first model that focuses on brand elevation and precision by focusing on fewer, high-impact
searches, rather than chasing hundreds of roles at once.

The firm typically delivers shortlists within seven days, featuring not just CVs but video profiles of candidates personally interviewed by Phair and Alexander, with the founders aiming to fully embed in each client’s brand, voice, and hiring
strategy.

“Too often, senior recruiters hand off work to juniors who’ve never met the client or stepped into their office. Automation has its place, but not at the expense of understanding people. We’re bringing back the personal element, every client and candidate works directly with us, from brief to offer,” said Phair.

Health Innovation Hub to Welcome MedTech Chemify

Glasgow’s newest purpose-built precision medicine facility, Health Innovation Hub, has secured Chemify as a tenant, representing the largest commercial letting of the year so far for life sciences in the city.

Chemify will occupy more than 40,000 sq ft across two floors, with additional space on the ground floor of HiH, which will provide the medtech’s 165 scientists and specialists the benefit of bespoke laboratories and modern workspace tailored to their needs.

Designed to accelerate the journey from lab bench to bedside, HiH is being delivered by Kadans Science Partner in collaboration with the University of Glasgow’s Living Laboratory for Precision Medicine, a programme focused on turning pioneering research into clinical impact.

“Our expansion into the Health Innovation Hub marks an exciting new chapter for Chemify. This cutting-edge accommodation will allow us not only to scale up our operations, but also to keep attracting the best talent while consolidating our key role in the digitisation of chemistry,” said Lee Cronin, CEO and founded of Chemify.

Awards

Inform Prize 2025 Winners Revealed

2025 marked the 12th edition of the Inform Prize Aberdeen event, and the prize’s first Glasgow event, each seeing a fantastic turnout from both universities and businesses.

The Inform Prize celebrates computer science students working on their group projects. Teams submit marketing videos showcasing their solutions, which are reviewed by judges and shortlisted for presentation.

On event day, finalists present to a live audience before winners are announced across three categories: Best Presentation, Best Idea, and Best Implementation, with the event providing valuable networking opportunities for industry professionals to connect with emerging university talent.

In Glasgow, the award for Best Presentation went to Team SH17 with Project ReNact, while Team Digital Sandwich won at the Aberdeen event with their project Race Trace.

Find the full list of winners here.

Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Festival Award Winners Revealed

In a celebratory ceremony at Tynecastle Stadium, the winners of the Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Festival & Awards 2025 were announced by the DataKirk, honouring organisations and teams driving progress in Scotland.

With an overwhelming number of direct and indirect nominations, DataKirk’s esteemed judging panel certainly had their work cut out for them. The awards presented an opportunity for “inspiration, entertainment, and recognition,” host and executive director of Passion4Fusion, Helena Roger, said.

Heart of Midlothian FC won the Talent Intelligence Award for their data partnership with Jamestown Analytics, while the Data Lab won the Special Recognition Award, highlighting their special relationship with DataKirk and its founder.

“In the tech sector in Scotland, only 20% of workers are women and about 12% are from ethnic minority background. At The Data lab, half of us are women and nearly a quarter are from ethnic minority backgrounds,” Helen Thompson, CEO of The Data Lab, said.

Find the full list of winners here.

Scotland Women in Tech Awards 2025 Winners Revealed

A hairstylist turned tech entrepreneur was the wildcard winner at this year’s Scotland Women in Technology (SWiT) Awards.

Tracey Aitken, co-founder of HairTracker, a digital record card app that allows salon professionals to document a client’s hair journey and details, resulting in stronger customer relationships, took home the Career Changer of the Year award.

Judges commented that Tracy’s journey to tech had been an “inspirational story of determination” and a “huge jump into a completely different sector” in launching a “fantastic idea for her industry.”

“Winning this award means I can show up into a room with my head high,” Aitken told DIGIT after winning the award. “Before, I’d go into a room and people wouldn’t take me seriously. This has given me credibility, it shows that I bring something to the table.

Other big winners during the awards ceremony included software testing and quality assurance organisation, 2i Testing and data and AI recruiter, The Data Gals.

Find the full list of winners here.