Edible Insects go down a Treat at Step into STEM 2023

The 2023 edition of Step into STEM was held at City of Glasgow College this Monday, with Pest Solutions flying the flag for the future of the Pest Control industry.

Step into STEM is a fantastic initiative run by the Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) group, introducing the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics sector to children and young people in a fun and interactive way.

The 2023 edition of the annual event went down a storm, with Pest Solutions’ edible insect challenge proving particularly popular amongst the S1 and S2 pupils in attendance.

A Monday morning spent chomping down on bush tucker trial worthy goodies, counting crickets, and examining bed bugs in various life stages? Better than school in our books!

With a phone charger on the line for anyone who successfully ate a spoonful of delicious mealworms, locusts, or crickets, the Pest Solutions stall was a hub of activity throughout, providing a unique and engaging opportunity to explore the joys of the pest control industry.

A special mention goes out to the winner of our ‘guess the number of crickets in a jar competition’ (there’s an ITV game show in there somewhere) who was just one cricket away from the exact number of 361!

A small vial of bedbugs (carefully sealed!) was another star attraction at the Pest Solutions table, although perhaps not quite as popular as the £25 Amazon voucher given to the cricket connoisseur!

Despite the suggestions of one keen attendee, these were not the exact same bugs currently terrorising the streets of Paris, but they were taken from a recent job by one of our expert technicians.

This question did provide a great educational opportunity, however, to show a group of engaged young people that pest problems can happen to anyone, and aren’t just something you hear about on the TV when they get out of control.

Why Attend These Events?

Step into STEM is just one of the fantastic community engagement events that we attend every single year.

In an industry dominated by the over 50s, we believe that engaging with young people and investing in fresh talent is the key to the future success of an industry that is absolutely vital to preserving public health.

Whilst the students attending the Step Into Stem event might not be ready to jump into a career in the pest control industry quite yet, it was the perfect opportunity to introduce the wonderful world of pest control in a fun and interactive environment.

Simply raising awareness of the pest industry among the next generation is reason enough to attend, and there is always the chance that the passion of our expert representatives will be the spark that lights a lifelong interest in biology or animal behaviour.

The pest industry has always had a bit of an image problem, cold-blooded killers armed with poison and shotguns we are not, and by educating the public on the reality of the work done by our animal loving pest control professionals we hope to change that reputation for the better.

Could Pest Control be the Career for You?

If you are a young person who has just finished university or college and are looking to turn your knowledge of animal behaviour or biology into a fulfilling career, why not consider the pest control industry.

We have had fantastic success with our graduate programme in the past and it is the enthusiasm and skill of our young people that inspires us to attend events such as Step into STEM.

Many of those who join us have never considered a career in the pest industry but have a desire to do good and help those in upsetting and highly stressful situations.

This, combined with a commitment to training, and problem solvers mind, and a love for meeting new people are the make the perfect recipe for a fantastic pest controller.

Sound familiar? If so, check out our website for more information about any vacancies we have available or send your CV to chris@pestsolutions.co.uk.

We are Scotland’s fastest growing independent pest control firm and as such are regularly looking to expand our team both in the office and out in the field.