Sector

08 March 2022

Bayer ES: Celebrating International Women’s Day 

PRESS RELEASE

On International Women’s Day Bayer Environmental Science have partnered with Pest Solutions to celebrate just some of the tremendous team and their achievements within the Pest Control Industry.

bayercelebratinginternationalwomensday

Isabelle Duboille, Head of EMEA (Environmental Science) said, “At Bayer we are committed to strengthening a more inclusive and diverse workforce, as diversity is a key ingredient of creative and innovative teams that perform. Gender balance is one of the pillars of this diversity.

"That’s why we aspire to establish a gender balance across all combined management levels by 2025. By 2030, Bayer aspires to reach gender parity on each individual management level.

"So on International Women’s Day, and indeed every day, we are proud to celebrate companies that embrace and enable equality.”

Women account for 40 per cent of the global workforce*, yet not surprisingly pest management remains a male dominated profession. Recent analysis from the BPCA membership database suggests that only around 4.5% of all staff are women (4% in August 2020).   

Dee Ward-Thompson, Head of Membership and Technical at the British Pest Control Association, commented, “While pest management is still a male-dominated profession, I've seen many women join our industry in 10 years.

"Women entering our profession are always regarded with the utmost respect and encouraged to develop their skills, with many becoming leaders within the sector. More and more women are seeing the benefits of joining this wonderful sector and the potential long-term career path."

Testament to this view are pest control companies such as Pest Solutions, with women comprising 36.3% of the servicing workforce.   

Chris Cagienard, Managing Director at Pest Solutions, whole-heartedly supports the belief that fair representation of women in the workplace can have positive outcomes across the organisation.  

However, he believes performance excellence is not down to gender; it’s reliant on recruiting and nurturing the very best talent for your business.  

Organisations can close the gender gap by making equality a decisive objective, just like any other business objective.

The interesting point is, Pest Solutions has not set this as an objective; they spend time identifying the right skills, attitude, and establish sound management where the whole team can thrive, regardless of gender.

This absence of bias perpetuates a healthy and balanced culture. #BreakTheBias

Please watch Bayer’s video below and consider skills, career progression, confidence, positive change, continuous professional development and more. 

Thank you to Chris Cagienard; Natasha Mackay, Graduate Service Technician; Hayley Raferty, Financial Director; Gemma Sutherland, Graduate Service Technician.  

What’s more, Gemma will be talking at the forthcoming BPCA parliamentary event, encouraging young people and women into the industry. 

*source – People Management magazine, October 2020

Source: Bayer Press Release

Highlights 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

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
Latest View all news

21 January 2026

Latest news

PestEx reveals full Spotlight Theatre line-up of panel sessions

The full programme for the PestEx Spotlight Theatre is out now. Two days of live debates, panel sessions and audience-led discussion. All free to attend.

Read more

15 January 2026

Latest news

VIDEO: Pest equipment maintenance – getting ready for insect season with Anna Iversen

We spend a lot of time talking about products, pests and labels. But what about the equipment that actually puts chemistry where it needs to be?

Read more

15 January 2026

Latest news

Full PestEx 2026 Technical Theatre programme released

BPCA has unveiled the full Technical Theatre seminar schedule for PestEx. Two days of focused talks built for pest professionals.

Read more