There is currently no apprenticeship specifically for pest management in England. However, changes to the apprenticeship system and the development of BPCA’s new qualification framework mean we believe it is worth exploring the possibility again.

What happened to the previous apprenticeship?

A Level 2 pest management apprenticeship was previously developed through a BPCA Trailblazer group.

However, there was insufficient demand at the time for potential training providers and end-point assessment organisations to deliver it commercially. With limited take-up, the apprenticeship was eventually withdrawn.

One of the challenges was the choice employers faced between short-course structured training and a 12-month apprenticeship programme.

For businesses wanting to get new technicians qualified and working as quickly as possible, the apprenticeship was not always seen as an attractive alternative, even with funding available.

Why look at apprenticeships again?

The apprenticeship landscape has changed considerably since the previous pest management apprenticeship was developed.

The minimum apprenticeship duration has been reduced from 12 months to eight months where appropriate, and there is now greater flexibility in how the required training can be delivered.

This fits much more closely with the direction of travel for BPCA’s new pest management qualification framework.

The aim of the new framework is to put greater emphasis on new technicians gaining practical experience in the field alongside structured training, before progressing to their entry-level qualification for professional pest management.

An apprenticeship could therefore provide an alternative route into the profession for employers who want to recruit and develop new technicians.

Apprenticeship funding

There are significant funding opportunities available to employers in England.

For eligible non-levy paying employers, the Government can fund 100% of apprenticeship training and assessment costs, up to the relevant funding band, for apprentices aged 16 to 24.

For apprentices aged 25 and over, the Government contribution is currently 95%.

From October 2026, eligible employers recruiting a new apprentice aged 16 to 24 can also receive a £2,000 hiring payment, subject to Government eligibility criteria.

Additional payments may also be available in certain circumstances for employers recruiting younger apprentices.

Larger levy-paying employers can also transfer unused levy funds to other employers, including subcontractors and organisations within their wider supply chain.

What happens next?

As part of our work on the new pest management qualification framework, BPCA will consider where an apprenticeship could best sit within the framework and explore whether there is a viable case for developing a new standard.

To be clear, no decision has been made to develop a new pest management apprenticeship.

For any future apprenticeship to succeed, there would need to be sufficient demand from employers, alongside training providers and end-point assessment organisations willing to deliver it.

That means industry input is important.

Register your interest

If your business would consider recruiting a pest management apprentice if a suitable apprenticeship became available, we want to hear from you.

Understanding the level of demand, and what employers would need from an apprenticeship programme, will help inform our work.

Register your interest by emailing [email protected].

You can tell us:

• Whether you would consider recruiting an apprentice

• How many apprentices you might recruit

• What you would want from a pest management apprenticeship

• Any concerns or barriers that might stop your business using one.

The apprenticeship system has changed significantly since the previous pest management apprenticeship was developed. Combined with a greater emphasis on demonstrable competency within the future qualification framework, we believe it is worth revisiting whether an apprenticeship could provide a valuable route into the pest management profession.