EP 66: Bee Removal, Business & Industry Networking with Martyn Belcher

EP 66: Bee Removal, Business & Industry Networking with Martyn Belcher

In this episode of Pest Perspectives, Shaun Muller is joined by Martin Belcher from ABM Pest Control in Mansfield for a wide-ranging discussion covering professional bee removal, pest control networking, trade bodies, TrustMark, NPTA membership and the value of continued professional development in the pest management industry. Martin shares how he first entered pest control after previously working as a coal miner, before moving into hospital-based pest management and eventually developing his own specialist pest control work. His story highlights the importance of opportunity, learning, resilience and building a career through practical experience. A major focus of the episode is professional bee removal. Martin explains the difference between a beekeeper collecting a simple swarm and a trained bee remover dealing with bees inside chimneys, roofs, voids, listed buildings and difficult access areas. The discussion explores why bee removal is not always straightforward, why old colonies can be more complex, and why equipment such as drones, chimney cameras and pole cameras can be essential for safe inspection and planning. The episode also covers important bee health topics, including dirty comb, disease risk, quarantine, colony strength and varroa mite. Martin explains why “saving the bees” is not always as simple as people think, especially where there is a risk of disease, contamination or aggressive colonies. Shaun and Martin also discuss the value of networking in pest control. Rather than seeing every local pest controller as direct competition, Martin explains how sharing work, passing referrals and building trusted relationships can help customers receive a better service while supporting other pest professionals. This section is especially useful for sole traders, small pest control businesses and technicians looking to build stronger local industry connections. The conversation also touches on the role of the National Pest Technicians Association, including member benefits, CPD resources, risk assessment tools, TrustMark registration and the importance of trade bodies in raising professional standards across UK pest control. This episode is ideal for pest controllers, bee removal specialists, beekeepers, pest management business owners, technicians, trainees and anyone interested in professional pest control, bee work, industry networking and continued professional development.

Pest Perspectives Podcast EP65 - Victoria and Casey from Ladybug Pest Control

In this episode of Pest Perspectives, Shaun Muller is joined by Victoria and Casey from Ladybug Pest Control for an honest, practical and relatable conversation about working in a family-run pest control business. Victoria shares the story behind Ladybug Pest Control, how the business has developed over the years, and what it is really like managing staff, family members, customers, paperwork, and the day-to-day pressures of running a pest control company. Casey also gives her perspective on growing up around the pest control industry, returning to the family business, working in the office, handling customer calls, emails, invoices, payments, technician notes, and balancing work alongside family life. The conversation covers the real pros and cons of family businesses, including communication, boundaries, responsibility, flexibility, disagreements, and the difficulty of separating “family mode” from “work mode”. Shaun, Victoria and Casey also discuss wider pest control business topics, including: * Family-run pest control businesses * Working with relatives in business * Office systems and customer communication * Answering calls and managing enquiries * Digital reporting and paperless systems * Using AI tools carefully for pest control reports * Upselling proofing work professionally * Customer recommendations and clear reporting * Bed bug case studies and vulnerable customers * Rat investigations and CCTV drain inspections * Drain-related rat ingress * Proofing, guarantees and realistic customer expectations * Growing a pest control business without losing standards The episode also includes a detailed discussion around rat investigations, why rodents may be entering properties through drainage defects, and how pest controllers can explain drain issues clearly to customers. Victoria shares her approach to CCTV drain camera surveys, branch lines, redundant pipes, non-return valves, and helping customers understand where rat ingress may be coming from. This is a useful episode for pest controllers, family businesses, office teams, technicians, business owners, and anyone interested in the realities of running a pest management company. Whether you work on the tools, answer the phones, manage customers, run a small pest control business, or work alongside family, this episode offers honest insight from inside the trade. Pest Perspectives - real conversations from the UK pest control industry.

Female Pest Controller Talks Rodents, Training & Women in Pest Control | Pest Perspectives Ep 64

In this episode of Pest Perspectives, Shaun Muller is joined by hannah Godfrey from Godfrey Pest Management for an honest and relatable conversation about life in the UK pest control industry.Anna shares her journey into pest management, from helping with the family business paperwork to becoming a qualified technician and taking on more of the day-to-day work herself. The episode also explores women in pest control, training routes, confidence, customer communication, rodent work, responsible pest management, proofing, pricing, and the importance of continued professional development.Topics covered include:Women in pest controlPest technician training and developmentRodent control and proofingResponsible use of rodenticidesCustomer care and communicationPricing, professionalism and industry standardsBuilding confidence as a technicianWhether you are new to pest control, an experienced technician, a business owner, or simply interested in the people behind the industry, this episode offers practical insight and honest conversation from within the trade.

Employment Law for Pest Control Owners - Redundancy vs Layoff Explained (Ep.63)

Pest perspectives podcast ep 63 * 00:00 Intro and context — why employment law matters for pest control * 05:50 Redundancy vs Layoff — legal differences and employer obligations * 11:00 Statutory sick pay changes — pay from day one and how to classify absences * 21:15 Parental, bereavement and paternity leave updates * 23:30 Trade union recognition and collective redundancy protections * 27:30 Record keeping: holiday pay and annual leave for six years * 29:00 Right to work checks and fines for noncompliance * 35:00 Sexual harassment risk assessments and employer duties * 39:57 Unfair dismissal threshold changes and probation considerations * 55:00 Training agreements, recovering course costs and protecting investment * 1:10:34 How to contact Metis HR (MetisHR.co.uk) and final tips Allison from Metis HR joins Shaun to unpack over 20 employment law updates that matter to pest control businesses. Learn the legal difference between redundancy and layoff, how statutory sick pay now applies from day one, new parental and bereavement leave rights, trade union recognition developments, record‑keeping requirements for holiday pay, and practical actions - right‑to‑work checks, contract clauses, training agreements, and absence categorisation—you should implement today. Ideal for small operators, managers and technicians who want clear, actionable HR steps to reduce risk and protect their investment in staff. contact metis below HR Consultancy | HR Services For Employers | Metis HR [https://www.metishr.co.uk/]

LinkedIn, Tenders and Turf: Real Networking for Service Businesses

Pest perspectives podcast ep 62 Join Shaun and Trudy Martin of MBS Grounds Maintenance Ltd for a practical conversation about building a reputation that works online and on the ground. Trudy explains how she turned hands‑on landscaping experience into a visible personal brand on LinkedIn, how she converts event contacts into long‑term collaborators, and what winning tenders really looks like in practice. Expect clear, actionable tips on profile strategy, content, follow‑up, and project delivery — plus real examples from Trudy’s career. What you’ll learn * LinkedIn profile and content tactics that attract clients and partners. * How to turn networking events into meaningful, long‑term relationships. * Tendering and project delivery lessons from large projects. * Cross‑industry lessons service businesses can use right away. Trudy contact details below Trudy Martin 🌿 | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudy-martin-%F0%9F%8C%BF-8a150025/] Commercial Grounds Maintenance Essex | Landscaping Suffolk [https://www.mbsgm.com/] grounds maintenance,landscaping,LinkedIn tips,networking,tendering,business development,service business,project delivery,personal branding,small business growth