PPC122 | MEET THE TECHNICIAN

Dale Seaman, Pest Control Technician at Bounty Pest Control, completed the onboarding scheme and his Level 2 Certificate in record time. He spoke to PPC magazine about how he found the industry and how the structured onboarding framework gave him confidence and direction from the outset of his pest management career. 

DS I started out learning to be an apprentice mechanic with my granddad for his company. Unfortunately, my nan was diagnosed with cancer, so he had to wind the business up. I didn't have enough experience to take it on myself, so I went into an office role in construction. I worked my way up over about 25 years and in my last role I was transport manager.

On paper it was a good job, but it was draining. Long hours, weekends, constant pressure. It really took a toll, and I got to the point where I knew I had to make a change.

PPC Had pest management ever crossed your mind as a career at that point?

DS Not at all. Honestly, I was very naïve. I had the same view a lot of people do. I thought pest control was just going out, killing a rat and leaving. Looking back now, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

PPC So what changed your mind?

DS A conversation with my family, of all things. I’m not shy talking about it, but work had really been affecting my mental health, as well as the pressure to always put everyone else first. I was taking some time away to get my head on straight and figure out what I wanted to do. I knew I still had at least half of my working life left and wanted to do something I actually enjoyed.

My family suggested pest control and I dismissed it at first. But later, I actually took the time to research the industry properly. That’s when I realised how much there is to it. Pest management, bird proofing, drainage work, invasive species, public health. The variety really surprised me.

I’ve always been interested in animals and behaviour, how species adapt and survive. Once I started learning about that side of pest management, it really grabbed me.

PPC What happened next?

DS I’m Kent born and raised, so I asked a local business, which turned out to be Bounty Pest Control, if I could shadow a technician for a few days. I wanted to see what the job was really like. 

That was the turning point. I kind of fell in love with it. Every job was different. Different properties, different people, different pest behaviour. You’re constantly thinking, problem-solving and adapting.

It’s definitely not a desk job, and that’s exactly what I wanted.

The next part was a stroke of luck: one of their technicians handed his notice in that week. I don’t quite know where I’d be now if he hadn’t, but Martin grabbed me at the end of the week and asked if I’d like to join full-time. 

PPC And that brings us to you being part of the BPCA onboarding programme through Bounty. What was that experience like?

DS I’d been involved in onboarding before as a manager, but this was on another level.

BPCA onboarding is structured, thorough and supportive. You’re not just given information and left alone. There are reviews, check-ins and real people asking how you’re doing and whether you need help.

Coming from a completely different industry into pest control, that support made a massive difference.

PPC How did onboarding help when you got to the Level 2 course?

DS On the course, there were people with no industry experience at all. You could see how overwhelming it was for them. Because of onboarding, I had context and confidence. I could follow the training properly and even help others. Without the onboarding, I don’t think that would have been possible. 

Onboarding gave me a foundation to build from. Not everything, but enough to understand what I was being taught. Without it, I’d have felt completely lost.

But it wasn’t just useful leading up to me taking my course; the aftercare was great too. You don’t just complete the onboarding and then get forgotten about; BPCA checks in afterwards to see if there’s anything else the training team can help with or additional materials needed for ‘onboarders’. 

PPC Did anything about the industry surprise you once you were in it?

DS Yes, how much pest professionals care about animals.

There’s this idea that pest controllers hate animals. That couldn’t be further from the truth. If we could do this job without killing anything, we would. Every pest professional I’ve met feels the same.

Our role is about public health, prevention and safety. The animals are just trying to survive, like we are.

PPC Is there a particular area of pest management you’ve become passionate about?

DS The responsible use of rodenticides, without a doubt.

There’s so much misuse by untrained people, and it causes real harm to wildlife and pets. A big part of my job now is education. Explaining risks, explaining why professional pest management matters.

If I can leave a job knowing I’ve protected a customer’s home and reduced risk to non-target species, that’s important to me.

PPC Are there any areas you’d like to specialise in as your career develops?

DS Bird proofing really interests me, as does CCTV drainage work. Before this job, I’d never even thought about drains. Now I find it fascinating.

That’s one of the biggest things onboarding showed me. Pest management isn’t just one job. There are so many paths you can take if you want to specialise or develop.

PPC How have you found the wider pest management industry?

DS Coming from construction, it’s been a breath of fresh air.

People share knowledge. They help each other. There’s competition, of course, but it’s healthy. Everyone understands that we’re all working toward the same goal of protecting public health.

And with BPCA and employers like Bounty, you’re encouraged to keep learning. Even very experienced technicians are still doing CPD and developing their skills.

PPC Finally, what would you say to someone considering a career change into pest management?

DS If you’re unhappy, take the chance. A year ago, I’d never have imagined myself in this industry. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else. BPCA onboarding gave me confidence, structure and a clear route into pest management.

It’s not just a job. It’s a career, and it’s one I’m genuinely proud of.

TIME TO JUMP ONBOARD 

A good onboarding process can drive the professionalism of a pest control company and ensures a technician knows how to stay safe in the field. It will also enhance their knowledge-based learning with practical skills developed in the field.

If you don’t have the internal resources or facilities to deliver an onboarding programme, BPCA can provide you with a support package. You’ll get a full online learning training and development programme, along with regular knowledge assessments and learner review meetings.

Find out more: 
bpca.org.uk/onboarding

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