Consider career in pest control
A national trade body is calling on students to consider a career in professional pest management.
The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) is highlighting careers in the industry to school leavers and students planning their next steps for September.
Pest professionals have a key role to play in protecting public health, supporting businesses and safeguarding wildlife and natural environments.
The industry offers a variety of career opportunities and specialisms, such as falconry, field biologist and product development.
Ian Andrew, chief executive at BPCA, said: “There are many routes to a successful career in professional pest management.
“BPCA membership encompasses a huge range of businesses operating in domestic, commercial and industrial sectors, using specialist techniques that protect the food chain, homes, businesses, wildlife and the environment from the potentially harmful impact of a pest infestation.”
Gemma Sutherland is a graduate service technician with Pest Solutions Environment Services, who started her career on a graduate scheme after completing her degree in zoology.
She said: “As a young person coming into the industry through the graduate scheme, it was made clear to me very quickly that this isn’t just a job but is actually a very good career path.
“There are so many opportunities within pest control and a lot of continued learning to be done.”
Ian Adamson at Precision Consulting, said: “If my careers advisor at school had mentioned it, I would’ve laughed in their face, but here I am 25 years later, loving it.
“Good pest management is crucial. Everywhere you turn you see headlines about super rats, bed bugs that can’t be killed – but I don’t believe any of that because the science says that if we do our jobs well, we can still eradicate and we can still protect the public health of the population.”
Charles Murahwa at Intercleanse Pest Control Ltd said: “The thing I like about the job is the variety of customers that I visit.
“I could be in a big food production site or grocery distribution site, down to your local shop or restaurant or café.
“I enjoy studying the processes within those businesses, from goods-in up to production, up to dispatch and how products are made. You get to understand different industries.”
Joining a BPCA member company will give you the technical knowledge and experience to apply products in an efficient manner while minimising risk to the environment and non-target species.
Visit bpca.org.uk/careers to get in touch to find out more about careers in pest control.
Picture: Pixabay