Pest Solutions Support Step Into STEM Initiative

Pest Solutions team support Step into STEM initiative. This autumn, Pest Solutions were delighted to attend a number of Step into STEM events, aiming to raise awareness amongst young people about the potential of an exciting career in the pest control industry.

The Step Into STEM Initiative is run by New College Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire College, in collaboration with the Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) group to introduce children and young people to career opportunities within the Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics sector.

As Scotland’s fastest growing independent pest control company we are always looking to the future and we see engaging with the next generation through events such as this as an invaluable investment to make.

We are also committed to our social responsibilities as a Glasgow based company and have a proven track record of investing in young people in the area.

Several of our current team members have come directly through schemes designed to give young people their first opportunities in the professional workplace.

Step into STEM, which helps high school students learn more about potential careers in the sciences is an initiative that perfectly matches our ethos in this regard and our team had a blast meeting so many bright and talented young people.

We very much hope that there were some budding pest controllers of the future in attendance who were inspired by our team. After all, who wouldn’t be?

What is Step Into STEM Initiative?

The Step Into STEM Initiative is a programme designed to raise awareness of the opportunities in the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) industries amongst children and young people.

Events are held across the nation in schools, colleges, and universities where businesses have the opportunity to carry out workshops to introduce attendees to their industry in an interactive and engaging manner.

The 2022 edition of the event was the first held at South Lanarkshire College in three-years and was a huge success with S1 and S2 pupils from across the area spending time learning about careers in a range of STEM industries.

This is the 4th time that the event has been held at the South Lanarkshire college and was met with huge enthusiasm by pupils and local businesses alike.

Some of the schools in the area participating in the day included Calderglen, Duncanrig, Rutherglen High, and Stonelaw.

One of the main organisers of the event was South Lanarkshire College Depute Associate Principal Wilma Macleod. When asked about the importance of the event she said:

“The Step Into STEM Initiative event has been designed in conjunction with our partners and DYW Lanarkshire to inspire pupils to think creatively and solve problems. This is the fourth time the event has been held in the College, and the young people are always thrilled to come along and see our campus and experience workshops in the STEM subjects we offer”.

“STEM subjects serve as the fertile ground from which future technical workers and industry leaders will be nurtured and they provide the intellectual foundations and tools for future scientists, inventors, and engineers. We are delighted to host the event and look forward to another successful year when we run the event again”

Pest Solutions have highly productive connections with Glasgow University and the University of the West of Scotland and have repeatedly recruited graduates who have a background in Biology, Zoology, and Entomology.

Whilst the pupils at the Step Into STEM Initiative were too young to be joining us just yet, the event was a great chance for us to show them that a degree in a science subject can lead to a rewarding, and hands-on practical career in the future.

DYW Collaboration – Step Into STEM Initiative

The Step Into STEM Initiative event was hosted as a collaborative effort between the South Lanarkshire College and DWY Lanarkshire.

DYW (Developing the Young Workforce) is a Scottish Government strategy designed to strengthen the links between businesses and education and make the transition into the world of work easier for young people.

Through the programme, companies across the nation are encourages to get involved with events in schools and colleges to provide relevant work experience and help to create the talent pool that they need for the future.

In an industry dominated traditionally by the over 50s, at Pest Solutions, we choose to go against the grain and invest in the talents and ideas of young people whenever possible. Our combination of youthful enthusiasm and the invaluable experience of those in our team with many decades of experience has been a major factor in our incredible growth over the past few years.

We are committed to continuing to invest in young people and giving them the chances that they deserve, whilst their ideas and skills help drive growth and excellence in everything we do.
As part of this commitment becoming one of the companies that works with the DYW and helps raise awareness of the pest control industry was a no brainer.

Why Do We Support Step into STEM?

At Pest Solutions we believe that by investing in future talent we can help to secure a bright and successful future for the Pest Control Industry.

Unlike other industries where technology has replaced the need for human activity in many roles, the pest control industry is, and always will be, driven by the expertise and professionalism of the highly trained men and women in the field.

For this reason, we are always looking for ways to inspire and attract the next generation into this fantastic sector. In this vein, we have engaged with a number of different Government initiatives to seek out and give a chance to young and talented individuals.

Several of our expert pest technicians and office team have joined us via the Government kickstart scheme, that provides funding to assist those on Universal Credit seeking employment. We have found that when given a chance these young people have a huge amount to offer, and many have become valuable permanent members of our team following the completion of their initial kickstart contract.

Admittedly, the S1 and S2 pupils who attended Step into Stem may not yet be ready to start their pest control journey, but this event was a great chance for us to make young people aware of an industry that they may well not have considered in the past.

Pest control is an often-misunderstood industry, and for those with an interest in biology and animal behaviour may not be aware of this route as a viable career choice. Many people outside of the industry are unaware of the level of knowledge and expertise required to tackle hundreds of different pest species each with their own unique biology and behaviours.

We hope to change this perception through education and communication and event such as Step into STEM are a vital part of doing just that.

From the great response we got from the young people in attendance, we think that we were able to do just that and if just one of those in attendance goes on to have a career in the field it was more than worth us getting involved.

Have You Considered A Career In Professional Pest Control?

No matter what stage you are at in your career, whether you are still in school considering the path you want to take, are a recent graduate, or have been working in a science related role for many years and fancy a change, why not consider a career in the pest control industry?

One thing that we can promise you is that no two days will ever be quite the same as a pest controller, and this is a fantastic way to use all your knowledge and learning in a practical environment. All this whilst proving an invaluable service to customers across the UK who are facing stressful and upsetting pest control issues.

We have a training and mentorship programme that is second to none and select our candidates based purely on their skills and suitability for the role, regardless of their age or gender.

If you think that you could be the perfect fit for a role at Pest Solutions, whether as a pest technician in the field or as part of our fantastic sales, accounts, or office team, apply today by sending your CV to chris@pestsolutions.co.uk.