London Network for Pest Solutions marked five years since being launched with a team get together in East London.

Since the start of the business in February 2017, London Network for Pest Solutions (LNPS) has more than doubled turnover, doubled staff numbers, won national and local awards and launched a new sanitisation service.

LNPS is a limited company wholly owned by the London Borough of Newham. It employs 17 staff and now has a turnover of £1.3 million with a mixture of local authority and private clients.

LNPS’ formation changed the way council pest control services had been delivered for the past 40 years and allowing ‘the council’ to compete with the private sector for work. Customers include residential properties, businesses, schools, charitable organisations and landlords in Newham and the surrounding areas. LNPS also has contracts with the London Borough of Havering.

The London Borough of Newham was the first council in the country to form a private pest control company. The strategy has been a win-win for the council and customers. As a private company LNPS can bid for work outside the council and has the flexibility and authority to reward staff based on performance and overall profit targets.

LNPS has been described as ‘bold’ by other pest control company for offering ‘unlimited’ visits and transparent pricing. By reducing overheads and working efficiently, LNPS will continue to offer its flat fee service. For instance, LNPS is unique in that the company has no actual premises apart from a hot-desking facility in shared offices opposite City of London Airport. All staff, from the technicians to the managing director, work from home via a secure remote access system – reducing the impact on the environment and resulting in low operating costs. This also means quicker and more efficient working.

LNPS Managing Director Paul Cooper said: “Five years is an important milestone for us which we marked with a get together for all our staff.

“We are committed to investing profits back into the business to ensure the highest levels of training, equipment and vehicles which enable us to provide excellent services all day, every day.”

The company puts customer service and quality of service before profits and has built a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness. LNPS also aims to be as ‘green’ as possible. A goal underpinned by the company’s ISO 14001 accreditation.