Recruitment is a key challenge facing the pest management sector and here, Rosina Robson, Chief Executive of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), shares the steps the organisation has taken to tackle the issue.
It’s no secret that our industry faces a demographic cliff edge. Nearly 40% of the UK pest management workforce is expected to retire within the next decade, while demand for professional pest management services continues to grow.
When I joined BPCA earlier this year, members across the country were united on a very specific issue – recruitment.
Trying to find and keep good people is a strain on businesses of all sizes and it is increasingly imperative to attract a more diverse, skilled and inspired workforce into pest management.
In an ambitious attempt to get to the heart of pest management and demonstrate the opportunities for a vital and exciting career in the industry, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee became the driving force behind a comprehensive recruitment campaign.
Informed by our members and committee volunteers, the campaign has resulted in a new online hub dedicated to careers in pest management which launches at the start of November, our new Open Doors Charter, a strategic social media campaign designed to reach thousands of potential recruits and a short film that captures the heart of the industry.
Drive the Talk / Split the Difference is based on a script developed on feedback from BPCA volunteers, many of whom also stepped in as extras during filming which took place at a professional studio in London using a purpose-built virtual production set.
Working with Liquona, one of the UK’s top 25 creative agencies, we captured the diversity, warmth and professionalism that define our sector while delivering the clear message that pest management protects people, property, the environment - and is all about variety, problem-solving and pride in doing something that matters.
The film sits at the centre of pestcareers.org.uk, the first dedicated online space to inspire, inform and connect potential recruits with real career opportunities in pest management, explore routes into the industry and understand what life as a pest professional is really like.
Alongside the hub we’re launching the Open Doors Charter, giving BPCA members the chance to demonstrate their commitment to an open and welcoming workplace culture which rejects discrimination and proactively supports new entrants into the industry.
In support of these ambitious projects, BPCA has also made a significant investment in a strategic nationwide social media campaign which will reach thousands of people with the aim of sparking curiosity and channelling potential recruits to pestcareers.org.uk, where they can take the first step towards joining the industry.
Over the next year, we’ll continue adding more resources, stories and tools to support members and aspiring professionals alike. We’ll also be working with schools, colleges and career advisers to make sure pest management is recognised as a legitimate, rewarding trade career, right alongside plumbing, electrics and construction.
I truly believe this project represents one of the most important steps BPCA has ever taken to secure the future of our sector. Because when someone joins pest management, they’re not just taking a job, they’re joining a profession that protects people, property and the planet. That’s something to be proud of.
https://bpca.org.uk/
About the contributor
Rosina Robson
Chief Executive
British Pest Control Association (BPCA)