Pest control is one of the few industries that is still very male-dominated, with only around 5% of professionals being female.
Cleankill Pest Control’s Beth Pemberton-Hill is hoping to encourage and inspire other women that a career in pest control can be rewarding, fun and fulfilling.
While pest control is still an unusual choice for a woman, with many wanting to run a mile at the sight of a rodent, Beth has no fear and absolutely loves her job.
How did she get into pest control? While studying for a degree at Portsmouth University in Criminology and Forensic Studies, Beth’s interest in insects was triggered after learning how different larvae and fly species on a corpse can help to determine how long someone has been dead. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it was the start of a passion for pests and her ambition to become a Field Biologist one day. Beth left university with a first-class BSc degree.
Today, the National Trust’s Hinton Ampner is one of many heritage sites Beth gets to regularly visit and keep pest-free. She enjoys interacting with customers and says nothing really scares her in her job apart from spiders!
“I wanted a job where I could enhance my knowledge and interact with the public. After leaving university, I was working in a café and happened to talk to a pest controller, and I thought it could be the ideal job for me. I applied to join the graduate scheme at a large pest control company as a technician.
“That company didn’t really suit me as there was a lot of pressure to sell extra services and get leads. I wanted to focus on delivering a really good service, rather than having to think about selling.
“I heard about Cleankill Pest Control through someone who was working there, and it sounded like a great company to work for – much more suited to the way I wanted to work. I met with one of the managers and was offered a job covering a patch that wasn’t too far from where I live.
“I’ve been with Cleankill two years now and I love it. I work really hard, but to my own schedule, sometimes starting really early in the morning and finishing late. It’s a large patch and quite rural, which I enjoy, but there’s a lot of driving. Starting early gives me time for my running. It’s really important for me to keep fit for my work, as some of my sites are pretty large and there’s a lot of climbing into loft spaces and other awkward places. I need to be able to carry all my equipment for long periods, too.”
Paul Bates, Managing Director of Cleankill Pest Control, added: “We are so pleased to have Beth on the team. She’s a brilliant pest controller and her customers absolutely love her. One of our top surveyors is also female – Tina Clark-Seymour – and has been with the company for more than 15 years.”
