After discussions with ex-services employees, Cleankill Pest Control has signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant – a promise to support the Armed Forces community.
Around 9% of Cleankill’s staff once served in the UK’s Armed Forces. This highlighted to the company that individuals who have trained and served their country share similar characteristics with the role of pest control technician.
Cleankill director Clive Bury explains: “We considered what features the roles shared, how their training made them so compatible for a role in pest control and how we could best support current and future ex-services employees. We are delighted to have signed the pledge and hope it will encourage more ex-forces personnel to join us and start a new career in pest control.
“The Covenant is a pledge to support those who serve or have served, support their families and ensure they are fairly treated. It is a show of support not just to ex-service personnel and veterans but also to our customers, staff, contractors and the general public that we are serious about helping ex-service people.”
The key qualities that both services share are: punctuality; the trust of the public; excellent training; problem solving; taking instructions and care over appearance; organisation; teamwork and planning.
Someone who demonstrates all these qualities is Cleankill service team leader Neil Parker.
He served for 12 years in the Royal Artillery as an Air Defence Gunner, operating and then commanding the Rapier short-range Air Defence missile system. He left with the rank of Bombardier – the equivalent of a Corporal. He entered pest control by accident while working in the wine trade.
Mr Parker said: “I started as a technician which suited me as it gave me an opportunity to transfer skills from the military that I hadn’t used for a while. I now manage a team of technicians after being promoted to team leader. I really love my job and find it incredibly rewarding.
“I believe that the role of pest control technician is ideal for an ex-forces individual, particularly someone who likes to operate within a team and use their mental resources.”
Mr Parker and pest control technician Wayne Baron, Cleankill’s Armed Forces champion who also served in the Royal Artillery, joined director Clive Bury and Lt Col Darren Johnston for the official signing on the Armed Forces Covenant in the Duke of Wellington’s conference room inside Horse Guards Parade, London.