Lloyds Bank executive’s new role with SFE: 5 need-to-know business stories

Hello and welcome to our daily digest of business, financial and economic news from around Scotland.

1. One of Lloyds Banking Group’s senior executives has been appointed as the deputy chairwoman of Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE).

Jackie Leiper, a pensions specialist, has been with Lloyds since 2010 and its chief customer and distribution officer as well as the chairwoman of its Scottish executive committee.

She has been on the board of SFE, the financial services trade body, since last year and replaces Sue Dawe in the deputy chairwoman role.

Dawe became SFE’s chairwoman earlier this year.

“My time so far on SFE’s board has been hugely rewarding, giving me the opportunity to lead our sector-wide agenda on key issues I care passionately about,” Leiper said.

2. The Scottish accountancy firm Parkhill Mackie & Co has been taken over by an English practice.

Armstrong Watson said all 11 staff at the Glasgow-based Parkhill Mackie, founded in 1989, will be retained.

They will move into Armstrong’s office in the city’s Blythswood Square and add to its capacity in Scotland.

Paul Dickson, the managing partner and chief executive, said: “It has been an exciting few months for our Glasgow office and I look forward to what this growing team can continue to achieve.”

3. Onpath Energy has completed the sale of its shares in a recently completed windfarm.

The 50.1 per cent holding in the 15-turbine Kype Muir extension, near Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, has been taken on by funds managed by Schroders Greencoat.

Greencoat UK Wind, the listed clean energy investment group, had been an investor in the project since 2021 with its initial loan converting to a 49.9 per cent shareholding towards the end of last year.

The annual output from the extension is forecast to be enough to meet the electricity needs of more than 53,000 households.

4. The upmarket estate agent Corum Property is expanding into the lettings sector with the launch of a new brand.

Domus will operate independently but share resources with Corum. The new business will be led by Dave Dyer as its managing director.

John Kelly, Corum’s managing partner, said: “Our goal is to replicate Corum’s premium service ethos within Domus, focusing on quality of delivery rather than volume.

“We believe this approach will set Domus apart in the market and ensure a first class experience for both landlords and tenants.”

5. A start-up using waste coffee grounds to create an alternative to palm oil has signed a deal with French biotechnology firm SAS Pivert.

Revive Eco believes its coffee oil product can be used in areas including cosmetics, cleaning products, pharmaceuticals, food and drink.

The agreement with the French firm will see production scaled-up to an industrial level.

Fergus Moore and Scott Kennedy founded the venture in 2015 while doing their undergraduate degrees in entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde.

“Working with SAS Pivert on our latest pilot is truly a huge step towards our mission of creating something worthwhile and sustainable out of waste that would otherwise be forgotten about,” Kennedy said.

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