The Pest Expert Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Hiya All i have recently been given the boot from my place of work as there isnt enough work there which is understandable ever since i left school 3Years ago i have always wanted to get a job as a pest control technician i have always been keen on this kind of work and would happily put in 110% but my only issue is that theres no one around my location thats has a job placement on offer there either one man bands or just not looking for anyone so i was wondering what you guys recon i should do? is there anybody that lives close ish to me just to take me along for a day with out any pay of course i drive so willing to travel aslong as its not to far and then mabey if they need help full term then i could be it? i have searched for a topic about this but theres not much that turned up Hopefully you guys can help... ThankYou for reading and all the best Jorge Aka The Pest Expert :look: Mods: Sorry if this is in the wrong area i didnt no where to place it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Good luck BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pest Expert Posted May 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Think im going to need it bb Thanks tho buddy All the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 I've been on this forum (And a couple others) for a few years now, you are about the twenty-something-th person to ask about this. General concensus is:- - The work isn't what you this it is, 99.999% of your earnings are from killing insects (wasps, bed bugs), using with using gases and poisons, while the odd rabbit job might come about it's as rare as Venus's arms, you just can't make money doing the 'Fun' stuff, because, as you can see, there are thousands willing to do it for nothing. - You've got to spend a bunch to get the relevant tickets and information to buy the relevant gases/poisons. - You are going to enter a hectic, over populated market anyway, So if you lost your last job from there not being enough work, this really isn't going to improve things - You'll also get out-priced by the big boys like Rentokil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syork gun Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 I'm in same boat as you "the pest expert", my old game keeper does pest control as he runs his own business but like you said he is a one man band. The road iv took is emailing all the companies I could think of asking if the any available places and if not would they keep me on record for if there is any come up....so now I'm waiting for a few to reply nut good look with it mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) my uncle started up a pest control business a good time ago now, he started off doing what he enjoyed, rabbits, moles, fox etc... then he realised that if he wanted to actually make a living he needed to start doing 'proper' pest control he spends 80% of his time putting up bird spikes and netting around scarborough and the other 20% of the time is spent in hotels and houses putting powder and stuff down for bed bugs, silverfish and other little insects that are a pain....with summer around the corner he may get the odd call to remove wasps aswell...Yippee! its not at all what most people think it is, and although he enjoys some aspects of his job i know its not what he dreamed it would be. look into it in detail, search allover the internet and see what the main jobs are when it comes to pest control. visit npta (national pest technician association) website, i get their magazine sent to me every month and ther is sometimes some interest stuff in there. Hope it works out for you...wether you decide to do it or not...best of luck to you EDIT to say...the courses are endless, with everything changing all the time and new rules and regs been enforced every 2 seconds you will forever be on a course....they arent cheap and every minute on a course is a minute not out earning a wage sorry to sound like a kill joy :unsure: Edited May 4, 2012 by TJ91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 (edited) I've been on this forum (And a couple others) for a few years now, you are about the twenty-something-th person to ask about this. General concensus is:- - The work isn't what you this it is, 99.999% of your earnings are from killing insects (wasps, bed bugs), using with using gases and poisons, while the odd rabbit job might come about it's as rare as Venus's arms, you just can't make money doing the 'Fun' stuff, because, as you can see, there are thousands willing to do it for nothing. - You've got to spend a bunch to get the relevant tickets and information to buy the relevant gases/poisons. - You are going to enter a hectic, over populated market anyway, So if you lost your last job from there not being enough work, this really isn't going to improve things - You'll also get out-priced by the big boys like Rentokil. my uncle started up a pest control business a good time ago now, he started off doing what he enjoyed, rabbits, moles, fox etc... then he realised that if he wanted to actually make a living he needed to start doing 'proper' pest control he spends 80% of his time putting up bird spikes and netting around scarborough and the other 20% of the time is spent in hotels and houses putting powder and stuff down for bed bugs, silverfish and other little insects that are a pain....with summer around the corner he may get the odd call to remove wasps aswell...Yippee! its not at all what most people think it is, and although he enjoys some aspects of his job i know its not what he dreamed it would be. look into it in detail, search allover the internet and see what the main jobs are when it comes to pest control. visit npta (national pest technician association) website, i get their magazine sent to me every month and ther is sometimes some interest stuff in there. Hope it works out for you...wether you decide to do it or not...best of luck to you EDIT to say...the courses are endless, with everything changing all the time and new rules and regs been enforced every 2 seconds you will forever be on a course....they arent cheap and every minute on a course is a minute not out earning a wage sorry to sound like a kill joy :unsure: I specialise in shooting work, I get called in for tricky shots (we need someone to take an 80 yard shot on a pigeon sitting on £12,000,000 of equipment) and run shooting training courses for a National Pest Control firm, I also get a lot of shooting referral work from National and Local Pest Control firms...... and I still have to look after moles, wasps, rats etc etc etc to make a living! PS. as well as all the background courses/qualifications you will need I'd start practising Risk Assessments and Method Statements as well! And don't forget you WILL need professional insurance, not BASC cover, that costs! Edited May 6, 2012 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantastic-mr-fox Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Some very interesting points especially Dekers, your spot on regarding risk assesments & method statments. H&S in any industry is becoming the biggest part to carry out the simplist task. However pest control is not all doom and gloom. I know of three one man companies that I have used over the last twenty years who have succesfull companies providing them with a well above average lifestyle. With jobs paying £80 to £125 for a couple hours work removing wasps nest, investigating flees and spraying for static which usually results in cash payment. Why worry about shooting rabbits / pigeons for less money and more hassel then dealing with a wasps nest. If rabbit / pigeon work comes along then you may wish to consider 1)offering days shooting to others for a small fee, 2)charge for what most of us on the site would be more than happy to do for free 3)sell your bags to local butchers etc. Three ways of generating income from one job, win win win. Of course all areas should be 100% legal, above board for the tax man and in compliance with H&S. The area to investigate I feel is the start up costs. Like all trades the work is out there you have just got to provide a better service then the next. Just one consideration for you. When your hobby becomes your full time work you will lose the love for your hobby. I have seen this time and time again. Whatever your choice, good luck and all the very best for the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Your first port of call should be ......http://www.bpca.org.uk/training.html .....followed by an appointment with your bank manager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermincinerator Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 An old school friend of mine started a pest control business about 12 years ago, he has been very successful and now employs 3 other guys. He has a large house in a desireable village has owned several ferarris and regularly goes stalking in the scottish highlands, oh, as well as marrying one of the sexiest women in the town even though he is an ugly Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 An old school friend of mine started a pest control business about 12 years ago, he has been very successful and now employs 3 other guys. He has a large house in a desireable village has owned several ferarris and regularly goes stalking in the scottish highlands, oh, as well as marrying one of the sexiest women in the town even though he is an ugly . Ian. Well, I try my best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 There was an advert in the back of the last issue of BASC magazine advertising for a pest control franchise called Pest-Force.co.uk Chap called Paul Wilkinson. I'm not associated with it, just spotted the advert a while back and happened to see your post. Maybe its of some use to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 There was an advert in the back of the last issue of BASC magazine advertising for a pest control franchise called Pest-Force.co.uk Chap called Paul Wilkinson. I'm not associated with it, just spotted the advert a while back and happened to see your post. Maybe its of some use to you. NO NO NO.... only cost about £15,000 to buy the franchise and then wear a silly uniform and be bound by there suppliers and prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 your far better off getting a job with one of the big firms for a few years, let them train you etc, you'll need a full clean driving license to start with, and forget about shooting bunnies etc, you'd be doing household pests, and you'd be getting paid a pitance for long full days, a normal tech would normally start at around £16k, pidgeon **** clearing is worth alot of money, the big firms do alot of that, if you can join a firm and get into "bird work" spikes,netting etc, its much better money than a standard tech, but then your normally working at heights, ladders,scaffolds,cherry pickers etc, but you'd also get your marksmanship certificates, allowing you to carry out culls, they sort out the method statements and risk assesments, you just need to read and understand them, tidy handwriting is useful too, stick with it, and in a few years its very easy to clime the coperative ladder then carry on your sort of shooting as your hobby/free time, you'll have a pestie identity which can open quite a few doors reguarding permissions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 bookmark this site, although not many jobs at present, it does get full sometimes pest control jobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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