Scottish Executive Chief Economist Andrew Goudie, pictured with Karen Thomson of Inverness & Nairn Enterprise during their recent visit to Merkinch Enterprise. The Board of HIE is to visit Merkinch later this month.

CHIEF Economist with the Scottish Executive, Andrew Goudie, spent an hour-and-a-half seeing round Merkinch in the course of a two-day visit to Inverness last month. The Holyrood chief, accompanied by Karen Thomson, Development Manager with Inverness & Nairn Enterprise, was shown round the area by Merkinch Enterprise Chief Executive Colin Downie. Mr Goudie had expressed an interest in the thriving community business, which has received a considerable amount of Scottish Executive funding over the years. Besides seeing all aspects of the Training Centres and the Fliperz facility, Mr Goudie also saw around the Carse and South Kessock areas, including the viewpoint.