People: Magical evening to celebrate Cathcart

Gordon Kaye and his fellow Cathcart directors were on fine form at the companys birthday event in Edinburgh last week

There was a healthy turnout of clients and suppliers despite the monsoon-like conditions that hit the city on Thursday evening.

Gordon Kaye and his fellow directors were in bullish form as the IT and technical recruitment specialist goes from strength to strength. Those efforts are clearly paying off, with the young(-ish) firm bagging a string of award nominations and accolades.

Alongside the usual booze and nibbles combo there were some specially-baked and branded cakes and the distraction of a table football, er, table. Party-goers were also treated to the incredible panoramic views of the Castle and skyline from Bread Street’s trendy Skybar.

All of that was upstaged, however, by the presence of a card-wielding magician who had everyone transfixed with his sleight-of-hand trickery.

Positive about the future

The Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) was also in a celebratory mood as it marked the first anniversary of its move to the city’s High School Yards.

Since the hub opened its base, from where it aims to help tackle climate change, it has hosted 15,000 visitors, along with 300 events and conferences.

Harpist Holly Hart was on hand to entertain those enjoying the drinks and nibbles. ECCI executive director Andy Kerr said: “The sheer vibrancy of the engagement with big social challenges by different enterprises – public, private, academic and community – and by people across Scotland suggests a bright future.”

Sweet taste of success

Many of us have sampled a gin and tonic in a bar. But gin and tonic in a chocolate bar?

To tie in with National Chocolate Week, which runs until Sunday, Pickering’s Gin has teamed up with award-winning Edinburgh chocolatiers Coco Chocolate to create “a truly decadent combination”.

Using organic dark chocolate, the bars will combine juniper berry, lemon and lime to create something that certainly has our tastebuds tingling.

Marcus Pickering, director of Pickering’s – Edinburgh’s first gin distillery in more than 150 years – says: “It’s an exciting time in the gin market in Scotland with the growing trend, popularity and resurgence of gin. We are therefore always looking for novel, fun and exciting ways to shake up our gin.”