Lloyds Banking Group’s 2025 Launch Innovation Programme
Lloyds Banking Group is bringing back its Launch Innovation programme for 2025. Applications are now open for this initiative which offers a great opportunity for tech innovators from any industry to collaborate with one of the UK’s largest financial institutions.
The 12-week programme will provide expert mentorship from Lloyds’ senior management and industry specialists and enable selected participants to run a commercial proof of concept with the financial group. This initiative is designed to support ambitious entrepreneurs and innovative businesses looking to make an impact in sectors ranging from finance and technology to health, travel, and beyond.
Why start-ups should apply
The Launch Innovation programme presents a real opportunity for start-ups to gain exposure and validation in a real-world banking environment. Past success stories like Caura, Doshi, and MyPocketSkill demonstrate the transformative potential of this initiative.
Caura, a smart motoring app, secured a £4m investment from Lloyds’ fintech investment team, demonstrating the programme’s ability to take start-ups to the next level. Similarly, Doshi’s collaboration with Lloyds has helped gamify financial education, and MyPocketSkill is leveraging behavioural science to empower young people financially.
This programme is perfect for start-ups looking to refine their business models, access mentorship, and explore potential funding opportunities.
A Unique Opportunity for Start-ups Across All Sectors
Lloyds Banking Group’s commitment to innovation goes beyond financial services. The programme is open to start-ups across a diverse range of industries, including technology, health, sustainability, and consumer services. Lloyds Banking Group aims to provide customers with the best-in-class services and enhanced user experiences.
Participants will benefit from:
- Hands-on mentorship from senior industry experts
- Opportunities to develop and test innovative solutions
- Insights into scaling and commercialising their products
- Potential partnerships and investment opportunities with Lloyds Banking Group
For more informations and to apply click here
Equifax UK and CienDos Partner to Revolutionise Financed Emissions Reporting
FinTech Scotland’s strategic partner Equifax UK has partnered with Scottish fintech CienDos to launch the Financed Emissions Calculator™, a game-changing solution designed to streamline sustainability reporting and help financial institutions track their carbon footprint with greater precision.
Transforming financed emissions calculations
The Financed Emissions Calculator™ is the first-to-market solution that automates the traditionally manual and error-prone processes of measuring financed emissions. Built on Equifax’s fully cloud-native infrastructure, this innovative tool combines Equifax’s commercial credit insights with CienDos’ advanced emissions data methodologies. The result? A powerful platform that provides lenders with robust, auditable, and transparent carbon values based on sector-specific emission factors.
Financial institutions can now:
- Enhance accuracy in emissions reporting
- Improve traceability of carbon data across portfolios
- Align with regulatory compliance under frameworks like IFRS S2
- Make informed lending and investment decisions to support net-zero targets
Why financed emissions matter
Financed emissions are the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions indirectly attributed to financial institutions through their lending and investment activities. Unlike direct emissions, which stem from an organisation’s own operations, financed emissions come from the projects and businesses that banks, insurers, and asset managers fund. In many cases, financed emissions make up up to 95% of a financial institution’s total carbon footprint, forming a crucial part of Scope 3.15 reporting requirements.
Until now, many institutions have relied on high-level estimations and manual spreadsheets, making it difficult to track real-time emissions or project future climate impact scenarios. The Financed Emissions Calculator™ changes this landscape by offering an automated, data-driven solution that enhances transparency and enables more effective decision-making.
Equifax UK’s ESG Product Manager, Brad Davies, emphasised the critical role of financial institutions in tackling climate change:
“The role of financial institutions in helping to combat climate change is gaining significant attention, but indirect financed emissions associated with loans and other credit lines are among the most complex to track. By integrating environmental data with leading financial risk assessments, the Financed Emissions Calculator™ empowers UK lenders to measure and mitigate their climate impact. We’re excited to partner with CienDos to fill the knowledge gaps for clients with this first-to-market solution.”
CienDos Chief Executive Julia Salmond highlighted the collaboration’s impact on simplifying sustainability reporting:
“Equifax and CienDos have a shared vision to simplify the complex reporting requirements around financial firms’ carbon footprints. As a critical player at the heart of the UK financial ecosystem, Equifax’s extensive commercial credit data successfully combines with our own market-leading emissions data technology to help transform the management of portfolio emissions for firms, delivering greater accuracy and precision for their financed emissions reporting needs.”
FinTech companies awarded £250,000 to accelerate new developments that drive good consumer outcomes
Five fintech firms have each been awarded £50,000 to propel developments that support financial inclusion, accelerate financial resilience and deepen consumer engagement in financial services.
FinTech Scotland, in partnership with the University of Strathclyde and University of Glasgow, announced the outcome of the latest Consumer Duty Innovation Call from its Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL), an Innovation Accelerator project funded by Innovate UK.
Backed by 14 leading financial institutions, the initiative connected 20 global fintech businesses with industry leaders to develop data-driven solutions that enhance consumer outcomes in financial services. Participating fintechs worked closely with senior representatives from PwC, NatWest, Lloyds Banking Group, Equifax, Barclays, Tesco Bank, TSB, Advance Credit Union, Secure Trust Bank, and Dudley Building Society.
The fintech entrepreneurs showcased their solutions in a pitching event at PwC’s Glasgow offices in January. The results saw five fintech firms awarded £50,000 each to develop solutions further and drive real-world impact:
Docstribute – Deepening consumer engagement and improving customer understanding of complex documents.
Ask Silver – Building consumer confidence through an easy to access tool that identifies and reports scams for vulnerable consumers.
NestEgg AI – Driving financial inclusion by enabling easier access to affordable credit and responsible lenders.
MyArk – Deepening financial resilience through enhanced data insights to identify indicators of future financial distress, enabling quicker appropriate interventions.
Profylr – AI-driven risk and compliance insights for financial institutions enabling improved decision making and outcome tracking.
These fintech businesses will continue the collaboration with the industry leaders in the FRIL programme, refining the solutions to ensure real consumer impact while driving the evolution of financial services.
This Innovation Call expanded its reach through a collaboration with SuperTech West Midlands, which enabled credit unions, building societies and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) like Moneyline to engage in the programme.
Each of the FinTechs participating in the process offers a solution which enables financial services to be more inclusive, accessible and consumer focused. Utilising emerging technologies and advanced data insights continues to drive meaningful impact, shaping a fairer and more transparent financial future.
Nicola Anderson, CEO of FinTech Scotland, commented:
“This latest Customer focused Innovation Call highlights the power of collaboration in driving better outcomes for individuals. By bringing together ambitious fintech firms and leading financial institutions, not only enhances good consumer outcomes—it accelerates development of inclusive digital financial services and supports the evolution of the future digital economy.”
Hillary Allen Smyth, Exec Director Supertech, said:
“We’re so proud to have been the first region to collaborate with the FRIL programme and the team at FinTech Scotland. All of our West Midlands partners have gained enormously throughout the innovation call and these grant awards will undoubtedly help to better serve consumers. But they are only a small part of the wider programme impact and through this collaboration, it’s an impact that will be felt far beyond Glasgow’s borders.”
Fraser Wilson, Financial Services Regional Leader, PwC, said:
“Each of these companies are tackling real challenges with fresh thinking and practical solutions and it’s clear that their work has the potential to improve how the financial services sector delivers for consumers. As a business that puts technology at heart of our strategy, hosting the event at our Glasgow offices and seeing these ideas, and the passion from these innovators, was fantastic. It’s this kind of collaboration that pushes forward real progress for the industry and consumers alike.”
Robert McKechnie, Director, Consumer and ID Fraud Products said:
“Equifax is proud to support the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab and its grant award winners of its most recent Consumer Duty Innovation Call in which we sponsored a Use Case. Innovation in financial regulation is key to a more secure and inclusive ecosystem, and we look forward to seeing the potential impact these innovators solutions may have on the industry.”
Scottish Building Society and Legado to Enhance Member Communication
The Scottish Building Society is partnering with Scottish fintech Legado to improve the digital experience for members while aligning with the Society’s broader sustainability objectives.
A Digital-First Approach to Member Engagement
Scottish Building Society has long provided savings accounts and mortgage services and continues to evolve by embracing digital transformation. This latest partnership with Legado introduces an advanced communication platform designed to provide a seamless, secure, and user-friendly experience.
Legado, headquartered in Edinburgh, supports financial services brands across the UK, including FNZ, Moneyhub, and Co-op Legal Services. The company specialises in digital solutions that enhance customer engagement by offering a more structured and intuitive way to manage financial interactions.
Supporting Sustainability Through Paperless Processes
One of the key benefits of this partnership is the move towards paperless communication. By reducing the reliance on physical documents, the Society aims to lower printing and postage costs and reinforce its commitment to net zero targets. This initiative supports both operational efficiency and environmental responsibility, reflecting the broader trends within the financial services industry towards digital-first strategies.
Paul Denton, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Society, said.
“Our members are at the heart of everything we do, and we are always looking at ways to improve their experience with us and to ease the journey for new members. Legado’s technology enables us to do exactly that, while allowing us to progress towards our net zero goals”.
A Commitment to Innovation and Service Excellence
The collaboration between the Society and Legado is a reflection of changing member expectations. Consumers increasingly seek more streamlined, personalised interactions with financial institutions. Scottish Building Society will be able to offer an improved digital journey for its members, strengthening communication channels and enhancing overall service delivery.
Josif Grace, CEO and Founder of Legado, highlighted the value of the partnership:
“Scottish Building Society will now be able to deliver a more streamlined, secure, and effective communication experience for its valued members. While we work with financial services brands across the UK, it’s great to be working with their team here in Edinburgh where we’re also headquartered.”
Regulatory Horizon Scanning Reinvented by HAELO
According to Thomson Reuters, a new regulatory update is issued every seven minutes. Compliance is critical and relies on manual monitoring methods which is simply no longer viable. That’s why HAELO has launched REGENESIS, a cutting-edge regulatory horizon scanning solution designed to revolutionise how financial institutions navigate compliance challenges.
The Journey to Innovation
HAELO’s journey towards REGENESIS began with a bold step into the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab’s (FRIL) first innovation call in 2024. This led to a transformative twelve-week collaboration with industry mentor Joanne Seagrave, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Tesco Bank, and her team. The partnership allowed HAELO to refine its vision, tailor a real-world use case, and build a proof of concept that directly addresses the increasing regulatory burden faced by financial institutions worldwide.
REGENESIS
Regulatory change is more than a compliance issue, it’s a business risk and operational challenge. Financial services firms must not only track, interpret, and implement new regulations but do so at scale and speed. REGENESIS cuts through the noise by combining expert curation, automation, and advanced data analytics, transforming regulatory monitoring from a labour-intensive process into a strategic advantage.
Key Benefits of REGENESIS:
- Comprehensive Global Intelligence – Aggregates insights from hundreds of regulators and millions of documents in one accessible platform.
- Rapid, Actionable Insight – Provides instant clarity on regulatory changes, enabling firms to make informed decisions faster.
- Future-Proof Compliance – Keeps financial institutions ahead of the curve, ensuring resilience in an unpredictable regulatory landscape.
To showcase its potential, HAELO is offering an exclusive, complimentary three-month trial of REGENESIS for financial services firms. This is an opportunity to explore how automation, expert-driven intelligence, and advanced analytics can enhance regulatory threat intelligence, improve accuracy, and reduce compliance costs.
Secure your trial today by contacting HAELO at Let’s Chat | HAELO.io
Why Graduates Should Consider a Career in Fintech
The fintech industry is growing rapidly and has been recognised as a key driver of the UK’s economic growth. With strong investment and continued innovation, now is a great time for graduates to explore career opportunities in this sector.
The Growth of Fintech in the UK
The UK is a leading fintech hub, home to around 2,500 firms and employing over 76,500 people. By 2030, employment in the sector is expected to reach 105,500. Despite a global dip in fintech investment in 2024, the UK still attracted over £3 billion, demonstrating the industry’s resilience.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has highlighted fintech as a major contributor to the economy. The government’s focus on this sector means more opportunities for innovation, investment, and job creation.
The Skills Gap in Fintech
Although fintech is expanding, it faces a significant skills shortage. To remain competitive globally, the industry needs to attract more skilled professionals. However, a recent survey by fintech company Quotezone.co.uk found that 76% of students have never considered a career in fintech. The main reasons include:
- Lack of knowledge about the sector (36%)
- Pressure to follow a traditional career path (26%)
- Limited access to relevant work experience (9%)
Encouraging New Talent
To bridge this gap, initiatives like the Fintech Scholarship from Quotezone.co.uk aim to raise awareness and encourage students to learn about fintech. This scholarship invites students to share their thoughts on improving recruitment in the sector, with the winner receiving a £1,000 bursary and industry work experience.
Why Graduates Should Consider Fintech
A career in fintech offers competitive salaries, strong career development, and the chance to work in an innovative environment. Fintech professionals play a role in shaping the future of banking, payments, investment, and insurance through technology.
Fintech is an attractive option for graduates looking to enter a dynamic and rewarding industry thanks to growing government support and increasing job opportunities.
Scotcoin makes its debut on the MEXC cryptocurrency exchange
Scottish fintech Scotcoin made its debut on the MEXC cryptocurrency exchange. With a combined token valuation of $250 million (£200 million) and a trading paired with Tether (USDT), the world’s most liquid stablecoin, this listing represents a major development for the ethically driven digital currency.
Scotcoin isn’t just another token on the blockchain. It’s a mission-driven movement, with a firm commitment to social good, sustainability, and financial inclusivity. Scotcoin is setting itself apart by proving that digital assets can be a force for positive change.
What This Means for Scotcoin and Its Community
Being listed on MEXC, a top 20 global exchange with an average daily trading volume of $3 billion, will provide greater accessibility, liquidity, and credibility for Scotcoin. This move paves the way for mass adoption, allowing thousands more individuals, businesses, and charities to integrate Scotcoin into everyday transactions.
The listing is also a catalyst for expansion. Funds raised will be channelled into recruiting a dedicated full-time management team for The Scotcoin Project Community Interest Company (CIC). This will supercharge efforts to expand the Scotcoin ecosystem, developing partnerships with organisations that accept Scotcoin as a form of payment for goods and services.
A Crypto With a Cause
Unlike many cryptocurrencies that focus purely on speculation, Scotcoin’s vision is linked to community impact. Since its inception, it has backed initiatives providing food, clothing, and shelter to those in need. This next chapter will see Scotcoin directly distributed, via approved agencies, to third sector groups and vulnerable communities, ensuring that blockchain technology serves real-world humanitarian needs.
With over 6,000 holders globally and a growing number of charitable partnerships, Scotcoin is proving that crypto can be about more than just profits, it can be about people.
Commenting on this milestone, Temple Melville, CEO of The Scotcoin Project, said:
“This listing is a huge step forward in our journey. It not only increases accessibility for individuals, businesses, and charities, but also allows us to build a stronger, purpose-driven ecosystem. With a dedicated team, we can now focus on expanding partnerships and—most importantly—providing greater support to those in need.”
What Existing Scotcoin Holders Need to Know
To ensure a smooth transition, existing Scotcoin holders must exchange their old tokens for new ones before trading. Full details on how to do this securely are available on the official Scotcoin website: scotcoinproject.com
Preparing for PSD3 and Beyond
Season 5, episode 3
Listen to the full episode here.
The payments landscape is going through major transformation. PSD2 has been disruptive and with the anticipated arrival of PSD3 a lot of questions are still to be answered. What does PSD3 mean for fintech businesses, banks, merchants, and consumers?
In this episode, we explore the upcoming regulatory shifts, the opportunities and challenges they present, and what the future of payments might look like beyond PSD3. Will this be an evolution or a revolution?
How will Open Banking, embedded finance, and digital walletsbe impacted? And is regulation moving too fast, or not fast enough?
With Ann Zheng, Associate at Pinsent Masons
Bridging the AI Skills Gap: How Businesses Can Overcome the AI Talent Crisis
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into UK organisations presents both significant opportunities and challenges. A recent report by Gigged.AI, informed by research with 300 senior UK tech leaders looks at the current landscape of AI adoption and the growing need for a skills.
The AI Skills Gap: An Avoidable Crisis
By 2025, it’s anticipated that nearly half (48%) of the workforce will be utilising generative AI, potentially saving employees an average of four hours per week. However, to fully capitalise on this technology, businesses must find the right balance between hiring new talent and upskilling or reskilling existing employees.
Transitioning to skills-based hiring involves moving beyond traditional qualifications to prioritise specific competencies. Despite its growing popularity, only 37% of organisations have fully integrated this approach into their people strategy, indicating a gap between intent and implementation.
Leveraging Internal Mobility to Address Skills Shortages
Many businesses are turning inward to maximise existing resources. Over the past year, one-third (33%) of open positions were filled by internal candidates, and 39% of organisations frequently utilise employee skills to bridge gaps. This strategy not only addresses immediate needs but also enhances employee retention and satisfaction.
The demand for specialist contractors in AI, cybersecurity, and data science is on the rise. Notably, 57% of senior tech leaders report that contingent talent has been instrumental in upskilling internal teams. However, challenges such as increased national insurance contributions and IR35 regulations may hinder the recruitment of such talent.
Building a Skills-Powered Future
Two-thirds (69%) of businesses are expressing concern about the tech talent shortage in 2025. Organisations that encourage internal mobility and maintain access to contingent talent will be better positioned to navigate the evolving AI landscape.
For a comprehensive analysis and actionable insights, download the full report from Gigged.AI.
Sustainable Fintech Firm ESG360° Expands in Glasgow
ESG360°, a sustainability-focused fintech company, announces plans to expand its operations in the Glasgow. The London-based firm has secured a £1 million grant from Scottish Enterprise to support its growth, with ambitions to create over 30 high-value jobs in the next three years.
Founded to help businesses navigate the complexities of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance, ESG360° set up its Glasgow office last year. With this investment, it aims to scale its operations, reinforcing Scotland’s position as a hub for fintech innovation.
Why Glasgow?
For ESG360°, Glasgow offers the ideal mix of talent, innovation, and collaboration. The city has a strong fintech ecosystem, bolstered by institutions like the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde and organisations such as FinTech Scotland.
Anj Chadha, Founder and CEO of ESG360°, sees the expansion as a step towards delivering greater impact: “Glasgow is the ideal location for our next phase of growth. This grant from Scottish Enterprise is a vote of confidence in our vision and our ability to deliver measurable impact for businesses worldwide.”
ESG360°’’s expansion is also backed by Invest Glasgow, which provided a property grant, and FinTech Scotland, which recognised the company as one of the winners of its ‘Shaping the Future of ESG in Financial Services’ innovation call, awarding it some more funding to develop their solution. These partnerships are helping ESG360° build strong links with Scotland’s financial and academic institutions, enhancing its capabilities in ESG compliance and fintech innovation.
The Growing Role of ESG in Fintech
Recent research from Bain & Company suggests that nearly 90% of business leaders across Europe, the US, and Asia recognise the need for advanced technologies to achieve sustainability goals. ESG360° believes its AI-powered ESG platform is well-positioned to meet this demand.
Fintech and sustainability are increasingly intertwined, with businesses needing smarter tools to track their ESG commitments. ESG360°’’s platform leverages AI and data analytics to provide businesses with clear, actionable ESG insights, helping them comply with evolving regulations and investor expectations.
Scotland’s Fintech Momentum
The fintech sector in Scotland has been on a steady rise, growing tenfold since 2018 and now supporting over 11,000 jobs. Business Minister Richard Lochhead highlighted the importance of ESG360°’’s expansion:
“The fintech sector has grown 10-fold in Scotland since 2018 and supports more than 11,000 jobs. This welcome expansion by ESG360° shows the pace is not slowing and demonstrates Scotland’s position as the natural home for businesses operating at the cutting edge of data, technology and sustainability.”
Nicola Anderson, CEO of FinTech Scotland, highlighted the significance of ESG in fintech’s future:
“At FinTech Scotland we believe that harnessing technology and collaboration can accelerate sustainable finance solutions. ESG360°’’s approach reinforces the role of fintech in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future, strengthening Scotland’s position as a leading fintech cluster.”
Scottish Enterprise’s support for ESG360° aligns with its broader economic strategy. One of its long-term goals is to double the number of scale-up businesses in Scotland over the next decade by focusing on high-growth industries, including fintech.
Reuben Aitken, Managing Director of International Operations at Scottish Enterprise, echoed this sentiment:
“We’re genuinely delighted that ESG360° has chosen Glasgow as the location to scale its business. It joins a growing number of internationally headquartered fintech companies who’ve set up operations in the city due to its reputation as a centre of talent, innovation and collaboration.”