RegTech firm receives £1.97m grant to develop AI tool for the financial services sector

The funding is part of a project with a total value of £4.9m, which will create 33 new high-value RegTech jobs in the city. The AI service being developed will help Encompass customers to quickly and accurately find risk-relevant information about their customers, organisations and investments, from a wide-ranging pool of data.

Adverse news reports and risk-relevant data can have a significant impact on the market value of companies. Encompass has heard from many clients who want to avoid carrying out manual searches and instead find an accurate and automated way to collate this type of data in order to help manage their reputational risk.

Encompass’ work in Glasgow, where it already employs 46 people, has primarily been focused on its Know Your Customer (KYC) product – using data analytics to ensure its clients do not unknowingly trade with organised crime or the proceeds of crime, in keeping with new legislation introduced after the global financial crisis.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Encompass is one of a number of international companies that have chosen to locate and steadily expand their operation making Scotland an attractive place to grow its business. From its Glasgow base, the company has access to markets, a supportive business environment and has been able to identify local talent from Scottish professionals in the engineering and software development sector.

“Backed by almost £2 million of R&D investment from Scottish Enterprise, Encompass will be able to develop artificial intelligence software tools that will assist companies in the financial sector to reduce operational risks associated with meeting compliance and regulatory standards.”

Wayne Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO, Encompass, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant, which will allow us to carry out crucial, timely work. There is a considerable demand in our space for a solution of this kind, and this development will be central to us continuing to bring innovative solutions to the market and our customers.

“We are particularly pleased to be able to advance our work in Glasgow in this way. We have enjoyed excellent support and growth here, and look forward to furthering that growth, while bringing in more skilled employees as a result of this project.”

Paul Lewis, Manging Director, Scottish Enterprise, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with Encompass, having supported the company to choose Glasgow for the development of its initial KYC product. It’s great to see Encompass expanding its presence into this new area of AI with its adverse news screening tool – for which there is a strong and immediate market demand. The decision to bring further investment to Glasgow is another vote of confidence in Scotland’s already-strong reputation for tech innovation and as a location for skilled and high-value jobs.”

ENDS

Image caption 1 - The First Minister chats to Associate Software Engineer Louise Meney

Image caption 2 - Encompass Co-Founder and CEO Wayne Johnson with the First Minister