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Originally established in 1893 to manufacture
sheep dips and phenolic disinfectants for agricultural
and public health uses, Killgerm is now Europe’s
largest distributor of public health pesticides.
In 1976, following a management buy-out,
it moved into new premises in Ossett, near
Wakefield, where it has remained ever since.
It now operates as the Killgerm Group with three main trading divisions.
The function of Killgerm Group Limited is to provide:
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Overall
management of the Group.
The Group board of directors
is responsible for allocating
the group’s resources
to the various operating
companies, whose role is
to create and operate efficient
businesses, within their
market sectors.
All financial
and accountancy functions.
The central accounts department
provides directors and
managers with monthly accounts
and prepares annual budgets
and cash flows for all
departments.
Human resource
and legal functions.
The Group HR department
is responsible for both
HR functions and employees
communications.
Marketing
and public relation
services.
The marketing department
is responsible
for the professional
marketing of all
brands within the
Group. It consists
of dedicated marketing
managers and a
design studio where
all group printed
and multi-media
matter are produced
in-house by qualified
graphic designers.
The marketing department
also carries out
assignments for
a number of outside
companies as Albatross
Marketing.
Part of the marketing department function is the running of a telephone
marketing team. The team not only keeps customers up-to-date
with information about all the products within the group, it also
carries out market surveys to ensure that the group’s product
ranges meet customer requirements at all times.
IT
and computing facilities. In
any business which
depends on a high
IT input, there
is a need for strong
in-house expertise.
The Group employs
its own IT department,
which is responsible
for developing
systems to better
serve the group’s
needs and those
of its customers. |
Killgerm Group is a privately owned company, whose shareholders are all
directors working within the various group companies. It employs presently
some 150 persons in 7 countries working in 8 languages.
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The Division consists of
four companies which operate directly
in ten countries in Europe:
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Killgerm
Chemicals Limited,
based in Ossett, West Yorkshire
is the original company. It
is the UK’s largest supplier
of pest control products. It
covers the UK and Ireland.
Killgerm Benelux
NV, based in
Turnhout. Belgium was
set up in 1996. It is
one of the main suppliers
in the Benelux. It covers
Belgium, the Netherlands
and Luxembourg.
Killgerm
GmbH, based
in Neuss, Germany
was set up in 1987.
It is one of the
main suppliers to
German speaking Europe.
It covers Germany,
Austria and Switzerland.
Killgerm
SA, based
in Barcelona, Spain
was set up in 1996.
It is one of the
main suppliers in
Spain and Portugal. |
In addition, Killgerm supplies products to Scandinavia, the new EU member
states, the Middle East, the Far East, Australia and Africa.
In 2004, Killgerm opened an office in Warsaw, in Poland, to develop its
business in the new EU member states and the former Soviet countries.
A large part of Killgerm’s
success has been achieved as a
result of its commitment to product
development, full technical support
and operator training.
The division’s product development
team has produced specialist equipment,
designed to bring value added benefits at competitive prices.
The technical support team consists of 9 qualified biologists, all of whom
have developed expertise in their respective areas.
A major part of Killgerm’s success
has been the quality of its training
courses. These range from the running
of a University Diploma in Pest Management
to basic principles of pest control; from the safe use of pesticides
to good marketing practices.
The technical department also undertakes quality control auditing for major
food companies; as well as acting as expert witnesses in prosecutions and
disputes.
Killgerm’s company philosophy
is very much based on high product
stewardship. This means being responsible for ensuring as far as possible
the correct handling and use of the products it supplies.
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The PestWest range of electric
fly killers was first developed in
the early 1980s. Its innovative designs
and features, now copied by many
other manufacturers, soon made it
a favourite among professional pest
controllers.
In 1991, PestWest Electronics
Limited, the new company set
up to develop the range within
the Killgerm Group, also developed
the concept of insect light traps,
which use sticky boards rather
than high voltage killing grids
to control the insects. Although this was not a new concept, PestWest
have made it a standard method of control in a number of markets through
patented innovations.
The company’s success is very much export based. It
now supplies products for the
control of flying insects to
some 70 countries throughout
the world. This success has been
recognised by a number of awards,
such as:
Export Times:
Corporate Exporter of the Year 1999
Trade Partners UK:
Yorkshire and Humberside regional award for Export 2000
Trade Partnership UK:
Grand Champion award for export 2000
Export Times:
International Business Award for Best Use of Education and Training 2001.
In April 2004, the company was
awarded the Queen’s Award
for Enterprise in the International
Trade division. This is the highest
award a UK company can receive
for excellence.
Currently a major supplier of units in Western Europe, PestWest has now
appointed a new business manager in Poland to develop the markets in the
new EU Member States and the former soviet socialist republics.
Throughout Europe, PestWest products are seen as being the added value
quality products at a competitive price.
The basis for the company’s success is its depth of scientific knowledge
and its commitment to listening to customers’ needs. Being part of
the Killgerm Group, PestWest has access to the expertise of Killgerm’s
Technical department and particularly its knowledge of the biology and
habits of flying insects.
Coupled with this is the electrical
engineering expertise of the
company’s
technical department which has over 30 years of experience in the design
and manufacture of fly killing units and insect light traps.
This level of experience, coupled with an ability to talk to PMPs in the
field has enabled the company to manufacture the units which most operators
prefer to handle.
All production is carried out either in Ossett or in the new state of the
art production facility in Vietnam.
The company is ISO 9000:2002 registered.
In 1999, PestWest USA LLC was
set up to develop the company’s growing
business in the United States and Canada. It is based in Bradenton,
Florida.
PestWest USA is a major supplier
in the North American market
of fly killers and fly lights. It is also a pioneer of new equipment to dispose
of used fluorescent bulbs. Its vapour vacuum lamp compactors are
creating new standards in the hazardous waste disposal industry.
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In 1993, Killgerm Group
had also purchased a retail travel
agency in Ilkley, West Yorkshire
which had a small but significant
business travel division. During
the next seven years, TravelWise
built up the business travel
interests into a major part of
the business.
In May 2001, TravelWise bought a second travel agency Elsemore Travel
Limited in Liverpool, which also served the leisure and business travel
needs of people in the Liverpool area.
In November of the same year
TravelWise took over the Tadcaster
branch of Calcaria Travel Limited
and in January 2003, a further
branch was opened in Ossett
to serve the local industry’s
business travel needs in Wakefield.
In 2003, TravelWise undertook a major re-branding exercise and all parts
now trade as TravelWise Group.
www.travelwise.co.uk
TravelWise Business Travel
This dedicated sub-division provides travel management for a number
of major companies. Being a founding member of the Focus Group
of Advantage independent agents, it has access to a range of special
fares and products at the most competitive rates to offer to its business
customers.
The Focus Group at Advantage
is a consortium which represents
over £400
million of business turnover, making it the third largest buyer of business
travel in the UK. This is reflected in the special deals it has
with airlines, car hire companies and hotels throughout the world.
All BT staff are required to be properly trained up to industry standards
and to maintain their level of knowledge through constant refresher courses.
The Business Travel Division is ISO 9001:2000 registered.
TravelWise Leisure
The other sub-division operates from the three retail shops in Liverpool,
Ilkley and Tadcaster.
TravelWise’s specialty
is quality and tailor-made
holidays for people who want
the best value at the right
price. Often used by tour operators
to market special deals not available to other high street agents, TravelWise
has built up a reputation among its customers for being able to deliver
very good value for money.
Being a member of the Advantage Consortium, which is in itself a sign
of quality and distinction, TravelWise has access to fares and deals
which enable it to maintain this reputation.
TravelWise Group is a member of ABTA.
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Killgerm Group’s Corporate
Responsibility Policy applies
to all companies within the
Group. It can be divided into
four main headings. These are
responsibility to staff, the industry, the environment and the local
community.
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The most important asset any company has is its staff.
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The Group believes in assisting staff to obtain higher
qualifications and has encouraged and supported employees during
university courses and professional examinations.
It has provided long-term employment to staff under a number of Government-backed
schemes and also regularly provides short-term employment for overseas
students who wish to improve their English.
Staff are encouraged to obtain vocational qualifications at all levels.
Certain senior staff are NVQ assessors and the company is an approved
NVQ assessment centre. |
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Companies should be prepared to put back into the industry some of the
benefits which they have received.
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The Group has encouraged staff to take a full part
in professional and trade bodies. It has provided presidents, directors
and committee members for such diverse bodies as the British Disinfectant
Manufacturers Association, The British Distributors of Animal Health
Medicines, The British Pest Control Association, the Confederation
of European Pest Control Associations, the Chartered Institute of
Environmental Health and The National Association of Independent
Travel Agents.
Time is made available for employees to sit on Government committees
and to work with Government agencies.
By supporting and funding university research projects, the Group
has added to the scientific knowledge in the pest management industry.
By providing speakers for seminars throughout the world, the Group
has assisted in the dissemination of information on a wide range
of subjects. |
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All companies should be prepared to protect the environment so that those
who follow us can enjoy a trouble free environment where they work, live
and play.
The Group takes a very serious view of its responsibilities to the environment.
In particular:
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It operates an
industry supported waste disposal
scheme whereby redundant pesticides
or used packaging are disposed
of either free of charge or
at very reduced rates.
The scheme was recognised at the Wakefield Environment Awards in
2003. On-site surveys were conducted by Groundwork Wakefield and
the awards have been supported by Yorkshire Water, Business in the
Environment, Wakefield MDC, The Gas and Water Industries National
Training Organisation and the European Community through funding
from the European Regional Development fund.
Killgerm is registered under all relevant industry schemes, such
as the British Agrochemical Supply Industry Scheme – a voluntary
scheme whereby warehouses are inspected to ensure that it meets the
highest standards.
PestWest have developed special equipment to handle used fluorescent
tubes, which contain mercury and therefore are classed as hazardous
waste materials. The equipment is currently being assessed
in the USA by the US Environmental Protection Agency. |
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Helping others in the community who need assistance is the duty of every
responsible company.
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The Group is particularly
keen to assist charities whose
main beneficiaries are children.
This includes Leeds Mencap, Ossett
Schools and Pinderfields Hospital
Children's’ Ward.
Staff members are regular participants in fund-raising events and
the Group supports these wherever possible. |
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