Worcestershire firm hits EU quality mark!

A WORCESTERSHIRE company has become one of the first in the country to achieve a new accreditation promoting professional standards in pest control. The European Standard for Pest Management Services acts as a demonstration of credentials and a benchmark of quality throughout Europe. Hinton Pest Control, based in the Vale of Evesham, this week became only the fourth company in the UK to achieve the standard.

Hinton Pest Control is a family-run business that provides pest control services across Worcestershire, South Warwickshire, The Cotswolds and North Gloucestershire. Liz Davies, Managing Director of Hinton Pest Control, is confident the accreditation, which is independently assessed, will help her team to stand out from the crowd. She said: “This certification delivers a real proof of quality, so the fact we’re among the first in the UK to be accredited is a real feather in our cap. We are a small family-run company which focuses on great customer service, but it’s very important for us to demonstrate our professional credentials & technical expertise and this provides independent proof of that.”

Mrs Davies added: “It was a lot of hard work to achieve the certification because the auditing process was a tough audit process that differentiates Hinton Pest Control from others; the standard is extremely difficult to achieve for a small business. But we’re members of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) and they steered us in the right direction. We know it will be worth the effort in the end.”

The EN16636 Standard, and its accompanying certification scheme, was launched earlier this year by the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA). It defines quality and best practice and acts as an assurance that member companies are fully qualified to deal with all species of both rodents and insects and experts on integrated pest management, the use of chemicals and health and safety issues. The Standard is the cornerstone of a strategy to portray a positive image of the pest control industry in terms of public health, food safety, environmental sustainability and economic significance.

Simon Forrester, Chief Executive of the BPCA, believes the move will deliver significant benefits for Hinton. He said: “We know of many pest controllers who are untrained and do not stay up-to-date with the latest products, techniques and legislation – and that’s something which can create big problems. But this award demonstrates that Hinton Pest Control is on a level playing field with the very best pest management companies in the world and businesses and individuals using their services can be totally confident of a thoroughly professional job.”