The flagship industry celebration recognises the contribution that both firms and their people have made to the financial services sector and wider society. Last year’s sold-out event welcomed a record 730 guests from across the sector.

This year, Hampden Bank and the Scottish National Investment Bank have been shortlisted in the Business Growth category. Baillie Gifford has been shortlisted for two awards, in Innovation and FinTech, while Aberdeen Group has four nominations, two in Innovation, one in Net Zero and another in rising star for Shannon Macnamara. BlackRock was also shortlisted in three categories: Skills & Inclusion, Innovation and Rising Star with Aaron Martin.

Sue Dawe, Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) chair, said: “Every year, I am struck by the exceptional calibre of talent and the ambition behind the innovative, world-leading projects being designed, developed and delivered in Scotland. These achievements demonstrate the positive contribution our sector makes far beyond financial services, and our winners, nominees and the wider industry should be proud of what they are delivering.”

Sandy Begbie, chief executive of SFE, added: “The strength and diversity of this year’s shortlist is a testament to the talent, innovation and global ambition that exists across Scotland’s financial and professional services sector.

“From developing new technologies and driving economic growth to delivering meaningful benefits for communities, the breadth of work being recognised shows the important role our sector plays in shaping Scotland’s future. I would like to congratulate everyone who has been shortlisted and recognise the contribution of all those working across the industry.”

The full list of winner’s can be found below:

Business Growth

• Bank of Scotland Foundation
  Hampden Bank
  Scottish National Investment Bank
  Royal Bank of Scotland – The Accelerator

Changing Customer Needs

• Bank of Scotland Community Bank Digital Ambassadors
  Mylo from Aegon
  Tesco Insurance
  Edinburgh Futures Institute & Young Scot
  Nationwide

FinTech

• Addepar
  Baillie Gifford
  Scottish Building Society & MaltedAi
  Zumo

Innovation

• Aberdeen Group – in partnership with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
  Aberdeen Group – Stagecoach Pensions Transaction
  Baillie Gifford
  BlackRock
  Lloyds Banking Group – Fraud Protection with Agentic AI

Net Zero

• Aberdeen Group – in partnership with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
  Lloyds Banking Group
  Zumo

Rising Star

• Gabriel Kane – 2i
  Aarron Martin – BlackRock
  Jason Stewart – Barclays
  Will Rigg – Rathbones
  Shannon Macnamara – Aberdeen Group

Skills & Inclusion

• Barclays – Military Talent Strategy
  BlackRock
  HSBC Scotland – Financial Education Team
  Morgan Stanley – Glasgow Young Professionals Network
  Future Asset