Rentokil wins big at the National Pest Awards and is crowned Pest Business of the Year

Rentokil Pest Control has been named Pest Business of the Year at the 2026 National Pest Awards, the highest accolade awarded at an event that celebrates the people and businesses driving excellence across the UK pest control industry.

Rentokil also took home Large Company of the Year, while Manchester-based senior technician Malcolm Wray received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards recognise the people working on the frontline of pest control, as well as the businesses supporting them, and these wins highlight the strength of Rentokil’s UK operations. The company has a team of more than 850 BPCA-qualified technicians and field biologists and has continued to invest in its people, training and technology throughout its 100-year history.

Innovation and investment

Innovation is a key part of Rentokil’s strategy, with sustainability embedded across its project pipeline. The company’s Science and Innovation Centre, The Power Centre, develops AI-powered pest monitoring technologies and non-toxic solutions designed to reduce reliance on rodenticide. This work reflects Rentokil’s commitment to improving product performance while developing a more sustainable approach to pest control.

The recognition for Large Company of the Year and Pest Business of the Year reflects the breadth of this investment, from innovation and technology to people and customer experience.

Lifetime achievement

The career of Manchester-based senior technician Malcolm Wray, who joined Rentokil in November 1970, was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Known locally as “The Mouse Man” for his work tackling infestations across Manchester, Wray has mentored dozens of technicians over five and a half decades working in pest control. This includes the five most senior employees at the Manchester branch, whose combined 170 years of experience were built under his training. Now 76 years young and still supporting the frontline team in a service management role, Wray remains a defining figure at the Manchester branch and across the wider Rentokil business.

Wray said: “This award means the world to me, and I wouldn’t have achieved it without the incredible teams who have supported me over the 55 years and counting that my career has spanned. In this job, you’re doing so much more than catching rats – you’re representing your company and the wider industry. I’m incredibly proud to do what I do, which is why I’ve always tried to pass on my knowledge to train and inspire the next generation.”

Paul Blackhurst, Head of Technical Academy at Rentokil Pest Control, commented: “We’re incredibly proud to be recognised at the National Pest Awards. This is a testament to the people behind our business – from our frontline technicians and field biologists delivering outstanding service, to our technical and innovation colleagues developing new technologies and solutions to tackle the evolving issues impacting our industry.

“We’re actively challenging the traditional image of a pest control firm, working to create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to build a career, develop their skills and reach their full potential. Over the past year, we’ve continued to invest in our people, our innovation pipeline and our customer experience – and to have that work recognised by the industry is a fantastic achievement.”