Scottish Fintechs Shine at the ScotlandIS Digital Tech Awards 2024

The ScotlandIS Digital Technology Awards 2024 celebrated outstanding achievements in the tech sector, acknowledging the innovation, expertise, and ambition of businesses both large and small, alongside the incredible individuals who power them. The event highlighted remarkable advancements in the digital tech industry over the past year, recognising a total of 11 winners across 11 categories.

Among the winners, several Scottish fintech companies stood out, showcasing their leadership and ingenuity:

• Bellrock Technology: Securing the Data Trailblazer award, Bellrock Technology demonstrated their pioneering approach to harnessing data, setting a new standard in the industry for innovative data solutions.
• Lupovis: Earning the Cyber Trailblazer title, Lupovis was recognised for its innovative cybersecurity strategies, reinforcing the importance of cutting-edge protection in an increasingly digital world.
• FreeAgent: Taking the Best Wellbeing at Work category, FreeAgent underscored the significance of prioritising employee welfare, fostering an environment that promotes productivity and satisfaction.
• loveelectric: As the Start-Up Digital Tech Business of the Year, loveelectric’s innovative business model and remarkable growth exemplified the dynamic spirit of emerging tech enterprises.

These wins show the vibrancy and ingenuity within Scotland’s fintech sector and are a testament to the country’s growing influence and capability in digital innovation.

Amiqus Reaches Fundraising Milestone, Donating £35,000 Towards £100,000 Goal for the Scottish Refugee Council

Scottish fintech Amiqus, has celebrated a major achievement in its partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC). The firm recently contributed £35,000 from its initial fundraising efforts of 2023, moving towards its ambitious target of raising over £100,000 in a three-year campaign from 2023 to 2025.

Callum Murray, the founding CEO of Amiqus, expressed pride in the company’s collaboration with the SRC, emphasising the importance of the partnership:

“We’re now one year into our partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council, supporting the vital work they do across the country. Their front-line support services provide help and direction for people as they move from a position of danger and desperation to a safe place they can settle, call home and rebuild their lives, integrated with local communities. Working together with a shared purpose, we’re developing the means to make sure Amiqus enables access to legal help, financial services and pathways into employment for people who need it most. Speaking on behalf of our board and everyone at Amiqus, we’re committed to playing our part for the long run and making an outsized impact on the SRC’s long-term objectives as we continue to sustainably scale Amiqus as one of the fastest-growing tech businesses in the UK.”

Now in the second year of their partnership, Amiqus has stepped up its fundraising activities. Notably, they sponsored the SRC Spring Ceilidh in Glasgow this April, which successfully raised over £9,000. Additionally, for the second year running, the Amiqus team will participate in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on 25th May 2024, collectively covering over 100 miles in support of the SRC.

Amiqus invites individuals and organisations to join them in supporting the SRC’s vital work. Contributions can be made via the Amiqus JustGiving page.

Dr Sabir Zazai, Chief Executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, highlighted the significance of their collaboration: ”

We are honoured to work in partnership with Amiqus who have passionately been supporting our work for over a year now. Through supporting our Leadership programme with laptops, completing marathons, to sponsoring our fundraising events, Amiqus have been instrumental in helping us achieve our aims. We have a great relationship with the team, and we are already looking forward to working with Amiqus on their future fundraising and their upcoming initiatives which will support people as they seek to make a new life for themselves in Scotland.”

CreditNature’s Accreditation: Pioneering Natural Capital Investment

CreditNature has announced a new achievement. The Scottish fintech just secured the world’s first independent accreditation for a Terrestrial Ecosystem Condition Method under the Accounting for Nature® Standard, which represents a huge leap forward for ecosystem restoration and natural capital investment.

The accreditation is a result of a year-long process where CreditNature, in collaboration with the renowned Accounting for Nature® and their expert panel, developed a robust method enabling businesses to measure and report on nature-positive impacts of their investments. This method aligns with crucial reporting frameworks such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), ensuring that businesses can disclose impactful Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) outcomes.

The Ecosystem Condition Method, forming part of CreditNature’s NARIA framework, provides a standardised and accredited metric that quantifies ecosystem integrity on a scale of 0 to 100. This allows for consistent reporting across varied landscapes, not just in Europe, but with plans to expand globally including regions like Africa, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.

• Impacts and Visualisation CreditNature’s method does more than quantify; it also offers real-world visualisations of restoration progress through their innovative dashboard. This feature provides investors with evidence and insights into restoration gains, complemented by narratives, accredited Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and vivid media of nature restoration successes.
• Endorsements and Support The method has garnered support from key environmental figures and governmental bodies. Dr. Peter Phillips of the Scottish Government and Prof Hugh Possingham of Accounting for Nature have both praised the accreditation for setting high standards and providing a reliable method for quantifying Nature Positive outcomes.

This development not only showcases CreditNature’s commitment to scientific excellence and innovation but also enhances the credibility and viability of investing in natural capital on a global scale.

Stuart Barnard Becomes First CFO of Encompass Corporation

Scotland-based fintech Encompass Corporation, a leader in the field of Corporate Digital Identity (CDI), just announced the appointment of Stuart Barnard as its first Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Stuart joins the company with over 15 years experience in the industry. He brings extensive expertise in finance, particularly in growing start-ups and scale-ups, to look after Encompass’ global financial strategies and operations. His new role at Encompass will see him lead finance, legal, human resources, revenue operations, IT, and information security.

Barnard’s appointment recognises his pivotal contributions to the company since joining the team in 2016. Initially serving as Head of Finance, and later as VP of Finance and Business Operations, Stuart has been instrumental in driving Encompass’ rapid growth and international expansion.

Reflecting on his new role, Stuart Barnard remarked,

“I am delighted to continue what has been a remarkable journey at Encompass by taking up the role of CFO. It has been a privilege to be part of establishing the organisation as a global leader, with the foundations in place to continue to go from strength to strength, supported by a first-class team and innovation. It is a truly exciting time, and we are well placed to continue to flourish as a top player in the market, fuelled by our focus on unlocking the benefits of CDI for our customers.”

Wayne Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Encompass Corporation, expressed his enthusiasm about Barnard’s promotion, saying,

“Stuart has been instrumental to the success of Encompass, from the early days until now, as we have developed our offering, operations and culture ”“ all of which have allowed us to scale internationally. His knowledge, expertise, and business acumen have been vital to ensuring Encompass remains ahead of the curve, and the diverse, high-performing talent that he has brought into his teams has been central to not only how we operate on a daily basis, but to instilling the values that we pride ourselves on as a forward-thinking employer that enables individuals to thrive”

Stuart’s appointment to the executive team follows other significant hires this year, including Neil Acworth as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Job den Hamer, former CEO of CoorpID, as Head of Business Development, highlighting Encompass’ ongoing commitment to strengthening its leadership team and enhancing its market position.

Encompass Corporation Welcomes Neil Acworth as New CISO to Fortify Global Banking Trust

Encompass Corporation, a fintech based in Scotland and a leading global provider of real-time digital Know Your Customer (KYC) solutions, just announced the appointment of Neil Acworth as its Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Acworth’s entry is a significant milestone for Encompass in its mission to provide gold-standard information security processes to global banking institutions.

Acworth brings to the table an impressive array of experiences, having navigated through the tech space with roles such as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), particularly within the Regulatory Technology (RegTech) sphere. His appointment is reinforcing Encompass’ capabilities in delivering seamless, data-focused processes crucial for the safety, compliance, and operational efficiency of financial institutions. This move is especially pertinent given the ever-evolving business and regulatory landscape where security remains a key concern across the financial services industry.

In his new role, Acworth will spearhead the information security team at Encompass, driving the company’s ongoing endeavors to embody and promote the highest standards in combating financial crime and fostering business growth. His leadership is expected to further solidify Encompass’ stature on the global stage as a beacon of trust and excellence in information security.