Latest News from BPCA

05 January 2021

2021 Covid-19 lockdowns: what do pest professionals need to know?

With England and Scotland announcing national lockdowns, Wales in tier 4 restrictions and Northern Ireland tightening measures – we take a moment to highlight some of BPCA’s Covid-19 guidance for the sector and answer your top questions.

Lockdown 2021 pest advice pest control BPCA

Can you go to work?

Yes. Guidance in all nations is still that if you can’t work from home you should continue to go to work.

Should you go to work? Is it safe?

That’s for you, your employer and your risk assessment to decide. We still strongly suggest you decide which work to take on a job-by-job basis. Check out our Becoming Covid-Secure Guidance documents (free to download).

Guidance document

Are pest professionals key/critical workers? Can I send my children to school?

Yes, pest professionals are key/critical workers.

Remember, key/critical worker status is currently only used for allowing children to remain in school during a lockdown. Everyone who cannot work from home is still permitted to go to work (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). Tradespeople are still permitted to go into people’s homes and businesses.

Pest professionals are considered critical due to our protection of “food and other necessary goods” by the UK government (confirmed by Defra on 13 May 2020).

Northern Ireland and much of Scotland’s Local Authorities have also confirmed that they consider pest management to be critical.

The only devolved administration that is yet to explicitly confirm pest professionals are key/critical workers is Wales.

BPCA members can download a letter template here (member login required).

Download letter template

For more information on national measures see:

England: Covid-19 rules
Wales: Covid-19 rules
Scotland: Covid-19 rules
Northern Ireland: Covid-19 rules.

Is the BPCA guidance up-to-date?

Yes, BPCA’s Covid-secure guidance can still be applied. You can download the latest guidance document here (free to download).

Covid-secure guidance for pest management companies

You can check out our Covid-19 webpage for all the latest details on pest management and Covid-19.

Covid-19 hub

What if clients won’t let us on site?

You must respect your client’s decision, however, we have created some guidance for your client to help convince them to continue to give you access.

Members can download the flyer here.

Client flyer

MORE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE

Members can contact the team for bespoke support and help. We’re happy to help you by phone, email or using the live chat on our website.

hello@bpca.org.uk
01332 294 288

For our latest guidance, head to
bpca.org.uk/covid19

Source: Online

Highlights View all news

05 January 2026

Latest news

Glue trap SALES ban moves a step closer following BPCA lobbying

Proposals to pave the way for a ban on the sale of rodent glue traps across the UK will be debated in Parliament this week.

Read more

15 December 2025

Latest news

BPCA wrapped 2025: a message to members from Rosina Robson

In this video, Rosina Robson, Chief Executive of the British Pest Control Association, reflects on a year of momentum, challenge and progress for the Association.

Read more

31 October 2025

Latest news

VIDEO: Consumer vulnerability: recognising the signs, reducing the risks with Louise Baxter MBE

Louise Baxter MBE, Head of the National Trading Standards Scams Team and Non-Executive Director at TrustMark, explores what consumer vulnerability really means in 2025 and how it affects the work you do every day.

Read more
Latest View all news

08 January 2026

Latest news

Glue trap sales changes can move forward after committee backs regulations

The Draft United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (Exclusions from Market Access Principles: Glue Traps) Regulations 2025 cleared an important hurdle yesterday.

Read more

07 January 2026

Latest news

BPCA joins cross-sector call for stronger partnership between government and trade bodies

British Pest Control Association (BPCA) has joined a major cross-sector coalition of professional and membership bodies calling on the government to work more closely with accredited organisations to boost skills, productivity and public confidence.

Read more

06 January 2026

Latest news

Free AI webinars to help pest management businesses grow smarter

BPCA is encouraging members to explore a new free CPD opportunity designed to help small and medium-sized pest management businesses use artificial intelligence in a practical, responsible way.

Read more