OFF to pastures new – that’s John Lavender (right) who is leaving the staff of Merkinch Enterprise after two years. John came from Newcastle to be ME’s Development Officer, and he has been the driving force behind the highly successful Commercial Training Centre at No 12 Grant Street.

John, who lives in Strathconon with his wife Lynne, is setting up his own business – JLD – as an IT training consultancy. However, Merkinch Enterprise haven’t got rid of him as easily as that – one of his first contracts is to return to Grant Street to carry out some training courses!