Defender® Installer of the Month | August | Atlas Environmental Services Ltd

Here’s to our fabulous August winner of Installer of the Month – Atlas Environmental Services Ltd. Congratulations on a great install using our Defender Wide Plastic Spike, it’s truly a well-deserved win!

So a little bit about our winners, Atlas Environmental Services. Phil and Jacob Sidorewic, father and son team, began back in 2017. Their team of 5 hails from Burnley in Lancashire but they cover the entire North West, and have a formidable 30 years of experience in the pest control industry between them. They pride themselves on their exemplary standards and excellence whether they are conducting commercial and industrial contracts or individual domestic pest control. Atlas are experts in all manner of pest eradication from flies, ants and fleas, to bugs and beetles, rodents and of course birds. They also provide washroom solutions, disinfection, sanitisation, loft insulation and clearing and cleaning services! They have also just introduced their online Client Portal for pest management sites to keep all the relevant documentation safe, secure, updated and accessible for the client. Genius!

Atlas are specialists in all aspects of bird control and are licenced in the specialist use of access equipment such as cherry pickers and scissor lifts – essential for bird work. They use our Defender Bird Spikes not only as a stand-alone solution to move birds on but also in conjunction with bird netting, bird wire, bird gel and Avishock.

Let's find out about the job that won them this prestigious title. Atlas Environmental has previously completed work at Lancashire County Hall and now needed to proof the pyramid lantern skylights. As these are high points on a roof, they are the ideal landing and perching place for pigeons. Pigeons are very unlikely to land on the actual glass, the angle and smoothness of the glass mean they can’t get a proper grip. However, the frame of the skylights and the pinnacle on the pyramid are a different matter! Pigeons would sit on the frames and defecate onto the glass, not ideal! Atlas used our Defender® Wide Plastic Bird Spike siliconing it to every available area on the skylight frame to humanely move the birds on from this landing site and stop them perching.

Although Jacob and Phil look very much at ease at this rooftop height, it is worth mentioning the planning that goes into these jobs. Safety is always first; the correct PPE, harnesses, hard hats, high viz, safe access and the paper trail these jobs always include! As they say:

‘This one was complicated as it was the final part of a glass pyramid lantern at Lancashire County Hall at Preston, so lots of restrictions and hoops to jump through. It took some working out how we’d reach the summit, but we managed with no risks taken’

One of the main things that stand out to us about Atlas Environmental Services Ltd, apart from the quality of their work of course, is they are family-run, as are we here at Defender Bird Spikes. In speaking with them, we have an overwhelming feeling of how much respect and love they have for the job and each other. Around 7 years ago Phil decided to start a well-deserved retirement from bird control, however, Jacob his son had other ideas! Jacob coerced him into going back into the pest control business again and as Phil says:

‘I must say it’s been a pleasure since day one to watch the growth occur…I’ve had my future, but I get so much pleasure from Jacob taking this company forward, especially in the electronic technical age we live in. He’s an inspiration within our business. Our clients love him to bits, and this has spread throughout our team with their friendly approach and diligence. So, this leaves me a proud man, being the ‘old geezer’ of the company.’

We always ask our Installer of the Month winners to tell us any funny stories or anecdotes they have come across in the industry, so in their own words:

‘We were called to a huge high-spec manufacturing company in Blackburn. Birds were blocking the roof drainage and causing a real mess over the signage at the entrance. The first thing you saw when you got there was the mess. The chief engineer had installed bird decoys all over the place. His words to me were ‘Do you think they’re working?’ The obvious one to look at was the one whose face was totally hidden with guano by the gull sitting on it. Cant really tell you my answer without swearing. Anyway, we got the job.’

Sometimes customers just want the reassurance!

We also ask why they choose to use Defender Bird Spikes and which is their favourite spike. Atlas have tried other brands in the past, but always come back to us at Defender. Their preferred is the Defender Wide as it is so versatile. It is easy to cut to size and never lets them down. Our delivery is spot on too!

A huge congratulations to Atlas Environmental Services Ltd for winning our August Installer of the Month. We are so happy that you guys have won this award. Thank you to you all for choosing to use Defender Bird Spikes for your jobs too!

If you are in the North West and looking for a pest or bird control solution, look no further than Atlas Environmental Services Ltd. Contact them through their very comprehensive website which has so much more information than we could mention here!