BPCA is delighted to announce that we’ve won the Association Excellence Award (AEA) for 'Best Lobbying Campaign or Advancement of a Cause During Covid-19'.

The Association Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate the work that associations, trade organisations, unions and industry bodies do for and on behalf of their members.

BPCA was shortlisted in three categories:

• Best Lobbying Campaign or Advancement of a Cause During Covid-19 (Over 500 Members)
• Best Membership Support During Covid-19 (Under 800 Members)
• Best Online Learning and Professional Development Programme.

The winning campaign

The award was based on the Association’s work to get pest management recognised as an essential sector at the beginning of the first lockdown in March 2020.

Following extensive lobbying efforts to government ministers, local councils, schools and the media, pest management workers were formally acknowledged as key workers in Northern Ireland on 26 March 2020 and in England on 13 April 2020, with Scotland and Wales following suit shortly afterwards. 

BPCA Marketing and Communications Manager, Scott Johnstone, said:

"We're absolutely delighted to have won the award for our work during Covid-19.

"Pest management can all too often feel like an invisible industry. For a few moments the entire UK recognised the work we do to protect public health and society as a whole.

"Pest management is critical. Our workers are key. Thank you to all our members that helped us get the recognition you all deserved!"

The award judges commented: "This campaign made a tangible difference to BPCA members by using the expertise of the Association to influence Government understanding of the sector and so revise its decisions.

"An excellent evidenced summary of the impact the BPCA had on raising the issue of pest management being an essential service during the pandemic lockdown."

Source: Online