Non-destructive testing provider Lavender is moving into a new era as the last founder retires and leaves the business in the hands of its 39 employees.
After over 40 years working in the NDT industry, Dave Lavender, one of the business’ original founders and last remaining Lavender still working in the business, is retiring. As part of the business’ succession plans, Lavender International became an employee-owned business in 2015, making all of the employees at the Sheffield-based company co-owners in the business.
He says: “We recognised that employee ownership was the only way that the people we built this great company with would be looked after properly when we, as a family, had finally stepped down. We desperately didn’t want the business to be sold to an unknown party, so I’m incredibly happy that I’m leaving the business in the most capable hands: its employees.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the team will remain faithful to the core values Lavender was founded on: Quality, flexibility and trust.”
Dave Lavender’s NDT career truly began in 1976 with the foundation of J.D. Partnership, which Jack, Dave and Joyce Lavender set up to provide NDT services, with a focus on testing and training. Today, it now offers training and support programmes across the world from international locations such as the USA, Greece, South Africa and Canada.
Tim Armitt, Managing Director at Lavender International, said: “Dave’s departure from the business is a historical milestone for Lavender. It’s the end of an incredible era, but also the dawn of exciting new beginnings. Whilst Dave is the last remaining Lavender in the business, all of the team here are Lavender through and through and will work together to build on his legacy, growing the business and providing high-quality NDT training and apprenticeships to businesses and individuals worldwide.
“2018 is the Year of Engineering, so we can’t think of a better time to throw ourselves behind our industry and make a real impact with a passion and commitment that we hope will make all of our founding partners proud. The Lavender of today is forward-thinking, outward-facing and driven to continue to succeed on both a national and international scale. We have some exciting plans for this year, and all of my fellow co-owners are behind our collective ambition to cement our position as a strong voice in our industry.”