Lloyds’ new incubator and Fintech tie- up
B a n k o f S c o t l a n d o wne r Lloyds Banking Group has unveiled the next stage of its plan to boost Scotland’s fintech workforce in what it says is the fastest- growing digital economy outside London.
The lender has agreed a new tie- up with Fintech Scotland in the search for the nation’s most exciting start- ups and young businesses.
The move is part of the next stage in the development of its new tech hub in Edinburgh, with the group having last year announced a recruitment drive to create anew500- strongteam tasked with helping transform the digital experience for Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Scottish Widows customers.
The new i ncubator pro - gramme, Launch – based out of the Edinburgh hub – will unite start- ups and scale- ups to tackle the issues of digital services and sustainability, with plans for its first industry showcase next year.
In addition to the tech hub’s team of software engineers and other digital roles, which is more than 50 per cent complete, the first specialist mobile quality engineering team was created, adding 16 roles to the tech- based talent pool in Scotland.
Theedinburghhubwassetup to overhaul how the bank operates behind the scenes, creating new services and tools for customers, as well as enhancing Scotland’s thriving tech community.
Philip Grant, chair of Lloyds’ Scottish executive committee, said: “We’re putting lots of energy into shaping the financial services of the future to meet customers’ changing needs, and having cutting- edge fintech talent in action behind the scenesis keytokeepingcustomers connectedtotheir finances.”