EDITORIAL | PPC113 November 2023
When all is said and done, BPCA is just a group of pest control businesses volunteering their time, money and effort to make the sector better for us all.
Over 60 people from as many companies give their time generously to BPCA’s Board, committees or working groups. They make sure pest management is represented by real pest management businesses.
Most of BPCA’s volunteers are from SMEs, and they fit in their volunteer work around running successful small businesses.
In October, we lost one of our greatest volunteers.
Phil Halpin was BPCA President from January 2019 to May 2022, during one of the most challenging times the sector and Association had ever experienced.
A tribute to Phil is online but, as condolences flood in, there’s a single overriding theme: Phil was a great volunteer.
Phil was a longstanding member of the Servicing committee and stepped up to the chair role despite being outside his comfort zone. He had the ability to bring together different viewpoints and find consensus among peers.
That ability to find common ground continued to serve him well as President. Phil was a dedicated volunteer, always eager to learn more and develop his skills for the Association.
Phil believed that when we all pulled in the same direction, we could achieve great things despite being a tiny sector.
In his last column in PPC magazine, he wrote: “Being on the Board has made me think more strategically about my own business … I’ve never left a Board meeting or a BPCA Forum without feeling at least a little inspired to make a change in my own company.
“So, if you can, get in those rooms. Have those conversations. Enjoy those sandwiches. Come to an event or volunteer for a committee. You won’t regret it. We’ve got plenty to celebrate together.”
Without volunteers like Phil, there would be no BPCA.
So, to all our volunteers - thank you for your work and commitment. And for those members who have always thought about donating some of your time, please get in touch and find out how you can be involved.
And to Phil – thank you for your leadership. You really were a great volunteer.
Scott and Dee
PPC editors
hello@bpca.org.uk