Celebrating 15 Years

We all want to get paid for doing something we absolutely love, and some of us are lucky enough to do just that. Managing Director of NBC John Dickson from Stowmarket has been a falconer since 13, and in 1993 he noticed a demand in bird control services for the Waste Management Industry. With help from the Prince's Trust he launched NBC Bird and Pest Solutions and hasn't looked back.

John said: "Prince's Trust was instrumental in the success of NBC, it has not only given me the option to access finance, but also mentoring and support necessary to establish the business in the early years. The Prince's Trust has supported and provided me with a living, and now 15 years later provides a living for up to 70 individuals nationwide. I am also proud that NBC is the most successful, if not only falconry franchise worldwide."

Based in Attleborough, Norfolk the company is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, NBC has grown from humble beginnings to become the UK's market leader in using falconry and proofing as methods of bird control, in addition to a full complement of pest control services.

Winning many prestigious jobs such as The Crown Estate Savill Gardens at Windsor, Honda, BMW and Scottish Widows amongst many others, and is estimated to earn £4 million in group sales this year.

Five years ago NBC was just involved in the Waste Management Industry, after becoming the market leaders of this small and competitive sector the company needed to expand to move forward. Expanding into various different industries from commercial to residential, NBC now provides a whole host of services to customers at a variety of locations such as shopping centres to historic buildings and airfields to landfill sites.

John said "The next challenge was to get this regional business known and used nationally. Franchising seemed to be the best method for NBC, and following the success of the pilot scheme of Tim Lester in 2004 we started franchising in 2005. Before franchising NBC had a turnover of £1 million, and now we have a forecast of £4 million in group sales for this year. Franchising has been instrumental to this company progression."

NBC Bird and Pest Solutions now has 18 Area Managers covering territories across the UK, this offers other falconers a chance to combine their passion for the outdoors with a profitable career. Tim and Karen Lester, Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth's Area Managers said: "Joining NBC as a franchisee was the best thing we ever did! We enjoy the variety of work and especially the flexibility of being our own boss, but still have the support of a successful, well established company, so we don't feel on our own."

If you want to find out more about NBC Bird and Pest Solutions call 0800 169 9646, email enquiries@nbcbirdandpest.co.uk or alternatively visit the website at www.nbcbirdandpest.co.uk.

NBC Bird and Pest Control, 17A Maurice Gaymer Road, Attleborough, Norfolk
01953 457979