PPC122 | OPINION

Julia Pittman, Chair of BPCA's EDI Committee, gives her view on why diversity isn't just a tickbox exercise - it's good for business.

In discussions about diversity, we often focus on gender, race, age, or disability. And rightly so. Representation matters. 

But if we stop the conversation there, we risk missing a vital point: diversity isn’t just about who’s in the room, it’s about what they bring to the table.

In the pest control industry, where a significant proportion of the workforce is nearing retirement and only 5% of technicians are women, there’s an urgent need to think differently. 

We need to think beyond filling quotas or “doing the right thing” - and start thinking about what our teams are capable of. Because diversity, at its core, is a business advantage. 

It's about having access to a broader range of skill sets, perspectives and ideas that help us solve problems more effectively.

A degree in app development… in a pest control office?

I’m currently working on a project with a young woman in our customer service team. She recently graduated from university with a degree in app creation.

That’s not something we hired her for: her role is customer-facing.

But now that I know about this skill, it’s unlocked a whole new avenue for innovation within our business.

Had our hiring process prioritised only experience within pest control, or had our team all shared similar life paths, we might never have tapped into that talent.

Her knowledge could lead to real efficiencies in how we manage data, schedule work, or communicate with customers. And she’s just one example.

This is why diversity matters. It gives us access to skills and thinking styles we might not otherwise consider. It’s not about tokenism or box-ticking - it’s about making our businesses stronger and more adaptable.

Strength vs. Skill

One of the most common objections I hear around increasing gender diversity in our industry is strength. But if you actually break down what most pest control professionals do every day, the vast majority of tasks don’t require significant physical strength. 

Yes, some tasks like lifting drain covers require physical effort, but they represent only part of the job.

In reality, pest control is about communication, problem-solving, and investigation. It’s about educating customers, observing environments, identifying risks, and implementing targeted solutions. 

These are all skills in which women (and others who have historically not been attracted to the industry) can and do excel at.

"They might leave"

Another concern I often hear when recruiting young people is: “What if they leave?” And it’s true, they might. 

But they might also stay. And while they’re with us, they bring different ways of working, fresh ideas, and technological fluency that can benefit the entire business.

We can't future-proof our industry by clinging to outdated models. We need to be flexible enough to evolve, just as the pests we tackle are constantly evolving. Young people can help us do that, not in spite of their differences, but because of them.

Neurodiversity and hidden talent

Similarly, individuals with disabilities - particularly those who are neurodivergent - often think in ways that many of us can’t. Their ability to spot patterns, focus intensely, or perceive details differently can be a huge asset in a field that requires observation and root-cause analysis.

But if we build teams where everyone thinks in the same way, we limit our ability to innovate or solve complex problems. Hiring neurodiverse talent isn’t a gesture, it’s a strategic advantage.

Ultimately, we need to stop thinking about diversity as a moral issue and start thinking about it as a strategic one. We should be building teams not just with different faces, but with different brains, backgrounds, and skills. 

That’s how we become more resilient as a business, more innovative as an industry, and more relevant in the modern world.So, the next time you’re hiring, promoting, or even mentoring, ask yourself: what skills are we missing? 

Chances are, the answer won’t come from someone who looks, thinks, or works just like you.

SHAPE THE FUTURE

Want to help shape EDI policy and recruitment initiatives in the pest control industry? Come join an EDI Committee meeting and get involved! [email protected]

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