CEO VIEWPOINT

Rosina Robson, Chief Executive of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), reflects on her first year leading the organisation, from attending PPC Live incognito to overseeing a successful PestEx and strengthening BPCA’s voice across the sector.

This time last year, I was walking around PPC Live, quietly taking everything in and absorbing the sector. I’d not yet been officially announced as BPCA Chief Exec, and it was my first chance to see the industry up close.

What struck me then still holds true now. This is a sector full of people who care. About doing the job properly, about their customers, and about the standards of the industry as a whole.

A year on, I’ve just come out of PestEx. And it’s given me a moment to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come in what is, really, a very short space of time.

A week on from PestEx

PestEx last week was a real high point.

There’s always a lot going on at an event like that, but what stayed with me was the atmosphere. Busy, engaged, positive. People catching up, making new connections, sharing ideas and, in many cases, doing business.

I spent as much time as I could speaking to exhibitors and visitors. The feedback was consistently strong. I heard “best first day ever”, “outstanding”, and a lot of comments about the quality of the conversations people were having.

For me, that says a lot about where the sector is. There’s confidence, there’s professionalism, and there’s a real appetite to keep improving.

I also want to recognise the BPCA team. It takes months of planning to deliver something like PestEx, and a lot of hard work across the two days. We’re not a large team, but everyone pulled together and delivered something we can all be proud of. Bringing more of the delivery in-house this year, including the design work, was a big step forward.

Growing expectations

Over the past year, we’ve seen growth in membership, which is incredibly positive. Applications continue to stream in.

But with that comes increased expectation. More members, more engagement, more demand for support, guidance and representation. That’s a good challenge to have, but it’s still a challenge.

At the same time, we’re hearing more from stakeholders outside the sector. Government departments, regulators, other trade bodies. There’s a growing recognition of the role pest management plays in public health, housing and food safety.

That brings opportunity, but also responsibility. We need to be clear, consistent and credible in how we represent the sector.

Finding our voice

A big part of the past year has been building relationships.

We’ve spent time with Defra, the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), discussing issues such as traps, glue board legislation and Awaab’s Law. We’ve been in Parliament, raising awareness of the sector and making sure pest management is part of the conversation.

We’ve also started working more closely with other organisations, including the Alliance of Chemical Associations, the British Cleaning Council and the Royal Entomological Society. That kind of collaboration strengthens our voice and helps us tackle shared challenges.

There are already tangible results, including progress on HSE alignment with the EU on biocides. If that moves forward as expected, it could make a real difference to the sector's cost and availability of products.

Listening and learning

Alongside that external work, we’ve been focused on staying close to members.

Forums, visits, and conversations at events like PestEx. Trying new formats, including more digital engagement, and making sure we’re listening as much as we’re talking.

We’ve also seen some encouraging signs that what we’re doing is landing well, including recognition at the Trade Association Forum awards for both PPC magazine and our work on EDI.

But there’s always more to do. One of the things I’ve learned over the past year is that this sector doesn’t stand still, and neither can we.

Looking ahead

Over the coming months, we’ll be publishing our Value of the Sector report. That will give us a stronger evidence base for our lobbying and help us tell a clearer story about the impact of pest management.

We’re also finalising a new five-year strategy with the Board and member volunteers. The focus is on quality, credibility and making sure we’re supporting members in a way that reflects the realities of running a business today.

Recruitment remains a priority. The PestCareers hub is performing well, having just hit 1.1 million views, and we’re building on that with further work to attract new people into the industry.

We’re also developing new resources, including a sustainability toolkit, and continuing to evolve how we communicate and connect with members. There’s a lot in progress.

A moment to reflect

Looking back to PPC Live last year, I was there to listen and learn.

A year on, I’m still doing that. But I’m also seeing the bigger picture. A sector that is growing, adapting and increasingly being recognised for the role it plays.

There’s a lot to be proud of. And there’s still a lot to do.

That feels like a good place to be.

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