Swinney hails financial services in milestone year – Daily Business

John Swinney addressing the Scottish Financial Services Awards (pic: DB Media Services)

John Swinney last night told a financial services gathering that the sector was “a force for good” that the government would promote as one of Scotland’s economic strengths.

Addressing the Scottish Financial Services awards in Glasgow, the First Minister said he had just returned from India which offered enormous potential.

“It is important to be constantly looking outwards so that our strengths are employed in other jurisdictions,” he told the 770 guests attending the event.

He also referenced the Scale-Up Summit which is being organised by Scottish Financial Enterprise, describing it as “another chance to bring Scotland to a wider audience.”

The evening’s highlight was the presentation of a lifetime achievement award to Dame Susan Rice for her contribution to the financial services industry.

She was honoured at the Scottish Financial Services Awards in Glasgow in a year which marks the 40th anniversary of Scottish Financial Enterprise.

The trade organisation was set up to represent the sector at the time of deregulation in the City, known as Big Bang, and has been a constant link with government and other public agencies through key developments, including legislative and regulatory changes, the financial crash of 2008-09 and Brexit.

Dame Susan was recognised for her contribution to financial and professional services in Scotland. She was the first woman to lead a European clearing bank as chief executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland, and has held a number of other senior roles across a 40-year career.

Among the award winners were Baillie Gifford for the UK’s first fully native tokenised fund and Aberdeen for its landmark transaction with Stagecoach’s pension scheme, demonstrating that Scotland remains at the forefront of innovation for financial services.

This year also saw the inaugural fintech award, highlighting Scotland’s leadership in this emerging field, with the award going to Addepar. 

Sue Dawe, chair of SFE and EY Scotland managing partner, said the industry was barely recognisable to how it operated in 1986 with AI, quantum computing, and digital currencies being examples of change over those four decades.

Regarding Dame Susan, she said: “Few people have shaped Scotland’s financial services sector from so many perspectives: banker, board director, public servant, policy adviser and champion of higher standards.

“Dame Susan Rice has brought leadership, sound judgement and unwavering integrity to some of Scotland’s most important institutions. Long before purpose and sustainability became boardroom priorities, she understood that successful businesses must earn trust, support communities and contribute to long-term prosperity. 

“Susan’s career has not merely run alongside the advancement of the sector; she has helped shape it and continues to do so. I am delighted to present her with the Scottish Financial Enterprise Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Sandy Begbie, CEO of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said: “The exceptional quality of this year’s entries reflects the strength, innovation and impact of Scotland’s financial and professional services sector.”

The full list of winners:

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dame Susan Rice

Rising Star Award

Shannon Macnamara – Aberdeen

Changing Customer Needs Award

Nationwide

Net Zero Award

Zumo

Skills and Inclusion Award

Future Asset

Innovation Award

Shared between Aberdeen Group and Ballie Gifford

Business Growth Award

Royal Bank of Scotland – The Accelerator

FinTech Award

Addepar

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