The Energy Agency mainly operates in the four local authority areas of South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway. The organisation has become highly specialised at education work in schools, consultancy work, working closely with community groups and the delivery of projects to install energy efficiency and renewable energy measures across Scotland.
Our friendly, knowledgeable team are based at our offices in Ayr and once intial training is completed, we offer hybrid working and generous terms and conditions.
Home Energy Scotland provide free, impartial advice to help you save energy and money, funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by Energy Saving Trust. Working across Ayrshire, Arran, and Dumfries & Galloway to provide free, impartial advice on saving energy and money in your home. Householders get in touch to find out about funding from the Scottish Government for energy efficient home improvements, renewable technology and electric cars. Over a third of Scottish households have already benefited from free, impartial home energy advice.
Our trained Customer Service Advisors can help people save energy and money by providing free, impartial and expert advice on: Energy efficiency, including insulation and heating Water saving advice to cut down both hot and cold water usage to save money on energy bill Home Energy Check questionnaire that can be completed over the telephone or by hard copy. Once completed, you receive a detailed energy efficiency report with recommendations, specific to the household
Along with the advice centre, we operate a Partnership and Outreach programme. Part of the Marketing and Partnerships Team, our officers will promote national fuel poverty programmes to public bodies, voluntary organisations and community groups with the aim of securing referrals to the programmes as well as encouraging locally based energy efficiency and related projects. They will deliver training and events, online and face-to-face, and attend meetings with partners, stakeholders and groups to promote our Home Energy Scotland service.
Our Energycarers will assist households experiencing fuel poverty by managing a caseload to assist our most vulnerable customers who would otherwise not engage with Home Energy Scotland (HES) services.
Visit the careers page of our website and follow the links to apply
For advice, contact Home Energy Scotland FREE on 0808 808 2282 to chat to a friendly local advisor or drop an email to advice@sw.homeenergyscotland.org
Energy Agency are delighted to become Proud Supporters of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.
In doing so, we are committed to the six principles of the Proud Supporter Charter, which are to:
Help to conserve the natural resources of the Biosphere
Support the economy to benefit people and nature
Promote cultural heritage and local products
Contribute to the health and well-being of the community
Develop knowledge, understanding and promote research
Raise awareness of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere
The Biosphere is a place for cooperation and collaboration that shows that a sustainable way of living is not only possible but already happening.
Liz Marquis, Energy Agency Director siad:
We believe our goals are strongly aligned and look forward to supporting community, education, local enterprise and our natural environment to achieve true sustainability.
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland has
welcomed the Scottish Government's allocation of more money specifically for
Loss and Damage finance, after it announced that it will increase its
contribution to £7m from the existing Climate Justice Fund. The news comes a
day after members of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and Loss and Damage
experts from the Global South met with the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to
discuss the issue at COP27 in Egypt.
At the meeting, delegates from
Kenya, Rwanda, Mali, Malawi, Bangladesh, Nepal and Zambia shared with the First
Minister their first-hand experiences of the devastating impacts the climate
crisis is having in their communities and their hopes from the global climate
talks. They also thanked the First Minister for the leadership Scotland has
shown on Loss and Damage.
Nushrat Chowdhury, Climate Justice
Policy Advisor at Christian Aid in Bangladesh, said “In our meeting the First
Minister spoke strongly about her commitment to championing Loss and Damage,
and this leadership is very welcome after the many years global south countries
have spent campaigning for rich nations to pay for their climate damage. It is
essential that this announcement - plus Loss and Damage finance being on the
formal COP agenda for the first time - inspires other rich nations to pay up,
and that this is seen as reparations, not charity, as the First Minister has
said.”
Anne Callaghan co-chair of SCCS's
International group said: “We are pleased to see this allocation of money from
the existing Climate Justice Fund specifically for Loss and Damage. As the
First Minister has acknowledged, this contribution is small but, crucially, we
have already seen both Denmark and Belgium build on Scotland’s leadership and
also commit funds. All rich nations must now urgently address the grave
injustice that the world's poorest countries who have done least to cause the
damage are paying the price to recover.
“However, with increasingly
catastrophic climate impacts, we urge the First Minister to now commit to
ensuring these funds are genuinely new and additional and raised by making the
biggest polluters in Scotland pay for the damage they’re causing.
“By doing so, the Scottish
Government can go beyond symbolic sums, contribute our fair share of climate
finance and boost investment in the actions needed for a just transition to a
fairer, low carbon Scotland. It would also mean the cost of living crisis
driven by our dependence on fossil fuels could be definitively addressed,
rather than lurching from one crisis to another. The longer we wait to act, the
more expensive it will be.”
The Scottish Government has made funding available this year to help householders install energy efficient measures and help reduce their heating bills.
People are being urged to contact Home Energy Scotland to receive advice and support to help make their homes warmer and reduce their heating bills.
Financial support worth up to £5,000 is also available to make homes more energy efficient through improvements like home insulation, draught proofing or a new heating system.
Did you know that a home that isn’t well insulated can lose more than 50% of its heat through its roof and walls? So making improvements can make your home more energy efficient and comfortable, helping to lower Scotland’s emissions. For example, adding loft insulation into a home with none could save you up to £355 a year.
Home Energy Scotland, the Scottish Government’s free energy efficiency advice service, helps people access funding for energy efficient measures along with a range of other financial support and impartial advice. If it looks like you might be eligible for help, you will be referred for an initial survey to be carried out of your home before measures are installed.
The one-stop-shop for support is funded by Scottish Government and delivered by Energy Saving Trust. Call 0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org/contact to request a call back.
To find out exactly what you are eligible for – whatever your circumstances – call the Home Energy Scotland hotline now on 0808 808 2282.
North Ayrshire Council is ramping up efforts to support residents through the current Cost-of-Living Crisis with the launch of a £450,000 energy crisis payment scheme.
The scheme – which opens for applications today (Monday, October 31) –
is aiming to provide much-needed funds directly to low-income households to
help with their energy bills.
The payment scheme is the next phase of the Council’s wide-ranging
‘Energy Smart’ programme, introduced to provide a variety of supports to
households struggling with soaring energy prices and inflation.
North Ayrshire Council Leader Marie Burns said: “No-one will be
unaffected by the escalating cost of energy and shopping bills and it’s our top
priority to support people however we can.
“The new ‘Energy Smart: Emergency Response’ grant scheme is a direct
payment which will ensure the money goes to those who need it most and as
quickly as possible.
“The money should make an immediate difference to families worried about
escalating fuel costs over winter.”
In an effort to make the application process as simple as possible,
people can either apply online or be supported through the application over the
phone.
While the fund is aimed
primarily at households with low income, there are other supports available and
people are encouraged to get in contact to see what help is available to you.
Council staff will also
be reaching out into communities to make people aware of the supports on offer.
This includes promoting the new Energy Smart programme at food banks and other
touchpoints, and Council staff highlighting the scheme when visiting vulnerable
people in their homes as part of the delivery of other services.
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Economy and Climate Change,
added: “This is a further phase of a £2million package of measures we are
introducing to help people quickly and practically.
“In addition to the Emergency Response scheme, as part of Energy Smart
we will be delivering energy efficiency measures in homes – initially this will
be focused on loft and cavity insulation - to provide long-term cost savings.
We are encouraging anyone interested in receiving such measures to get in touch
with us so that we can see if you are eligible and then arrange installation.
“We announced last month our partnership with the Energy Agency and Home
Energy Scotland, where specially-trained advisors are standing by to provide
support and practical, impartial advice to anyone looking to reduce their
energy bills.
We would urge anyone looking to lower their energy bills to either call the freephone number 0808 808 2282 or by checking out the advice and support available via the Council website at www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/CostOfLiving.
The website
has sections on energy, benefits, food and clothing, health and wellbeing and a
section dedicated to our business community.
A new net zero heating package could cut the cost of
heating for thousands of households by transforming Scotland’s rural homes,
according to rural organisations.
The Existing Homes Alliance [1] and rural groups are
calling for the Scottish Government to set up a Rural Homes Just Transition
Package [2] that would support people living in rural and island areas to
insulate their homes and install zero emissions, renewables-based heating
systems.
People living in rural areas are significantly more
likely to be living in fuel poverty, with 42% of households in remote rural
homes classed as fuel poor or in extreme fuel poverty. This compares to 24.6%
across Scotland as a whole. These figures are from 2019 and the true scale of
fuel poverty is now believed to be significantly higher, with research earlier
this year suggesting as many as 57% of people living in the Western Isles could
be in fuel poverty [3]. Rural communities also face higher living costs with
research suggesting that living in remote rural Scotland typically adds 15-30%
to a household budget [4].
Rural households face higher heating costs as many are dependent
on expensive oil heating systems, with high and fluctuating upfront fuel costs.
Oil heating is not regulated by Ofgem which means people with oil heating
systems are not protected by the Energy Price Guarantee. In the last 12 months
the cost of heating oil has doubled with prices rising from around 64p per
litre to £1.20 per litre. [5]
The Scottish Government has committed to phasing out
the need to install new or replacement fossil fuel boilers in areas not
connected to the gas-grid, including most of rural Scotland, by 2025 [6]. Campaigners
argue that more support is needed if this is to happen in a way that is fair
and affordable to rural households, with help needed to increase the number of
local installers.
“Helping people in rural communities to replace
expensive fossil fuel heating and make their homes easier to heat must be at the
heart of Scotland’s budget”, according to the Existing Homes Alliance chair,
Professor Lori McElroy.
Professor McElroy goes on to say, “Working in
partnership with rural stakeholder groups, we have developed a package of
policies and measures that should be taken forward immediately by the Scottish
Government to help make rural homes warmer and cheaper to heat. This package
will help address the desperate situation that many households are facing this
winter, as well as building resilience for the future.”
The £1.5 million package includes support for new
collective purchase and community asset ownership models to pay for the
improvements, enhanced grants and loans to cover additional insulation and
running costs, and a support service for rural businesses to help them build
the skills needed to decarbonise rural heating.
Bryan Leask, Chief Executive of Hjaltland Housing
Association, member of the Rural and Islands Housing Association Forum said, “Rural
and island communities are being hammered by some of the highest energy prices
around, so ending our reliance on volatile fossil fuels for heating must be a
priority. This package of measures would help ensure a fair transition to
zero emissions heating for rural communities - tackling fuel poverty, cutting
emissions and supporting rural businesses.”
Catriona Mallows, Campaigns and Communications Officer
with Scottish Rural Action said “Many people across rural and island Scotland are
facing real hardship this winter because of rising energy prices. This
package of measures would help alleviate that hardship in the short term, as well
as providing the framework needed to decarbonise homes in a way that is fair
and sustainable.”
The Existing Homes Alliance is
a coalition of housing, environmental, fuel poverty, consumer and industry
organisations that believes Scotland’s existing homes must be transformed to
help tackle fuel poverty and climate change.
2.
The proposed Rural Homes Just Transition Package has
been developed in collaboration with rural stakeholders, including Rural and
Islands Housing Association Forum (RIHAF), Rural Housing Scotland, Scottish
Association of Landlords, Scottish Rural Action and The Pebble Trust. The
package includes measures to ensure equality for people living in rural
communities and ensure that they can maximise the benefits of being at the
forefront of Scotland’s transition to zero emissions heating.
3.
This is based on the most recent official
statistics from 2019 and the current level of fuel poverty is likely to
be higher due to people spending more time at home during the pandemic,
recent energy price hikes and the cost of living crisis.
The Scottish Government published a Heat in Buildings Strategy in October 2021 which sets out a vision for over 1
million homes in Scotland to convert to zero emissions heating by 2030.As part of this plan, the Scottish
Government has committed to phasing out the need to install new or replacement fossil fuel boilers
in off-gas grid areas by 2025, and in on-gas grid areas by 2030. Funding for
fossil fuel heating systems will be phased out from Scottish Government
delivery programmes by 2024 (where it is not detrimental to fuel poverty
objectives) and the Scottish Government has already ended public funding for
oil and LPG heating.
For further information
about the Existing Homes Alliance visit www.existinghomesalliancescotland.co.uk Existing Homes Alliance
Scotland, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, (SCIO), No SC048434
Our Nethermills Hydro Scheme on the River Ayr reached the final stages of the Ayrshire Business Awards, Planet Saver category.
Fully owned and operated by our subsidiary company Energy Agency Renewables Ltd, the Hydro Scheme is generating green electricity to help support the needs of neighbouring Ayrshire College with any surplus being fed into the national grid. As a non-profit orgasnisation, all funds generated will be used to support future green energy projects in the local area.
To read more about the scheme and the work we do, visit our website at energyagency.org.uk
The winner was announced at a Gala Dinner on 14th October 2022 at Ayr Racecourse and we would like to congratulate the overall winner in the Planet Saver category, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum for their achievement. Our thanks also go to Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce for a fantastic event celebrating great Ayrshire Businesses.
Energy Agency Director, Liz Marquis said:
"We were delighted to be selcted as a finalist in the Ayshire Business Awards. The Nethermills Hydro Scheme is a fantastic demonstration project for what can be acheived with renewable energy. Archimedes screws are a robust technology with a proven track record but to our knowledge, this is the first of its kind in such a shallow setting at just 15 degrees. We hope it will inspire people for many generations."
North Ayrshire Council has joined forces with the Energy
Agency to ensure residents get the best possible advice and support during the
Cost-of-Living Crisis.
The trailblazing partnership is one of the key measures
being taken by the Council to help people through the challenging weeks and
months ahead.
The Energy Agency is a long and well-established charity
whose aims are to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability. As part
of this work, the Energy Agency operates the Home Energy Scotland advice centre
in South West Scotland – funded by the Scottish Government - which has many
years of experience in providing free and expert advice covering energy saving
and efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable transport.
Anyone requiring energy advice is encouraged to call
Home
Energy Scotland South West free on 0808 808 2282.
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Economy and
Climate Change at North Ayrshire Council, said: “There is no greater priority
for us at the moment than supporting people through the financial challenges
they are facing.
“No-one is unaffected by the rising costs, increasing
inflation and, in particular, the soaring energy bills being experienced at the
current time.
“I’m delighted that we are in partnership with the Energy
Agency - they have built up years of expertise in offering advice and help on
energy issues, helping countless people to lower their bills, and signposting
them to other supports to maximise their income.
“It’s more important than ever that people get access to the
right advice and I would urge anyone concerned about their energy bills to call
the freephone advice line.”
“However, good advice is only part of the Energy Smart
approach. That is why we will also be supporting households to install
energy-saving features as part of the programme, along with crisis payments for
those in the most urgent need of help. Further details on these aspects of the
programme will be announced in the coming weeks.”
Liz Marquis, Director of the Energy Agency, said: “We are
delighted to be helping householders across North Ayrshire access free
independent advice to use energy in the home as effectively as possible.
Practical solutions can make a huge difference in the home.”
In addition to the partnership with the Energy Agency, a
wider £4million package of support, recently approved by Cabinet, will fund a
range of measures to mitigate the rising costs for families.
Two separate Child Bridging Payments of £130 for families of
children who are eligible for a free school meal are due to be distributed in
October and December. These will be topped up by a further £100 per child for
both months. The £100 payment will also be extended to low-income families of
children of pre-school age.
Approximately 3,300 families across North Ayrshire (5,700
children) are in line to receive the payment.
The measures also include proposals to build on the existing
community food network by investing a further £500,000 to ensure basic food
provision is available to anyone who requires the support.
We are pleased to announce our Nethermills Hydro Scheme is a finalist in the Planet Saver Category of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2022.
Energy Agency Renewables Ltd completed the project in March 2022 which is now producing green electricity to support the needs of Ayrshire College and to help fund future green energy projects.
Thanks to Booth Welsh for supporting sustainability best practices. We are looking forward to finding out about the other great initiatives helping to make the world a better place at the awards ceremony. Good luck to all our fellow finalists! 🤞
Energy Agency is a dynamic organisation and independent charity, promoting energy efficiency awareness and renewable energy in the domestic, business and community sectors throughout South West Scotland.
Since 2008 we have held the contract for the Home Energy Scotland advice centre for South West Scotland. One of a network of five in Scotland; these centres are funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust.
Providing free, impartial advice to help householders save energy and money, our Home Energy Scotland advice centre south west covers the local authority areas of North, South and East Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway.
We offer a rewarding career where you can make a real difference to people’s lives while also helping to tackle the climate change emergency.
Due to expansion we have two new positions available. Based in Ayr, we offer hybrid working.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS :
Outreach and Partnership Officer
Salary£26,554 (SCP 47) per annum plus contributory pension.
Contract LengthTo 31st March 2023 with potential extension
Workplace Energy Agency, Watson Peat Building, Auchincruive, Ayr, KA6 5HW (Hybrid working available dependant on the requirements of the role )
Responsible to Local Promotions (Marketing) Manager, Home Energy Scotland Advice Centre South West (or as delegated within the advice centre Management Team).
Primary Purpose - The Outreach and Partnership Officer is a member of the advice centre’s Marketing and Partnerships Team. They will promote national fuel poverty programmes to public bodies, voluntary organisations and community groups with the aim of securing referrals to the programmes as well as encouraging locally based energy efficiency and related projects. They will deliver training and events, online and face-to-face, and attend meetings with partners, stakeholders and groups to promote our Home Energy Scotland service.
Training Coordinator
Salary£28,141 (SCP51) per annum plus contributory pension.
Contract LengthTo 31st March 2023 with potential extension
WorkplaceEnergy Agency, Watson Peat Building, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5H (We offer hybrid working dependant on the requirements of the role)
Responsible toOperations Manager of Home Energy Scotland advice centre south west (or as delegated within the advice centre Management Team).
Primary Purpose - The Training and Quality Officer role is to support delivery of our key performance indicators, through training delivery and monitoring of performance and quality. To plan, create and provide training across the whole of the advice centre. Responsible for improving and updating process, creating, and reviewing customer journeys and producing day to day analysis of our performance to enable the team to meet targets efficiently and effectively.
We are excited to be taking part in Doors Open Day 2022 by offering tours of Nethermills Hydro Scheme on the River Ayr on September 11th.
Opened in March 2022 this is a unique opportunity to see inside this amazing facility owned by Energy Agency Renewables Ltd, which is generating green energy to the neighbouring Ayrshire College with excess sold to the electricity grid. Proceeds will be used to fund projects aiming to reduce fuel poverty in the area.
Guided tours available at 11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm, lasting 45 minutes.
The amazing Home Energy Scotland team will be available offering free energy advice and the cafe in the college will be open for refreshments.
Join Local Energy Scotland on Tuesday 27 September in
Scotland’s Climate Week to find out how communities can take climate action
with the support of the Scottish Government’s Communtiy and Renewable Energy
Scheme (CARES).
Plenary sessions will look at the global challenges around
energy costs and climate change, and you’ll hear from the communities that are
making a difference at a local level. Patrick Harvie MSP, Minister for Zero
Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, will deliver a keynote
speech. You’ll also hear inspirational case studies as well as the policy
behind the action.
In-depth ‘how to’ sessions will look at some of the key
skills and actions needed to drive change. The day closes with a funding
surgery where you can find out about the financial support that CARES offers.
Be inspired and find out what your communtiy can do to
make a difference.
Local Energy Scotland is a consortium made up of Energy
Saving Trust, Changeworks, the Energy Agency and SCARF. We administer and manage
the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES).
CARES supports communities to engage with, participate in
and benefit from the energy transition to net zero emissions.
CARES aims to accelerate progress towards the Scottish
Government’s targets of 2GW of community and locally owned energy by 2030 and
decarbonising Scotland’s buildings. This is achieved through funding and
support for community groups to install renewable energy generation.
Energy Agency is a dynamic organisation and
independent charity, promoting energy efficiency awareness and renewable energy
in the domestic, business and community sectors throughout South West Scotland.
Since 2008 we have held the contract for the Home Energy
Scotland advice centre for South West Scotland. One of a network of five in
Scotland; these centres are funded by the Scottish Government and managed by
the Energy Saving Trust.
Providing free, impartial advice to help householders save
energy and money, our Home Energy Scotland advice centre south west covers the
local authority areas of North, South and East Ayrshire and Dumfries &
Galloway.
We offer a rewarding career where you can make a real difference to people’s lives while also helping to tackle the climate change emergency.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post TitleCustomer Service Advisor
Salary£21,407 (SCP31) per annum plus contributory pension.
Contract LengthTo 31st March 2023 with potential extension
WorkplaceEnergy Agency, Watson Peat Building, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW (We offer hybrid working, however initial training will be office based)
Responsible toOperations Officer of Home Energy Scotland advice centre south west
Primary Purpose
Customer Service Advisors are employed on the Home Energy Scotland contract, based at the Energy Agency and promote energy efficiency messages to householders in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
You will be part of a friendly and supportive team in our small but busy call centre. A target focussed environment dealing with both inbound and outbound advice calls there is no selling or cold calling involved. You will support our customers by providing independent and impartial advice about how to keep warm and save energy and money in their homes. In addition, we operate an extensive events calendar throughout the year covering a wide variety of events across the area where we deliver energy efficiency advice face to face with customers.
Our aim is to deliver a world class advice service and everyone has a part to play in that. But don’t worry, we don’t need you to know everything, you bring the enthusiasm and we provide the training. We have an extensive 6-8 week training plan which includes a City & Guilds and SQA qualification to ensure you have all the knowledge you need to advise our customers.
The Climate Fringe Festival, a diverse community-led series of events to build support for climate action, is taking place across Scotland this September.
The festival aims to bring communities together, generate conversation about Climate Justice, and raise awareness of the need to move towards a green, fair, zero carbon society.
A variety of groups across Scotland will take part in the Climate Fringe Festival. Over 50 events have already signed up, with more added each week. The full calendar can be found on the Climate Fringe website.
The Highland Good food Partnership: Local and Sustainable Food Systems Workshops – The Shieling Project Dunmaglass Struy, Beauly – 24th September
“The workshops will focus on our food system and the impact it has on our climate, with demonstrations on lowering food waste, fermentation, community funding support and creating sustainable farming. We will discuss how the partnership can support individuals and organisations to create a local food system that is better for the planet, better for people and better for producers.” Josie Fraser, HGFP
Magic Us! Aberdeen: Share and Repair Workshop – location tbc – 10th September
“We’re really excited to be running our first Share and Repair community repair shop and skills share. Our event will see local craftspeople and businesses in Aberdeen offering their help to repair items that have seen better days, as well as sharing these skills with our group gathering local autistic teens and their parents, carers and friends. We believe in the ‘right to repair’ and strive to mobilise our local community into a movement of ‘sharing and repairing’”
Queers for Climate Justice Gathering – Glasgow Autonomous Space – 17th September
“Through a series of workshops and a communal meal – we will bring together queer identifying people in Glasgow who want to find out how they can take action on climate in their communities. Providing free accessible space to marginalised groups and those who need it, including lgbtqa++ people as well as refugees and migrants.” Tami Pein, Queer Climate Arts Glasgow
Nick Cullen, Climate Fringe Coordinator at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland said:
“Now more than ever, it’s so important that local communities are coming together to take action on climate change: with record breaking temperatures and the cost of living scandal, community resilience can help build towards a just and green world. We are really excited about the Climate Fringe Festival, showcasing the amazing communities and climate projects across scotland. Together we can put pressure on decision makers to deliver real change almost a year on from COP26 in Glasgow.”
The Climate Fringe Festival is being coordinated by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, a diverse coalition of over 60 non-profit organisations, with many further organisations supporting the festival itself.
Groups who are interested in getting involved are encouraged to visit the Climate Fringe website to download a toolkit, upload their event to our calendar, and check out the range of events already planned.
It was a pleasure to host some of our Board members who were keen to find out more about the range of work we do at the Energy Agency.
Starting out at the Nethermills Hydro Scheme and finishing at the External Wall Insulation project in Tarbolton, we were thankful the weather was kind to us and hope our directors found the visit worthwhile.
