| Author |
 Topic  |
|
paulhr1976
Starting Member
1 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Dec 2006 : 13:15:52
|
hi
im thinking of starting up in pest control in the bristol area.
could anyone tell me good places to start reference wise. preferably the cheaper the better.
im looking for books etc
thsnks |
|
|
blatta
Senior Member
United Kingdom
113 Posts |
|
|
Iain
Moderator
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2006 : 19:16:47
|
Paul,
You will find some useful information on the Barrettine-sponsored forum elsewhere in this Portal on starting up. For your information, Barrettine is based at Warmley, Bristol and you might find it useful to pop round in person. |
 |
|
|
Dusty
Senior Member
Australia
382 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2006 : 22:24:50
|
Becoming a pest contrioller is one huge cultural difference between UK and OZ.
Very few in OZ would wake up one morning and decide to become a Pestie, then set about reading books to get some training.
For the good (or the detriment)of it, most in OZ would answer an ad,and then become employed with a firm who would train them on the practical aspects. At the same time they would either attend lectures or enrol in an open learning course (that has block lectures)
All should be allowed to persue their dreams, but I do cringe when I see posts like that above where a body has been thinking about becoming a pestie.
Don't feed them, get Rid of them |
|
|
|
Iain
Moderator
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 12 Dec 2006 : 09:01:36
|
Dusty,
I understand your concerns, but we work within a different legislative framework toyourselves, which we may not like - but with which we have to live.
What this gentleman will find - and all others that decide to pursue a career in professional pest control - is that he will not be able to purchase any 'professional use only' products unless he can provide documentary evidence that he has received suitable training. By far the easiest way to enter the industry would be to do what you suggest - work for an employer who would provide the necessary practical training to back up the 'paper' training that will also be required.
However, we have encountered a number of people who wish to enter the profession as self-emploed people. They start off attending the basic training courses until they have the necessary paperwork, which means of course that they have to support themselves for quite a while. Often these people are part of re-training programmes where previous employers give assistance during this period. Redundancy programmes may include this and also people planning to return to civilian life after a career in the armed forces.
Such an approach does leave a big potential gap regarding the all too important practical training, but I have met people who have got this through friends already in the industry. Indeed, I met one very enterprising man who got a temporay job with a pest control company outside the area where they might compete. They got a partially trained, enthusiastic and highly motivated member of staff who helped them during a period of high work load - and he got the invaluable practical training.
Theoretically, it would be possible for someone to get the 'paper' training, then set up without the practical backup, but they would be rather silly to do so. It would be an interesting point of Law, if something were to go wrong at this point, as to whether they would be regarded as 'competent' - our legal requirement - if all they had had was classroom training. 
|
|
|
|
Bob Newey
Member
87 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2006 : 08:41:40
|
I am one of those people that Dusty refers to who, having never been connected to the industry, decided to set up as a pest controller. I considered working for a company first but decided that as I was aged 50 and had no experience I'd have difficulty getting employment (there's a big ageist problem here in the UK).
I got my basic qualifications, then went out on 15 seperate days out with some experienced pesties and gained some invaluable practical experience. I know 15 days isn't much, but together with the formal training it gave me a base of knowlege that enabled me to start up. In the 2 years since then I've been on 14 one day courses, and from time to time I've picked the brains of the many contacts I've made.
Then of course I've learnt much from my own experiences as I've gone on. It's been a huge learning experience and a hard slog. I've so much still to learn, but at least all of this gave me enough to enable me to start to build up my business. I've a long way to go of course, and I still have to work part time elsewhere to subsidise my income, but the business is steadily growing, and already 14% of my work now comes from recommendations. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and find it very rewarding, and my only regret is that I didn't come into this wonderful industry years ago.
So my advice to paulhr1976 is that if you are young enough then do as others have said and work for someone else first, but if circumstances prevent this, or that you'd rather not, then it can be done, but be prepared for a hard slog. |
|
|
|
Gamekeeper
Senior Member
United Kingdom
151 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2006 : 09:22:25
|
I had two years with an established BPCA mate who taught me on-job. Experience (the most important) and qualifications have built on the basics I learnt to start with. When all is said and done, I don't think you ever really know it all, though plenty seem to think they do
Fid Def |
|
|
|
Dusty
Senior Member
Australia
382 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2006 : 21:18:11
|
Bob, not having a go at you. Just a personal point of view. There will always be exceptions, but for the greater part, I dont see it as an ideal way of improving an image of professionalism within our industry
Don't feed them, get Rid of them |
|
|
|
Bob Staines
Senior Member
United Kingdom
129 Posts |
Posted - 14 Dec 2006 : 08:11:31
|
| Bob, 15 days not much?? i bet its more than most council pesties get, especially in my area. |
|
|
|
Gamekeeper
Senior Member
United Kingdom
151 Posts |
Posted - 14 Dec 2006 : 10:16:52
|
YAWN, someone is obviously so bored that all they can think to do is have a go at the LA's again 
And there's YOU - ex Rento
Never assume ANYTHING |
Edited by - Gamekeeper on 14 Dec 2006 10:54:06 |
|
|
|
Tippy
New Member
United Kingdom
17 Posts |
Posted - 14 Dec 2006 : 13:41:00
|
I am ex rento too. I would say that their training is very good to be fair! Plenty of stuff they are crap at but training, for me anyway, was pretty good.
Tip |
|
|
|
Gamekeeper
Senior Member
United Kingdom
151 Posts |
Posted - 14 Dec 2006 : 15:48:27
|
I wasn't having a go at rento training, having never done it obviously, I just get fed up with the snipes at LA's from people on here
Never assume ANYTHING |
|
|
|
Bob Staines
Senior Member
United Kingdom
129 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2006 : 17:26:50
|
LOL
soz gamekeeper i just cant resist. 
i do know some of you are very passionate i just like stirring it up.
have to agree with tippy, cant knock rento training. |
|
|
|
Gamekeeper
Senior Member
United Kingdom
151 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2006 : 17:32:13
|
Fair play Bob, I like to see the stirings that big R cause on here similarly
Never assume ANYTHING |
|
|
|
NickA
Hyperactive Member
United Kingdom
700 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2006 : 18:11:14
|
With all that good Rentokil training..... they leave and start up on their own?
Must be the sales background, or under achievement as technicians.
Best training compared to what?
Pests are smart - We're smarter |
|
|
|
Matt the Rat
Moderator
324 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2006 : 18:26:50
|
Tippy, I have just seen two R techies who would disagree with your opinion on their training after doing the RSPH level 2 exam!
R training was fantastic 10 years ago, and their training policy is good now, but the actual training.......... (all pure conjecture, as I haven't actually done their training) and may be too focused on R products and services.
Perhaps someone from R could tell us more? |
|
|
|
Tippy
New Member
United Kingdom
17 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2006 : 20:35:47
|
Wasnt trained as a techie! was trained as a surveyor! Nick, should compared to what read compared to who? who trains staff better than r? i dont know 'cos i havent been trained by any other firm! an "underchieving" tech is unlikely to fancy starting on his own is he?
you look at any industry, say heating engineers, most self employed guys are british gas trained. you will find this in many sectors, trained by a large national, fancy it themselves, take their skills with them, sink or swim!
Matt. like any walk of life you get good and bad, some people are superb on paper but naff practically. my dad could strip and rebuild a motorcycle engine like no one else i know, but he couldnt write down how to do it or draw any pics! by the same token i know people within r that can talk a great treatment but wouldnt know where to start with actually doing it!
The best traing anyone will get will come on the job because so many situations require "tweaking" and very few are as simple as any manual will tell you.
You soon learn to do a job professionally and thoroughly when youve been called back a few times!
My experience with LA is limited as my local la subbies its work, but the stuff you see on tv doesnt always show them in the best light, again that said mr spoon used to fly to the moon in a baked bean can with a funnell on it so you cant necessarily believe that either!
Tip. |
Edited by - Tippy on 15 Dec 2006 20:47:57 |
|
|
|
Dusty
Senior Member
Australia
382 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2006 : 21:45:09
|
Rentokil in UK, Orkin and Terminix in USA, Flick in Australia. Everyone knocks them, but oddly, when their techs leave and work for a preferred company or start riding solo, we suddenly accept them as being some of the good guys.
What happens to transform them? I suspect the training they receive is sound, it's the company policy they are forced to work to that is crook.
Don't feed them, get Rid of them |
Edited by - Dusty on 16 Dec 2006 11:41:14 |
|
|
|
Dog-rat
Member
United Kingdom
71 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2006 : 23:33:19
|
I WAS that R trainer  when I was trained about 20 years ago it was THE only training really, then when I was a r trainer I did take it seriously and enjoyed it, it did help that I did know about training before , lesson plans, aims of the lessons etc, even did a wasp nest scenario with a football when it was my turn for the insect week.
But things did change, it used to be six weeks training in field
cant remember each week but something like Rodents, Insects , birds and others, SPI, H&S; working the zone etc I even had guys staying over here from the Channel islands expenses paid to train for six weeks with mainland techs.
Then after six months used to go to Felcourt for a week intensive,
Felcourt was a super Place to stay, great food , a bar and HOMEWORK every Night !!! then all that stopped and the Module Training started , Hm that was not so good. But back then r training was second to none, even the Manuel was extensive, but I believe that has all finished.
You then had your Senior Serviceman exam after a year which became advanced tech.
Things I gather have changed a fair bit though but I am VERY glad I did my time with them, but am also VERY glad to be free of it, things became VERY sales driven and some very dodgy stuff going down
|
|
|
|
Fenn Man
Senior Member
Ireland
209 Posts |
Posted - 16 Dec 2006 : 03:46:44
|
Dog-Rat Said: quote:
even the Manuel was extensive
Smacks of Spanish waiters, mate!
However, having ~ *Cough!* ~ accessed a copy of the 'R' Manual, which I suspect to be c. 1975ish? I must say; It beats the living daylights out of about anything else I've studied.
Ok. Setting aside the fact that it's all " Fentrol " etc. orientated - and why wouldn't it be? Telling their guys how to use Their kit - I came away with the distinct feeling that anyone, Given - and Taking - the time to absorb it all, could well turn out quite the bright spark.
Alright. As has been stated above; There's more to this craic than Training Manual knowledge. Yes. But whilst one may learn to counter the idiosyncricities of rats 'on the job'. Even learn, by rote, the life cycle of the wasp. How many other manuals tell ye the dozen or so weird, wonderful and, probably, archaic names for the various parts of a better architectured building?
Fact is; We can all stand there and spout off about " Neophobia " and even " orniphosis ". But I'd hate to be pitted against an 'R' man when he started banging on about; " Well, sir; The problem lies with their access to ye transoms and string course. From there, they're contaminating your entabiature ... with obvious risks to ye visitors. " Eh?!
How many of us would just be left with; " Er. Well; The bloody things are all over ye facade, chief. Sh!tting on people! "
Same thing for EFK's and Screens. They even tell ye what sized screws to use. Virtually down to how hard to 'hit' the hammer.
I've no more time for the contemporary vision of 'R' than the rest of ye. But, by god, they certainly had The Knowledge available to them at some point in time. Made it available to their boys too. Hard to knock that. Surely?
|
|
|
|
Bob Staines
Senior Member
United Kingdom
129 Posts |
Posted - 16 Dec 2006 : 09:11:55
|
i'm ex rento surveyor too.
i set up on my own because of the dishonesty and bull**** that is rife there.
as usual nick you come across as you know it all, so who would give better training?
as a surveyor i had to talk the talk very quickly and soon learned to walk the walk. didnt enjoy the high pressure and you can see with some why it causes dishonesty. i can only say it as i see it and honesty is my thing.....so being a successful rento surveyor was out.
i used to be gobsmacked at some of the quotes that i gave, mind you, so were some customers.
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
starting up
