BPCA is helping Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff and organisations supporting young people to better understand the career opportunities available in professional pest management.
More than 200 people have already registered for Meet the Industry: Careers in Pest Management with the British Pest Control Association, taking place on Tuesday, September 8, at 1.30pm.
By helping Jobcentre staff and youth support organisations understand pest management careers, BPCA said it can put the sector in front of more potential recruits. That means greater awareness of our industry, stronger routes into work, and a wider talent pool for employers.
The special webinar is designed for Jobcentre staff and organisations working with young people, introducing attendees to the pest management sector, the range of roles available and the skills, attributes and training routes that can lead to a long-term career in the industry.
BPCA’s John Horsley will lead part of the session, explaining what employers look for in a pest professional and introducing the qualifications and development opportunities available to people entering the sector.
He will also share some of BPCA’s wider work to promote pest management as a career, including our careers video and the pestcareers.org.uk website, which has been created to help people understand the different routes into the industry and what working in pest management is really like.
Attendees will also hear directly from BPCA members, helping careers advisers and support organisations get a practical view of the sector.
This will include the experience of a young person who has been through BPCA’s onboarding programme, alongside the perspective of a pest management business owner who can explain what employers need from new recruits and the opportunities available to people joining the profession.
The webinar will cover:
- What the professional pest management sector does;
- The range of careers available;
- The skills and attributes employers are looking for;
- Training, qualifications and entry routes;
- Career progression and development; and
- Current opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
Karen Dawes, BPCA’s training and development manager, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to put professional pest management directly in front of the people who are helping young people make decisions about their future careers.
“There are rewarding, skilled careers available across our sector, but pest management is not always something people immediately think of when considering their options.”
Ms Dawes continued: “By giving Jobcentre staff and youth support organisations a much better understanding of our industry, the routes into it and the qualities our employers are looking for, we can help them confidently introduce pest management to more potential recruits.
“Having more than 200 people already registered shows there is real appetite to learn more about what our sector has to offer.”
