23 August 2021

Professional Pest Controller issue 104 (PPC104) out now

CONTENTS | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Professional pest controller magazine issue 104 is out now and available to read online for free. The magazine can be read online or downloaded as a PDF or you can join our Affilia.... More

23 August 2021

Animal Welfare Action Plan and pest management

LEGISLATION | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 On 12 May, the government published an action plan for animal welfare which has implications for the whole pest management sector. While the ban of glue boards via the Glue Traps (Offences) Bill might.... More

23 August 2021

The glue board ban in New Zealand

LEGISLATION | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Ireland, New Zealand and the Australian state of Victoria are regularly cited examples of places that have successfully banned rodent glue boards. How have professionals in these countries adapted?.... More

23 August 2021

The elephant in the glue trap

ANIMAL WELFARE | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 The attack on glue boards and the Government’s Animal Welfare Action Plan represent a direct risk to our pest management toolkit. PPC Editor Scott Johnstone looks at the motivations behind ref.... More

23 August 2021

Opinion: Glue board ban and the failure to self-regulate

OPINION | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Losing something from our toolkit never feels great, but what are the ramifications for the sector? Henry Mott is MD of BPCA member company Conquer Pest Control and the former president of CEPA. He takes a.... More

23 August 2021

Opinion: There's nothing evil about me

OPINION | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 ‘Humane’ – a word we often hear these days. But what does it mean, and how does this relate to pest management? Regular columnist Alex Wade of member company Wade Environmental investigates..... More

23 August 2021

Opinion: We should be animal welfare activists

OPINION | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 We need to fully engage with this process of heightened animal welfare awareness; it’s the best strategy to protect our industry, toolbox, and the direct threats to public health that unwanted pests can pose.... More

23 August 2021

Don't bug me: non-pest insects

TECHNICAL | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Paul Westgate, of BPCA member company Veritas Pest Consultancy, explains how a little entomology know-how can go a long way. SPEED VIEW:  Pest species represent less than 0.5% of Britis.... More

23 August 2021

Rodents detect landmines, sniff out TB, find disaster victims

TECHNICAL | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 When it comes to thinking about disease, rats are usually thought of as vermin that carry plague and pestilence. But what about rats being used to sniff out diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) in people&r.... More

23 August 2021

Rodent baiting: techniques and terminology

TECHNICAL | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 The use of rodenticide baits has changed significantly over the last few years, but that’s not to say that rodenticide use has altered. How we use them, but not why we use them, has evolved. He.... More

23 August 2021

PestWatch: Insects that destroy wood in buildings

PESTWATCH | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 We’ve had a few requests for information on the highly-specialised property care pests - wood-boring insects. The Property Care Association takes over our usual feature with an introduction to wood-de.... More

23 August 2021

The BPCA Standard: what does it take to be a BPCA member?

BUSINESS | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA’s Head of Technical and Membership, looks behind the BPCA logo to see what the ‘BPCA standard’ really is and why we think that BPCA membership is still the high.... More

20 August 2021

Ask the technical team August 2021

TECHNICAL | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Field mice, bait box tampering, relocating wasps and reporting misuse of amateur pesticides are tackled in this issue of Ask the BPCA technical team. SPEED VIEW: No rodenticides in.... More

20 August 2021

18 months on: essential pest management

BUSINESS | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 On 13 April 2020, George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), confirmed pest management was an essential sector during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time o.... More

20 August 2021

Meet the member: To bee or not to bee

MEET THE MEMBER | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Ian Fuller (B.Eng) at Swarmcatcher has been removing and relocating live honey bees for more than a decade. In this article, BPCA’s Comms Officer Kat Shaw talks to him about his bee removal b.... More

20 August 2021

Meet the member: 25 years of pest control at Des Bone

MEET THE MEMBER | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 BPCA’s Communications Officer Kat Shaw spoke to Ann Bone, of Des Bone Ltd, about their quarter-century journey as a pest management business. Sussex-based Des Bone Limited was established o.... More

20 August 2021

Meet the member: Next Gen Pest Tech

MEET THE MEMBER | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Jack Tully is the first apprentice pest technician at BPCA member Integrum Services and passed his RSPH Level 2 earlier this year at just 17 years old. He took part in a quick-fire question session wi.... More

20 August 2021

A fond farewell to Stephanie

YOUR ASSOCIATION | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 After almost ten years of outstanding service, we said ‘farewell’ to our Finance Officer Stephanie Costopoulos at the end of July, who decided retirement was calling. Despite b.... More

20 August 2021

Meet your new BPCA team members

Your Association | PPC104 August 2021 You may have seen that we’ve had a bit of a recruitment boost at BPCA recently. Four people are joining our Staff team in the coming weeks, in the Membership, Technical and Finance teams. He.... More

20 August 2021

Sink or swim? Keep your head above water as a non-technical pest control employee

Training | PPC104 August 2021 The BPCA Staff team is packed with professionals who are specialists at what they do – our fab technical team, of course, but also other areas like finance, membership, CPD and marketing. Ho.... More

20 August 2021

Enter the Ratrix

TRAINING | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Can you imagine a world where a learner driver takes their theory test and, upon passing it, is immediately allowed to drive unsupervised on the road? No, that would be dangerous and irrespo.... More

20 August 2021

Pestflix and chill: free CPD resources for pest professionals

CPD | PPC104 August 2021 Pest professionals love learning and sharing knowledge. Yet some of us still end up cramming in our CPD hours towards the end of the year leading to the value of professional development being somewhat diminished.... More

16 August 2021

HSE accept BPCA as UK REACH Accredited Stakeholder

HSE has accepted BPCA to represent professional pest management’s interests in UK REACH and chemical regulation as an Accredited Stakeholder Organisation (ASO). HSE acts as the Agency for UK REACH. REACH stands for Registration.... More

11 August 2021

IPS launches new sticky moth trap

PRESS RELEASE Following two years of testing, International Pheromone Systems has launched a new product that will help both commercial pest controllers and homeowners to manage moth infestations. The pre-baited clothes moth boar.... More

06 August 2021

Dates announced for ICUP 2022 conference

 PRESS RELEASE After the disruption and postponement caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers of the International Conference on Urban Pests (ICUP) are now delighted to announce the dates of their rescheduled 2020 Conference. .... More

06 August 2021

Pelsis Group acquired by Pamplona

PRESS RELEASE Pelsis Group has announced it will be acquired by specialist investment manager Pamplona Capital Management this September. Pelsis has been owned for the past four years by Lloyds Development Capital (LDC), the.... More

05 August 2021

Changes to BPCA Exec Board as Martin Harvey steps down

Former BPCA President Tom Holmes rejoins the BPCA Executive Board as Immediate Past President, while Martin Harvey takes a step back. Martin was elected to the Board in 2010, appointed as Vice-President in 2012 and President in 2014.... More

04 August 2021

Choose professionals to protect wild birds, says trade body

PRESS RELEASE Bird deterrents used on buildings, such as spikes and netting, must be installed by a professional to protect both wild birds and property, a national trade body has said. British Pest Control Association (BPCA), is.... More

04 August 2021

Five new document templates - perfect for client folders

BPCA has released five new pest management document templates which are now available for members to download. The resources have been developed at the request of members and are designed to be customised to your liking or inspire you.... More

04 August 2021

Major changes at International Pheromone Systems

 PRESS RELEASE Fast-growing Cheshire-based International Pheromone Systems (IPS) has strengthened its technical team with the promotion of Payman Shafighi to the new role of Technical Business Development Manager. The n.... More

04 August 2021

PestWest® flies high with another award-winning night for flyDetect®

PRESS RELEASE PestWest was announced the winner of the Digital Engineering/Technology Award for flyDetect® at the Made in Yorkshire Awards ceremony on 29 July. The prestigious manufacturing dinner was held at t.... More

03 August 2021

Let’s keep glue boards for professionals, says BPCA

BPCA has begun its lobbying effort to keep rodent glue boards in the toolkits of pest professionals. In June, the UK government issued details on the Glue Traps (Offences) legislation, designed to ban the sale of rodent glue boards in.... More

03 August 2021

Funding secured for gadget that identifies apple moth pest

PRESS RELEASE MothNet, a partnership between two companies, has secured funding from Innovate UK to develop a fully automated codling moth monitoring system for apple growers. The codling moth is a major pest of fruit such as app.... More

22 July 2021

John O’Conner expands despite pandemic challenges

PRESS RELEASE BPCA member John O'Conner expands team and invests in a new fleet of vehicles, despite Covid-19 challenges.  The well-established grounds maintenance business has bought a brand new fleet of vehicles due t.... More

22 July 2021

Join our new working group for member complaints

BPCA is reviewing its member complaints procedures and is looking for some members to get involved with a new complaints working group. BPCA Technical and Compliance Manager Natalie Bungay said: “Accountability is a crucial.... More

22 July 2021

VIDEO: Understanding pests in food businesses

Pests in food businesses can damage and contaminate food, causing economic loss and threatening public health. In this video Natalie looks at the main species you are likely the encounter, the causes of infestations, control options and leg.... More

21 July 2021

Five Years of Rodenticide Stewardship report published

A report of the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime’s work covering 2016 to 2020 has been published by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use. This feeds into a formal five-year review being carried out by its HSE-led Government O.... More

19 July 2021

Safe working for pest professionals after lockdown

From today (19 July) nearly all Covid-19 restrictions in parts of the UK are at an end.  However the virus hasn't left us yet, so the government is urging people to remain cautious and sensible, including in the workplace.  .... More

14 July 2021

Bayer announces release of new Harmonix® Rodent Paste

PRESS RELEASE BPCA member Bayer is bringing a new professional-use cholecalciferol rodenticide, which can be used in open areas and burrows, to the market this September. Tim Peeling, product manager at Bayer Environmental Scienc.... More

14 July 2021

VIDEO: Digital Forum 9 - A complete approach to wasp and hornet control

In this sponsored Digital Forum 9 slot, Matt Towler from Lodi UK gives a crash course in wasp and hornet biology and control.  The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) hosts these free events so everyone interested in pest.... More

14 July 2021

VIDEO: Digital Forum 9 - What's on the horizon after glue boards?

In this video, Alex Wade from Wade Environmental asks "What now?" after the news the UK Government is looking to ban glue boards.  The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) hosts these free events so everyone interested in.... More

14 July 2021

VIDEO: Digital Forum 9 - Bird control lasers explained

In this video, Chris Frappell from Pestfix gives a talk on lasers for bird control and their use. The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) hosts these free events so everyone interested in pest management ca.... More

14 July 2021

VIDEO: Digital Forum 9 - Inspections and pest activity: what to look for

In this video, Avril Turner from Killgerm gives a talk on IPM and what to look out for when carrying out pest control surveys. The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) hosts these free events so everyone interested in pest mana.... More

12 July 2021

PestWorld to return as in-person event

PRESS RELEASE Plans are well under way for PestWorld 2021 to return as a face-to-face event in the US this autumn. When: 2-5 November 2021 Where: MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, USA Organised by the National Pest Mana.... More

07 July 2021

Have your say: Member summit on general licences for bird control in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) have announced a consultation on general licences for wild bird control, following similar licensing changes across other parts of the UK.  As a result, BPCA will be hosting a me.... More

06 July 2021

1env hold NHS birthday bake sale

On 5 July, as the National Health Service celebrated its 73rd anniversary, BPCA member 1env Solutions held a charity bake sale at the company's head office in Leigh-on-Sea. 1env’s Head of Marketing, Ollie Hewett.... More

01 July 2021

Legal teeth and rodent control update in 2021 Code of Best Practice

Rodenticide use for permanent, pulsed or burrow baiting, or in covered and protected bait stations, is now only legal if the product label permits these ‘non-standard’ scenarios specifically, says CRRU. This applies equall.... More

29 June 2021

BPCA secures funding for 3D interactive simulator

BPCA is excited to announce that we have been successful in securing funding from the Ufi VocTech Trust, to support the development of an interactive 3D competency simulator for pest technicians. The funding is for a pilot programme th.... More

29 June 2021

New ladder safety guidance announced

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Ladder Association will be unveiling two new ladder safety guidance documents in a one-off webinar.  Ladder safety is highly relevant for pest management technicians and surve.... More

29 June 2021

Trade body’s wasp advice for window cleaners

PRESS RELEASE Wasps can be a common hazard for window cleaners, particularly during the late summer months when a wasp colony is at its peak. British Pest Control Association (BPCA), is encouraging members of the Federation of Window C.... More