Lloyds Banking Group has unveiled plans to create a new tech hub in Edinburgh to help transform the digital experience for Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Scottish Widows customers.

As part of a £3 billion investment programme, the hub will boost Scotland’s tech sector with 500 new software engineering roles in the capital.

Philip Grant, chair of Lloyds Banking Group’s Scottish executive committee, said: "People’s expectations are rising rapidly as they want the same experience they’re used to with established digital brands.

“In our tech labs, we are designing what customers will need in the future, making products and services that can adapt to their lives and making it easier for them to connect with their finances."

The bank is already involved in the Edinburgh tech scene, hosting digital academies and meet-ups including CodeClan and CodeBar, as well as partnerships with Fintech Scotland and HackerX. It recently hosted REACT – one of the largest tech meet-ups in the city this year with more than 150 attendees.

The group has also launched an internal training course in coding for colleagues, and is an active supporter and host of Women Who Code and Women Hack – with more than 100 attendees.

Derek Mackay, finance and economy secretary, said: "Edinburgh is fast becoming one of the UK’s most competitive tech hubs, with growth in agile start-ups, offerings from its world-leading universities and new digital academies providing greater scale and choice for careers in the industry.

"Lloyds’ investment will be a major boost towards growing the workforce of the future in Scotland, helping create a more dynamic and innovative side to its thriving financial sector.”

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