PPC Live - now we are two!

Picking up from the first PPC Live event in Manchester in 2014, the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) is continuing to offer a national event for inter PestEx years. PPC Live is also portable, featuring in towns and cities that dont often host such events, so this year it was held at the East of England showground near Peterborough on 16 March 2016.
PPC Live follows the well-worn path of an exhibition accompanied by a seminar programme, similar to PestTech organised by the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA), but with perhaps more emphasis on the seminars. Also similar to PestTech, the large surrounding space facilitated not only easy car parking, but also a series of practical outdoor demonstrations, very similar to the PPC Live event held in Manchester two years ago. It was disappointing though that two outdoor organisations failed to turn-up.

Nice light and airy venue The exhibition hall was light and airy with plenty of space to mingle. With nearly 50 exhibitors present there were plenty of stands to attract the visitors and with numbers not enormous it was possible to have more in-depth conversations – particularly in the afternoon when the numbers dropped. All the well-known manufacturers and distributors had stands, but so too did a number of organisations making their debut appearance – always an interesting facet. None more than the humane rodent trap displayed on the 4 World Designs stand and also demonstrated outdoors. The use of lasers to deter birds was also well represented, both on the Dutch manufacturer’s Bird Control Group stand and also on the PestFix stand – their UK distributor. Services for pest controllers There were a number of stands offering services to pest controllers – new amongst these was Cliverton Insurance who are giving well-established Bradshaw Bennett a run for their money and Precision Consulting who undertake audits for both client’s and pest control companies. To assist customers for pest control services, Which? Trusted Traders had a stand as did BookPestControl.Com who are new onto the scene and are looking for companies to sign-up on their price comparison site exclusively for pest control services. Professionalism – EN16636 With professionalism much in mind, it was good to see the presence of the UK arm of Bureau Veritas Certification – the body approved by CEPA to conduct EN16636 audits for pest management. Best in show Awarded the accolade as the best stand in the show was Devon-based Jones & Son who featured their range of bird protection devices. Quite appropriate then, as this was essentially an agricultural venue, that they had a pigeon on the stand – Pest awarded it ‘best in show’ for livestock (or rather deadstock) after it had been zapped by the Bird Control Group’s laser! Plenty of room in the seminars There was also plenty of space in the room housing the seminar programme and despite a large audience packed in for the Question Time session on the new UK Rodenticide Stewardship regime there was still seating space. The other seminars covered some interesting topics which Pest was pleased to attend and report on.		Everyone liked the light and spacious venue Exhibitors came from as far away as Portugal – Plastdiversity BPCA President Martin Harvey congratulates Jones & Son judged to have the best stand. Left to right Martin Harvey with Haydon Cocker, Jazmin Smith and Davey Jones Maybe it was the lasered pigeon on the Jones & Son stand that won them the award?
So – all in all – a day well spent. When quizzed BPCA chief executive Simon Forrester said: “Feedback from our 500+ visitors and exhibitors has been extremely positive. It was clear that there was a unified atmosphere of professionalism at PPC Live. Delegates had come to learn and network in a relaxed business environment, which was exactly what we were aiming for.
“PPC Live is laid out to allow people the time and physical space to have conversations with exhibitors and colleagues, and learn from a range of expert-led seminars, not sales pitches. We grew our exhibitor numbers to now become the largest one-day event in the UK calendar. I’d like to thank everyone for making PPC Live such a success, and urge you to attend one of our regional events near you during the coming months,” he concluded. BPCA will be making some of the seminars available online to those on the free BPCA Affiliate Scheme in early April.		Sharing a joke. Lewis Jenkins (left) of Check Services with BPCA CEO, Simon Forrester
What plans BPCA has for 2018 we will have to await and see. Next year, of course, it’s back to London for PestEx 2017. Readers should watch out for further coverage of PPC Live in Pest issue 44: March & April 2016.