UK National Pest Awards - Young Pest Controller of the Year
Inspiring nominees for the National Pest Awards' category of Young Pest Controller of the Year:
Sam Bogie, Environmental Health Solutions
Sam Bogie started working for Stirlingshire-based Environmental Health Solutions in March 2020. Starting as a trainee technician, Sam now has more than 100 contract customers.
Sam said: “John MacNeil, the technical director of the company, is the main trainer and he said to me, right from the start, that it is very important to listen closely to instruction.
“During my training I focused on that at all times and I now feel that this has become a key strength that I have been able to carry forward into my day-to-day work.”
“I was part of Killgerm’s first Online Level 2 Training Course. This was carried out over
a three-month period and I sat my three Level 2 exams in September, October and November 2020, and I passed all three. If I win the award, I’ll share that good news with my customers.”
Gabrielle Hogg, Pest Solutions
Gabrielle Hogg joined Glasgow-based Pest Solutions in November 2019 as a trainee pest controller, after working as a team leader and then manager in the call centre industry.
Working as a technician in Edinburgh city centre, she established herself, developing a reputation for excellent customer service, using skills she had developed in her previous career.
Having to wait to sit the Level 2 Award in Pest Management until the exams resumed following COVID-19, Gabrielle attended the first course to run in September 2020 and passed comfortably.
She has become a core member of the team at Pest Solutions and was promoted to service manager in December 2020, beating a number of experienced candidates to the role.
Gabrielle said: “To win would show that women can succeed in a traditionally male role.”
"I pride myself in striving to be a helpful professional to my team and to my customers. This approach has allowed me to focus on the continued learning of new skills, building great relationships with customers and with the team that I lead as service manager."
"I feel incredibly privileged to have been shortlisted as a finalist in for "Young Pest Controller of the Year".
"I hope that this can encourage both young people and fellow women in the industry that with the right attitude and a bit of hard work you can achieve anything."
Oliver Roe, Cleankill Pest Control
Oliver Roe has worked for Cleankill Pest Control for nearly four years. He has achieved the Level 3 Award in Pest Management and has also attained an Air Weapons Proficiency Certificate. He is currently studying for the Level 2 in Food Safety, alongside studying to become a qualified field biologist.
His area includes the London postcodes of SW7, SW5 and W8.
“I am known as a perceptive, patient technician who maintains a high level of service and productivity in a challenging area of Central London,” he said.
“I have a calm demeanour and a well-organised approach to my work. My managers say I have dogged determination and that I keep going until I solve a problem, but I am not afraid to ask for help.”
Oliver’s ambition is to become a full-time field biologist.
“It would be important to my career to win the award and I’d be really happy to win,” he said.
