New initiative encourages people to join the pest control workforce

Author: RSPH 07 October 2025 1 min read

The announcement comes during Public Health Workforce Week, an annual awareness week led by RSPH.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) have today announced that they will be launching a ‘Careers Hub’ to encourage people to pursue a career in the pest control industry.

The hub, which will be hosted on the RSPH website, will showcase a range of content that outlines various career options and pathways into pest control and allow people to hear firsthand from people in the industry about the realities of the profession.

The pest control industry is facing significant recruitment challenges with some estimates showing that it faces the prospect of losing up to 40% of its workforce to retirement over the next 10 years

The hub will target Pest Technicians currently working within the industry who are looking to expand or progress their careers. It will also serve as an entry point for individuals considering joining the pest control sector, providing insight into the opportunities available to them.

It will also showcase some of the innovative work being done by NPTA and partners to reach out to new audiences in recruitment, such as the 5<25 Professional Futures programme, an initiative designed to support young professionals entering the pest control industry.

The announcement comes during Public Health Workforce Week, an annual awareness week led by RSPH which celebrates the impact of various professions that aren’t traditionally recognised for their role in keeping communities healthy and well. 
 

RSPH Qualifications Director Jennifer Pepprel

The pest control workforce plays a significant role in protecting the public’s health from a range of serious diseases and illnesses. The importance of this role will only grow over the years to come, with factors such as the climate emergency completely reshaping the challenges encountered by pest management professionals in the UK.

Like many sectors of the wider public health workforce, the pest control industry is struggling to attract the workers of the future. That’s why we are really pleased about this new partnership with the NPTA.

Working together with the NPTA and with the wider industry, we are confident that the Careers Hub will play a leading role in bringing through the UK’s next generation of pest controllers.

Jenni Peprell, Director of Qualifications, Royal Society for Public Health

This has been a project we’ve been developing for some time, so announcing this partnership with RSPH is a proud moment for the NPTA team. The journey began with our ‘Real People, Real Stories’ project in February, followed by the 5<25 Professional Futures programme in partnership with Syngenta and our Recruiting from the Armed Forces initiative. All this now comes together at the heart of the new Careers Hub.

This has always been about making a real difference, raising awareness of our industry and showing pest control as a valued and rewarding career. We cannot solve the recruitment challenge alone, which is why partnering with RSPH was so important for us in this project. Their role as the awarding body for our industry qualifications adds real weight, and their links to colleges, educators, and the wider public health community give us the reach we need to inspire the next generation.

We will also be calling on partners across the industry to join us, because together we can open doors for new talent and secure the future of our profession.

This is about laying the foundation for an industry that protects public health today and for years to come. And the NPTA are proud to be playing its part in making this happen.

Kevin Lawrenson, NPTA Chief Executive Officer

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