Musical notes

BREWDOG has burnished its reputation by challenging conventional brewing industry thinking - and that includes taking a new approach to annual general meetings.

While shareholders of Scottish listed companies can typically expect little more than free tea and coffee, the 6000 "punk" investors who pitched up at BrewDog's AGM at Aberdeen International Conference Centre enjoyed live music from Scottish bands Idlewild and Twin Atlantic. More than 30,000 pints of BrewDog beers were also served up.

So unlike are BrewDog's AGMs it is almost tempting to think Carlsberg is in charge.

Is punk dead?

WHEN it broke in the mid to late 1970s, punk delivered the ultimate two-fingered salute to the establishment. But four decades on and its leading protagonists are part of the system they once railed against.

The thought sprang to mind after the Sex Pistols agreed to allow Virgin Money to use the artwork which adorned the cover of seminal single Anarchy in the UK in its new range of credit cards.

Perhaps we should not be surprised. After all, this is a band which titled their 1996 comeback tour "Filthy Lucre", and whose singer John Lydon fronted adverts for Country Life English butter.

Even punk pioneers have to pay the bills.

Good Apples

BANKS are often criticised for being out of touch customer needs. But the major high street lenders appear to be falling over themselves to sign up to Apple Pay.

The technology, which will be introduced next month, will allow people to use their mobiles to make quick payments in shops and restaurants. It's all thanks to chips embedded in the latest iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch gadgets.

Nationwide, Royal Bank of Scotland and Santander are among the early adopters, with Bank of Scotland, TSB and others following suit in the autumn.

We might be cynical, but we can't help but think the banks are more than keen to bask in Apple's reflective glory.

Swim win

SPORT has become a major passion for Scottish law firm Harper Macleod.

Nearly one year on from sponsoring Glasgow 2014, the meeting rooms at the firm's Glasgow HQ are still named after Commonwealth sports.

So it is perhaps no surprise to learn the solicitors are looking to keep the Commonwealth flame alive by becoming the official legal adviser to Scottish Swimming.

After all, as the firm notes, some of Scotland's biggest successes at the Games were in the pool, with Hannah Miley, Ross Murdoch and Dan Wallace striking gold among the 10-medal haul.

The deal will see the firm's sports law practice support the governing body in its mission to develop swimming and grow the sport across the country.

Martin Darroch, chief executive of Harper Macleod, said: "We are delighted to have been appointed to this role, which will give us the opportunity to support Scottish Swimming as it builds on its successes in recent years and the legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games."

Cycle challenge

SIX staff members from Nucleus have completed a mammoth cycle challenge for charity, cycling from London to Edinburgh and covering a 459 miles over five days.

The intrepid team covered the route's longest stretch on Saturday, travelling 109 miles between Stamford and Castleford.

The cyclists are aiming to raise £3500 for the Joshua Nolan Foundation, Nucleus' charity partner for 2015.