The annual Scottish Financial Services Awards, sponsored by EY, are the flagship industry-wide celebration to recognise the contribution that both firms and their people have made to the Scottish financial services sector and to wider society.
The Scottish Financial Services Awards are back for 2026.
The annual Scottish Financial Services Awards, sponsored by EY, return on 29 October at the Hilton Glasgow, bringing together the financial and professional services community for an evening dedicated to recognising the talent, innovation and impact shaping Scotland's sector.
Tables & Tickets
Join colleagues, clients and peers from across Scotland's financial and professional services industry for one of the standout evenings in Scotland's financial calendar.
The Scottish Financial Services Awards is a night dedicated to celebrating the achievements, innovation and talent shaping our sector.
Tables for the 2026 awards are available to reserve now. Last year's ceremony welcomed a record 730 guests and sold out, so we'd recommend securing your place early
Nominations
Nominations for the 2026 awards are now open. This year's categories are:
Business Growth Award
Net Zero Award
Changing Customer Needs Award
Skills and Inclusion Award
Innovation Award
Fintech Award
Rising Star Award
Chair's Award
2025 Scottish Financial Services Awards Winners
Rising Star Award Winners
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This year’s Rising Star category was fiercely competitive, showcasing the next generation of talent. The judges decided that the competition was too close to call so announced joint winners of Rachel Kennedy of Synechron, and Rose Ulldemolins of Lloyds Banking Group.
Changing Customer Needs Award Winner
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Royal Bank of Scotland won the Changing Customer Needs Award for its Financial Foundations programme, which provides free, impartial money guidance to adults. Expanding in response to the cost-of-living crisis, the programme aims to reach 52,000 people by 2025 through in-person workshops delivered by 750 trained colleagues in communities, workplaces, and educational institutions. To date, the programme has reached over 16,000 adults, with 91% of participants recommending the workshops and 88% reporting increased confidence in managing their finances.
If there's an individual, team or organisation in Scotland's financial & professional services sector doing work worth recognising, we want to hear about it.
Nominations close on 3 July.
Skills & Inclusion Award Winner
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The winner of the Skills and Inclusion Award was Aberdeen, who had two strong nominations for this category but won for their work on "Rite to Work" partnership with Working Rite. This collaboration supports 57 disengaged young people in Scotland to transition from school to work, achieving an 81% attendance rate and a 91% move into positive destinations like employment or training.
Business Growth Award Winner
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BlackRock rapid expansion including £60 million of investment in a new Edinburgh office, creating 400 skilled jobs in technology and AI. This expansion strengthens the Scottish economy, fosters local talent through apprenticeships and university links, and highlights BlackRock's active role as an investor in Scottish infrastructure and renewable projects.
Net Zero Award Winner
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Scottish National Investment Bank won for the Net Zero Award for its role in enabling a just transition to net zero through mission-led impact investment, ecosystem management and it unique connecting role between private and public sector. The bank has committed £200 million across seven opportunities, crowding in significant private capital for critical infrastructure (like ports) and supply chain technology to enable a just net zero transition.
Innovation Award Winner
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Scottish Widows were the winners of our Award, taking the prize in recognition of its Pension Mirror—an AI tool—used vanity and peer comparison to combat pension apathy. This innovation sparked over 750,000 interactions and resulted in a 193% uplift in app registrations, proving highly effective at engaging people with their financial futures.
Judge’s Award Winner
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With impressive year on year growth impressive and 175 years of history SFE awarded the Scottish Building Society the judges award for its ongoing commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates. The continued leadership of its Paul Denton, CEO of the Society promises more exciting developments ahead.
Chair’s Award Winner
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The Chair’s Award is given based on a nominee’s achievements across all categories and demonstrates our sectors positive impact on society and this year it has gone to Lloyds Banking Group. They have been a standout example of Scottish-based innovation projects in financial services delivering measurable impact through strategic use of data and AI emerging tech and behavioural science.