UK National Pest Awards - Small Company of the Year
Nominations for the National Pest Awards' Small Company of the Year
Combat Pest Control, Hertfordshire
Combat Pest Control was established in 2015 and its team have all completed military service.
Co-founder Michael Coates said the company’s core work falls into three categories – prevention, proactive and reactive pest control management. This is conducted with both commercial and domestic clients, and business than doubled during the pandemic.
The business employs eight technicians and seven support staff, and provides technicians with four weeks’ on-the-job training, which includes two online courses with Killgerm.
Michael said: “After this we enrol each team member into our own in-house training, which aims to keep each technician systemised with our approach and procedures.”
Combat Pest Control plans to have 20 technicians within the next two years.
Dealey Environmental, Suffolk
Dealey Group was founded in 1952 by Dr James Dealey, who left ICI with two doctorates in entomology and an enthusiasm for farming – Dr Dealey found his niche somewhere between his joint passions, farming and insects.
Martin Cobbald, Dealey Environmental’s managing director, said: “Our technicians are all pest geeks with an embarrassment of riches in insect knowledge.
“We come from a farming and fumigation background, so customers will always get solutions that are as practical as they are technically proficient.”
The Dealey Environmental portfolio has grown from its origins in commodity care to include fumigation, pest control and falconry. Of 22 staff, 16 are technicians.
Martin says that employees are encouraged to regularly ‘pitch’ to him with business development opportunities.
He added that it was a “lovely surprise” to be a finalist at the National Pest Awards 2021.
Pest Solutions, Glasgow
Pest Solutions is a pest and environmental services company based in Scotland, with its head office in Glasgow.
The company delivers pest and bird control related services and specialises in protecting high care food and drink manufacturing sites.
It currently employs 21 people, with 16 of those being service personnel.
Chris Cagienard, a director of Pest Solutions, said: “Our goal is to double the size of the team in the next 18-24 months, and we are on target to do that.”
"At Pest Solutions we are dedicated to investing in our people. We believe that the more skilled and our team become the better the service we deliver to customers.
"This commitment to our team has been a core part of our company growth strategy as well as customer satisfaction and retention," he added.
"To be recognised as finalists in the “Small Company of The Year” award category has been a great achievement and encouragement for our team. We are grateful for the professionalism and great attitudes that our people have every day as they help and protect our customers.
"Being recognised as finalists is a great validation of their valued efforts."
The business had seen four years of 30% year-on-year growth coming into 2020 and set a similar target of 30% growth for the year ahead.
Chris said winning this category “would show customers that we have been recognised for the things we do on a day-to- day basis”.
