Pupils from Doonfoot Primary School look at renewable energy

The trip, organised as part of the school’s curriculum work on electricity, biomass and environmental issues, aimed to give pupils real-life insight into careers in science, technology and engineering.

Nearly 60 pupils visited the site across two days, each receiving a guided tour of the company’s operations, carbon-reduction ambitions and the range of manufacturing roles within the business.

Pupils described the visit as both inspiring and educational. One said they enjoyed interviewing one of the founders and learned 'you must be resilient to own a business', while another noted that seeing biomass production up close helped them 'understand renewable energy in real life'.

Many were surprised by the diversity of jobs involved in running the plant. 'Everyone was welcoming and very friendly', one pupil said. Another highlighted the excitement of seeing the briquette line in action, 'it was so exciting to see the briquette line working… I felt as though I really worked there'.

The environmental impact of biomass also left a strong impression. 'I loved learning that Land Energy uses parts of trees that would usually be wasted, which reduces greenhouse gases', one pupil added.

The visit also sparked interest in future careers, with some pupils asking direct questions such as 'How much do you earn?' and 'Are you in charge here?'

Marketing representative at Land Energy, David Bone said the visit reflected the company’s commitment to education and sustainability: "As a company, Land Energy is at the crossroads of environmental issues, engineering, and employability. We hope the pupils enjoyed their visit and seeing how we create real environmental gain across Scotland and the rest of the UK."

Founded in 2006, Land Energy is now the UK’s largest producer of sustainable wood pellets and briquettes, supplying low-carbon renewable fuel to homes, farms and businesses, as well as producing cat litter and horse bedding.