Pest magazine has taken over the running of The British Pest Management Awards (BPMAs) and is promising the industry a completely new awards programme.
The awards will continue to recognise and reward best practice and professional development across the industry, with a level of prestige that reflects the importance of the industry.
The 2021 awards will be organised by Pest publisher Lewis Business Media (LBM) in association with the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) and BASIS PROMPT.
LBM is an event organiser as much as it is a publisher and currently organises prestigious awards in other allied industries such as The National Pig Awards, The National SQP Awards, The National Egg and Poultry Awards and The Food & Farming Awards.
The winners will be announced at a prestigious and glamorous awards ceremony at one of the most iconic venues in London next year. All finalists will receive two complimentary tickets to the awards ceremony and be able to network with the whole industry at the event.
Ian Andrew, chief executive of the BPCA, said he was delighted to support the awards.
Mr Andrew said: “The BPCA is delighted to hand over the reins of the BPMAs to Pest magazine and LBM.
“Having successfully launched and managed the first two awards ceremonies, we fully support this transition and welcome the new partnership arrangement.”
Simon Lewis, group managing director of LBM, said: “The BPCA had done a great job in establishing the BPMAs and we are delighted to have the opportunity to build on that success.
“Pest is delighted to reward the best in the industry and we widely acknowledge that the focus of the BPMAs should be on the men and women that work in this sector across the UK.
“A business can only be as good as those that work for it.”
Mr Andrew will join the judging panel for the event, along with Steve Hallam, chief operating officer of the NPTA; Stephen Jacob, chief executive of BASIS; Simon Lewis; and Pest editor Simon King.
Mr Andrew said: “I’ll be looking for those that have a real passion for the sector, have really demonstrated the difference they make and the impact they bring.”
Mr Hallam said he believed the BPMAs will demonstrate and acknowledge the dedication and professionalism within the pest control industry.
He said: “Winning an award is recognition of progress within the industry could be seen as a marker point to build on or an honour of achievement already earned.”
Stephen Jacob, chief executive of BASIS, said that industry awards are “a wonderful way to recognise and reward individuals and companies who exceed expectations and demonstrate outstanding commitment to serving their customers and upholding the very best standards of the industry, while also showcasing the best that our industry offers to people in other sectors”.
He added: “This is why we have given our full support to the BPMAs and I look forward to participating in the judging process.
“The revamped BPMAs will recognise, reward and encourage professionalism from Pest readers.”
In the next issue of Pest, we will unveil the categories, judging criteria and the venue; and then entries will be open for The British Pest Management Awards 2021.