The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) will be signposting the FM industry to options for diversifying skillsets at a key national event.

Professional Pest Controller (PPC) Live, BPCA's major 2018 exhibition and conference, provides a wealth of information for those in facilities management looking to find out more about expanding their role to include professional pest control.

The one-day event, taking place on Wednesday, 14 March at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire, looks at a wide range of issues, including the development of a pest industry apprenticeship scheme, which is of significant value to the FM industry.

With the structured trailblazer apprenticeship scheme due to be released later this year, levy paying organisations (turning over £3 million or more) can benefit from funding and can train up their own professional pest controllers in-house, via the scheme. Non-levy paying organisations can also benefit from attending the event to learn about related training development schemes within the pest control sector.

At the event, a presentation on the apprenticeship scheme will be delivered by Martin Rose-King, Head of Apprentice Employer Development Group and Karen Dawes, BPCA's Training Development Manager at 2pm.

As well as speaking at the event, both BPCA representatives will be available to help FMs looking to investigate the issue further, with a range of support and advice available on site.

For the facilities management industry, effective pest control is critical, in terms of health and safety, the environment and corporate reputation. BPCA has also witnessed more and more FMs taking membership with the organisation as they develop commercially.

Pest Control is increasingly on the radar within both public and private sector environments, particularly in light of a recent report which has revealed the presence of a new generation of rats carrying a genetic mutation, making them resistant to conventional poison.

A study by the University of Reading and commissioned by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU), has identified "the massive extent of L120Q resistance across the whole of central southern England."

It also reports that rats without the genetic mutation are being killed off by poison, so the resistant species are taking their place, leaving a growing population of resistant pure-breds.

According to BPCA, with their numbers expanding, there could be a significant risk to public health if their population is left unchecked, in both urban and rural environments.

The association says the spread has been accelerated by the application of rodenticides, by amateurs carrying out treatments themselves, or employing an unqualified individual to try to resolve the problem.

Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA Technical Manager, said: "The clear message is that, to be effective in tackling this issue, people should not attempt to self-treat rats.

"Professional use only rodenticides are often more successful, but most are subject to strict legislation, so it has become more important than ever before to make sure infestations are treated by experts.

"Rats must be dealt with by those with the skills required to understand rodent behaviour and their habitat, and who know how to treat any particular strain.

"FMs should be aware of the situation and have the knowledge in place so they can advise clients on the right approach to take to tackle the issue."

PPC Live will also feature a seminar on rising poison-resistance levels, led by Clive Boase, at 2.45pm.

More details can be found at https://bpca.org.uk/Upcoming-Events and the CRRU report is available from their website at http://www.thinkwildlife.org/downloads/.