The minister met with senior staff and the chair of the management board.

Shire provides social housing in 16 communities in East Ayrshire. The Association’s 961 properties include 16 different construction types, many of which are in mixed tenure blocks with owner-occupiers.

Shire staff were able to take the minister on-site to meet with the contractor working on its Net Zero Heat Fund Project in Netherthird. Working in partnership with the Energy Agency, Shire is targeting external wall insulation for mixed-tenure properties.

The minister also met with Shire Tenant Panel member Edna Taylor who was able to talk candidly about the difficulties tenants have in heating homes and affording fuel bills.

The association showcased its work as a community anchor which invests in and supports its communities. Most recently, Shire has distributed 400 energy saving packs to households to help reduce fuel usage and save costs.

Shire’s chair, Lorne Campbell, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the Minister to see, first hand, the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis and the efforts that the Association puts in to support its communities.”