New era
THE big word being used at Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) headquarters yesterday to describe the turning over of the once notoriously palatial executive wing to 80 hotdesking entrepreneurs was "symbolic".
Even then, chief executive Ross McEwan was kind about the regime which created a potentate's court in the hanging gardens of Gogarburn, admitting merely that in the bad old days that part of the building had been "a little bit out of bounds".
Emergency service [pic of Mairi Mickel]
MACTAGGART & Mickel, the venerable Scottish housebuilder, has a special place in the hearts of many home owners, including this correspondent.
After revealing to Mairi Mickel, scion of the house building dynasty, that The Bottom Line lives in a house built by MacMac in Glasgow's south side, Ms Mickel noted that the company was once regarded as "the fourth emergency service" in the area.
Thankfully there has been no need to dial 999 since we moved into the neighbourhood.
Corporate warrior
IT is often illuminating to discover what business types like to do with their time off.
Take David Gaffney, formerly of the Royal Bank of Scotland press office and now spinning with Edinburgh-based Charlotte Street Partners.
Mr Gaffney likes to let off steam by taking part in extreme endurance tests, having taken part in several Total Warrior challenges south of the Border.
This year he is involved in bringing the event to Scotland for the first time.
Along with thousands of fellow sadomasochists, he will be heading to North Berwick to tackle 30 punishing obstacles over a 12km course on September 12 and 13, combining extreme physical challenges with muddy conditions.
The Bottom Line never ceases to be amazed by what some folk do for kicks.
Welcome on hold
AS Virgin Rail took over the Edinburgh-London route this week, satisfied customers of East Coast boarded trains with bated breath, only to find same crews, same announcements, same menus, same fares, and same trains until 2018 - though the toilets are going to have a repaint.
The major innovation so far is the guard's announcement "for overseas visitors and younger travellers" just north of Berwick that "we have now crossed the Border... welcome to Scotland".
Seasoned travellers noted Stagecoach's promise on Tuesday that the franchise would "significantly enhance profitability" of its rail division and are keeping the welcome to Virgin on hold.
Words of caution
THE launch of the new Entrepreneurial Spark hub in Edinburgh was accompanied yesterday by fulsome tributes to original backers Lord Willie Haughey and Dr Ann Gloag.
Asked whether she had words of wisdom for the budding young wealth creators in casual uniform who would soon be occupying the space built for highly-paid global banking executives, Dr Gloag said: "I just wish I was an entrepreneurial start-up.
"Don't get too accustomed to it, because you will have to take a reality check and move into a building that you can afford."
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