The United Kingdom's national trade body for pest control has released a free guide for facilities managers which highlights the value of an effective maintenance cycle for pest control.

The free guide from the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) sets out the significant benefits of effective pest control from the perspectives of public health, the environment, and upholding a positive brand reputation.

It features a wide-range of information including a calendar of pest problems, information on the most common species in the UK and procurement advice.

The guide, which works alongside BPCA's already popular A to Z of pests digital tool, also includes insight from representatives from Peabody, Shepway District Council and The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).

Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA Technical Manager, said: "Effective pest control touches on the vital elements of an FM's operations, including health and safety, the environment and corporate reputation.

"The most effective method to ensure protection and compliance is to introduce a maintenance cycle programme, with regular, targeted activity undertaken by a professional such as a BPCA member.

"This activity slots into an organisation's scheduled operations to offer value and peace of mind.

"A large part of pest prevention is thinking ahead and identifying potential causes and entry points before infestations occur.

"Through the development of a routine maintenance cycle programme, a complete picture of effective preventative controls can be built, and relevant actions introduced.

"This will include inspecting premises on a routine basis and reporting on the status of pest infestation, organising and undertaking a programme of treatments, as well as using pest control equipment or chemicals to control and eliminate target pests."

The guide which is called, "Ticking the box - the value of maintenance cycles for effective pest control", is available for free download at https://bpca.org.uk/News-and-Blog/maintenance-cycles-for-effective-pest-control-pest-management-support/196814.