UK National Pest Awards - Large Company of the Year

Nominations for the National Pest Awards' Large Company of the Year:

Beaver Pest Control, London

Based in South West London, Beaver Pest Control is a family business set up in 1990 by Graham Lodge, who was joined by his brother David in 1992. Sales director, Julia Pittman, said the company’s vision is to increase turnover from £4.5 million to £6.5m by end of 2025.

“We believe it is important we grow at a pace which does not compromise the quality of our services,” Julia said.

Beaver Pest Control currently has 70 staff, of which 45 are frontline technicians and managers covering London and the Home Counties. The company covers all the main pests as well as bird control and wildlife management.

Beaver Pest Control also has an in-house RSPH training centre with a dedicated training manager.

Julia said: “We are delighted to be a finalists in this category.”

Graham Pest Control, Perthshire

Graham Pest Control is Scotland’s largest independent and family- owned pest control contractor. It supports clients in the public and private sectors and domestic customers across Scotland from its headquarters in Blairgowrie, Perthshire and through operating satellite premises in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen.

Established in 1993, it is still family-owned with the third generation now working in the business, which has 55 employees, 34 technicians (32 of which are Level 2-certified) and an annual turnover of £3 million per annum.

“Our services include proactive and reactive pest prevention and control works to guard against every type of pest,” managing director Ross Graham said.

“I am absolutely delighted to be a finalist in the National Pest Awards and this is a great chance to raise our profile.”

Rokill, Hampshire

Ringwood-based Rokill was established in 1980. Chris Turner, a director of Rokill, said the company had big plans to celebrate its 40th anniversary last year, but COVID-19 had other plans.

The business employs 48 technicians, team leaders, field biologists and surveyors across the South of England, including a dedicated bird proofing division that only undertakes this specialist work.

Chris said: “Rokill is a diverse business with more than 4,000 contract customers ranging in size from owner-run restaurants to multinational corporations, royal palaces, and the NHS.”

He added that Rokill has grown consistently throughout the last 22 years, averaging turnover growth of 5% per annum, and profits ‘fed back into the business to drive growth and retain talent’.

Winning the award, Chris said, would be" “recognition for everyone that works for Rokill”.