Sun kissed

BOSSES at Irn-Bru maker AG Barr has been toasting the balmy weather which we have been blessed with in Scotland these last few days.

Opening the company’s annual meeting in Glasgow yesterday, in an office overlooking a sun-baked George Square, chairman John Nicolson told investors how grateful Barr was for the weather, describing the meteorological conditions as our “sales director”.

With the mercury rising and plenty of Barr’s soft drinks on display throughout the meeting room, it was perhaps unsurprising Mr Nicolson dealt with the official proceedings in what felt like record time.

Designer shop

THEY used to flock to Glasgow for the designer shops in the Italian Centre. But these days tourists would appear to have more mainstream tastes.

A colleague tells us he overheard Italian tourists en route to Glasgow from Prestwick Airport declare that they couldn’t wait to visit Primark on Sauchiehall Street.

The collapse in the pound since the Brexit vote is continuing to have its benefits, it seems.

Career changer

RECRUITMENT firm Cathcart Associates has named Tahnee Downie as the winner of its £5,000 CodeClan scholarship, which is open to applicants from low-income households or disadvantaged backgrounds.

It was a sweet moment for former graphic designer, who had wanted to move into software development by taking a CodeClan course but found the cost prohibitive.

Instead, she embarked on coding workshops with Codebar and joined Women Who Code, a non-profit organisation supporting women in tech. Her passion to find out more about coding impressed Cathcart director Gordon Kaye.

Tahnee, pictured here with Mr Kaye, said: “I was so astonished when I had the phone call to tell me I had been awarded the scholarship.

“I was encouraged and empowered by Codebar and Women Who Code to pursue a career in technology. I couldn’t have done it without their support and I’m so lucky to have this amazing opportunity from Cathcart Associates.”

Mr Kaye said: “We all know there is a skills gap in Scotland so we wanted to help an intelligent, motivated individual retrain into a career in tech through this scholarship.

“The tech industry is booming in Scotland and we believe there should be more opportunities made available for those who have the skills but lack the financial means.”

Bru banner

BACK with Irn-Bru and eagle-eyed football fans will have spotted a rather magnificent tribute to Scotland’s Andy Robertson by Liverpool fans during Saturday’s Champions League final against Real Madrid in Kiev.

Reds’ supporters had fashioned a banner bearing the legend Andy Robo with a design directly inspired by Barr’s Irn-Bru branding.

Asked about the banner yesterday, AG Barr chief executive Roger White said: “It’s amazing where you get to!”