PPC114 | Annual report

In Chris Cagienard's President's Report, he talks about delivering on the Association's strategy and what it means to be a member of the Association.

Our staff team and dedicated army of over 70 volunteers from member companies continue to work hard to REPRESENT the sector, SUPPORT our members, and ASSURE our customers of our industry’s professionalism.

In the past year, your association has built well on the foundation of our values of PASSION, INTEGRITY, EXPERTISE and SUPPORT as we work for the needs and interests of our members.

We have many achievements to celebrate in the past year and many exciting developments that will benefit our members in 2024.

In March, we returned to Harrogate for a successful PPC Live with excellent attendance. Our exhibitors reported high levels of engagement and enthusiasm about what opportunities lay ahead for our industry.

The strategic goal of reaching over 3,000 pest controllers in the BPCA Registered CPD scheme was easily surpassed. Many pest professionals see the added value offered by BPCA Registered, and it will likely become the most popular industry CPD scheme in 2024. Launching many valuable resources, training opportunities and our BPCA Registered App will only continue to make the scheme more popular.

Work continues to build upon the new qualification framework. In 2023, we conducted the member consultation process to ASSURE further industry professionalisation, make our qualifications more fit for purpose, demonstrate our competency and ultimately help protect our toolkit. To deliver this essential work, your Association has invested in a full-time role responsible for bringing the new framework to completion.

Our voice

Another significant investment your Association has made to continue to REPRESENT its members is the investment in a full-time Policy Officer to increase our political engagement and fight for our members’ national interests. Through BPCA, your business now has a loud voice, and our influence continues to grow.

Inclusion

The last year has seen the launch of the new BPCA Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which is working hard with other member volunteers to showcase sustainable careers and help us recruit the pest professionals of the future. This work will develop a suite of recruitment aids and resources for members.

Our AGM in 2023 saw the first significant update to the Articles and Rules of the Association in over a decade, ensuring that BPCA’s governance is fit for purpose in the modern world, allowing us to have less bureaucracy and more positive action for our members.

A bundle of benefits

Many new exciting member benefits were introduced and showcased in the award-nominated “BPCA Big Book of Benefits”, further demonstrating the real value of membership.

Your Association has been working hard to deliver a huge new member benefit; one of the most significant ever introduced. We’re progressing this project quickly, and should be announced at PestEx this March.

Consolidation

Your President, Executive Board, committees, working groups, CEO and staff team continue to work well together with a healthy culture, ensuring the best outcome as we strive to SUPPORT our members better.

Your Association’s great work has been recognised, with BPCA being nominated as a finalist for three categories in the Trade Association Forum Awards, including the coveted ‘Trade Association of the Year’. 

BPCA is strong as an association. We’ll continue to invest in our members. We’re 100% focused on delivering our strategy: REPRESENT, SUPPORT and ASSURE. 

I would like to thank all of our volunteers for their commitment and hard work. 

Your Association would not be the same without you. BPCA is YOUR Association. You, the member, own it, run it and help us grow.  If you would like to get more engaged in the important work of your Association, please get in touch.

I would like to thank the BPCA staff team and our member-volunteers for their dedication.

In memoriam

Sadly, 2023 ended with the tragic loss of our Immediate Past President, Phil Halpin. He was a gentleman, a friend and a great support to many of us, as well as a champion of the industry. He is greatly missed by so many of us who work or volunteer within the Association.

As you can probably tell, I am proud of BPCA. If you’re a member, I encourage you to consider how you might get involved and become more engaged in 2024 as we push forward for the benefit of all.

Get involved. Read things. Join events. Volunteer. Stay in the loop. 

I wish all of you every success in the year ahead.

Chris Cagienard
BPCA President 
president@bpca.org.uk