28 January 2026

Free government AI training opens up for everyone

TECHNOLOGY The UK government has announced a major expansion of its AI Skills Boost programme , making free, practical AI training available to every adult in the country. The aim is ambitious: to help upskill 10 million workers by 2030 and m

27 January 2026

Inovus announce new Technical Director

PRESS RELEASE Insect Light Trap expert, Tom Holmes, has joined Inovus as their new Technical Director.  Announcing the news of Tom joining the business, Steve Jackson, Inovus founder and Commercial Director, commented, “H

27 January 2026

iX5 Pest Control launches live online video pest advice service

PRESS RELEASE iX5 Pest Control has launched a new Online Pest Clinic, offering customers the ability to receive live pest control advice via video call with a qualified expert, to help with diagnosis and consideration of treatment options.

27 January 2026

BPCA submits evidence on Decent Homes Standard (Northern Ireland)

LOBBYING BPCA is taking the fight against pests in rented properties to Northern Ireland, responding to proposals to update the Decent Homes Standard, which applies to social housing.  The minimum standards social tenants in No

27 January 2026

Rats, mice and wasps dominated UK pest activity last year

PRESS RELEASE Analysis of data recorded by Rentokil Pest Control has revealed that rats, mice and wasps led the way as the most prevalent pests across the UK in 2025.  Rats accounted for a quarter (25%) of all Rentokil recorded

27 January 2026

BASF research highlights pressures faced by pest professionals

HEALTH AND WELLBEING A survey by pest control solutions manufacturer BASF, has revealed that nearly half of pest control professionals feel their career has negatively affected their mental health, highlighting the pressures faced by workers i

26 January 2026

BPCA to exhibit at BRCGS Connect Europe 2026

EVENTS BPCA will be exhibiting at BRCGS Connect Europe 2026 in London on 12-13 February 2026. This event is one of Europe’s leading food and product safety conferences, bringing together professionals from across the industry

21 January 2026

Confirmed: yellow-legged (Asian) hornets in Wales

INVASIVE SPECIES A dead nest belonging to a yellow-legged hornet has been found near Wrexham, making it the first confirmed discovery in Wales. Also known as the Asian hornet, it is an invasive, non-native species and was first seen

21 January 2026

PestEx reveals full Spotlight Theatre line-up of panel sessions

EVENTS 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.  Register for free  Running alongside the Technical Thea

15 January 2026

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

CPD VIDEO 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? In this BPCA Technical Keynote Webinar session, Anna Iversen, board-certified entom

15 January 2026

Full PestEx 2026 Technical Theatre programme released

EVENTS BPCA has unveiled the full Technical Theatre seminar schedule for PestEx. Two days of focused talks built for pest professionals. Running on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 March, the Technical Theatre brings together expert spe

14 January 2026

Free local training days at BPCA’s revamped Training Forums – first stop: Glasgow!

CPD EVENTS AND TRAINING BPCA is inviting the whole industry to our refreshed in-person Training Forums for 2026, giving pest professionals more chances to learn, debate and get hands-on with practical skills across the UK.  The

12 January 2026

Bird control licences in 2026: what’s changed across the UK

BIRD MANAGEMENT The 2026 bird general licences are now live (from 1 January 2026), and there are a few changes pest controllers need to clock, especially if you work across borders. The two headline points in England are: Natur

08 January 2026

VIDEO: Getting to grips with gulls – ID, licensing and control tactics for 2026

CPD VIDEO Gulls are one of the most complex bird species for pest professionals to manage. Their protected status, changing behaviour and increasing presence in urban environments make control work challenging and highly scrutinised. In t

08 January 2026

Glue trap sales changes can move forward after committee backs regulations

LEGISLATION The Draft United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (Exclusions from Market Access Principles: Glue Traps) Regulations 2025 cleared an important hurdle yesterday (7 January), after the Third Delegated Legislation Committee appeared t

07 January 2026

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

LOBBYING 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 pub

06 January 2026

Free AI webinars to help pest management businesses grow smarter

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 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. The Explore A

05 January 2026

Animal welfare strategy puts traps and wildlife control under review

LEGISLATION The government has published its Animal Welfare Strategy for England, setting out a series of commitments that could have significant implications for wildlife control and pest management activity.   As expected, th

05 January 2026

Glue trap SALES ban moves a step closer following BPCA lobbying

LEGISLATION 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, marking a major milestone for the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) and a long-running campaign to pr

23 December 2025

VIDEO | Invasive yellow-legged hornet: 2025 update

CPD VIDEO What’s the current situation with the invasive yellow-legged hornet, and what should pest professionals expect in 2025? In this important update, Dan Etheridge, APHA, provides the latest information on the spread, surveillance

23 December 2025

VIDEO | ‘Tis the season for a moth-ful of stuffing | SPIs explained

CPD VIDEO Why do stored product insects thrive at certain times of year, and what can pest professionals do about it? In this sponsored session, Sophie Thorogood, Pelsis, explores seasonal trends in stored product insects (SPIs), with a festi

23 December 2025

VIDEO | Face-fit testing and RPE compliance

CPD VIDEO Why is face-fit testing essential, and how does it protect pest management professionals? In this informative session, Paul Wilson, GVS, explains the importance of face-fit testing, respiratory protective equipment (RPE), and co

23 December 2025

VIDEO | Designing bird netting structures

CPD VIDEO How do you design bird netting structures that are effective, compliant, and built to last? In this session, Anna Mollins, Veritas Pest Consultancy, explores the principles behind designing bird netting systems, with a focus on plan

17 December 2025

What the Employment Rights Act means for pest management companies

LEGISLATION The Employment Rights Act 2025 received royal assent on Thursday 18th meaning it has become law. Some changes have come into force immediately, but those that will affect you will start coming into force in April next year. If

17 December 2025

2025 BPCA Member Award winners announced

MEMBERSHIP The BPCA Member Award winners were announced at the festive special Digital Forum on 17 December 2025.  The Awards celebrate positive contributions made by members to the Association and the wider pest management sec