Badge of honour

Badge of honour

ROSS MacKay, convener of the Law Society of Scotland's conveyancing committee, is hoping to create a "quality badge" for property lawyers, in overdue recognition of their skills.

"It is seen as 'just conveyancing'," he says. "But it is a complicated area of law - we act as project managers and negotiators, we deal with solicitors, HMRC, surveyors, lenders - it is not just transferring a title."

He is currently heading a working group looking at new electronic advances including a 'virtual dealing room' for documents, but says its title has yet to be finalised.

"It is really a kind of chat room. But that has bad connotations."

Boardroom lingo

THE language of business start-ups appeared to have welcomed a new word when Entrepreneurial Spark (ESpark) revealed plans to develop "nests" at its hubs in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayrshire.

The nests, designed to help young businesses negotiate the first critical months of trading, should not be confused with hatcheries, which of course relate to facilities dedicated to birthing new businesses or chicklets, as ESpark would have it.

Reflecting on its burgeoning avian lexicon, The Bottom Line wonders what terminology has in mind for businesses which successfully fly the ESpark coop. Answers on a postcard, please.

Festive beers

STAYING with the language of business, The Bottom Line enjoys the brewing industry's annual tradition of introducing festive beers at this time of year.

Beer lovers can savour Santa's Swallie from Perth's Inveralmond Brewery, Stewart Brewing's Cauld Reekie, Santa's Sack from Harviestoun and Gift Wrapped from Edinburgh's Caledonian Brewing Company.

But our favourite name has to be Howell's Frosty Bells, a seasonal one-off created by Belhaven's head brewer George Howell.

Slainte!

Do I like that!

GRAHAM Taylor OBE, the former football manager lampooned in the 1990s for his "do I not like that" catchphrase, has voiced his support for a new scheme which generates cash for grassroots football clubs in England's south east.

Under Club Cashback, supporters can raise funds for their team by buying goods (£50 pays for 10 new balls) in selected stores, with between 1% and 15% of the transaction value going into club coffers.

It is not clear how many replica tops fans would have to buy to cover the cost of their team's Christmas night out.