Honey Bee Removal for Commercial & Public Sector Organisations

Specialist commercial honey bee removal across England, Scotland and Wales.

When a honey bee colony takes up residence in a commercial building, public sector site or heritage property, the stakes are higher than a domestic infestation. You have health and safety obligations, a duty of care to staff, visitors and the public, and in many cases a procurement process to navigate before you can appoint a contractor.

SwarmCatcher has been removing honey bee colonies from commercial, public sector and heritage buildings for over 20 years. We understand how organisations work – and we make the process as straightforward as possible, starting with understanding your situation rather than drowning you in paperwork.

For recently arrived swarms where early intervention can significantly reduce costs, see our Urgent Swarm Eviction page.

Sectors We Work In

We understand colony behaviour – see our Honey Bees in Buildings page for detail on why delay makes the problem worse.

Why Commercial Clients Choose SwarmCatcher

We Understand the Job Before Producing Documentation

Many contractors issue generic RAMS and method statements before they have set foot on site or understood the specific risks involved. We take a different approach.

Our priority is to fully understand your situation first – the building type, the location of the colony, access requirements and any site-specific risks. Only once we understand the job do we produce site-specific RAMS and method statements tailored to your property. This means the documentation your health and safety team receives is accurate, relevant and actually written for your site.

Fully Insured for All Property Types

We carry full public liability insurance for all types of property — heritage, listed, commercial, industrial and public sector buildings. Insurance documentation is provided on appointment.

IPAF & PASMA Certified – Working at Height

Our team holds IPAF and PASMA certification for working at height, which is a requirement for many commercial and industrial bee removal jobs involving rooflines, high chimney stacks and elevated access. We bring our own equipment and have the certification to satisfy your permit-to-work requirements.

Specialist Heritage & Listed Building Experience

We regularly work for major heritage organisations and on Grade I and Grade II* listed properties. We understand that chimneys are controlled devices, that lime mortar behaves fundamentally differently from modern cement, and that the wrong approach can cause structural damage far more costly than the removal itself.

Our minimal-impact methodology – rarely removing more than four bricks for a chimney job – is especially important where conservation officers or planning requirements are involved. We have the tools, knowledge and experience to work correctly on sensitive structures.

Experience in Working Near High Voltage Infrastructure

We have carried out honey bee removals at electrical substations and in proximity to high voltage infrastructure for power providers. This work demands a thorough understanding of exclusion zones, safe working distances and the specific access and induction protocols that energy companies require before any contractor can enter site.

Honey bee colonies are naturally drawn to the enclosed cavities and warmth of substation buildings and associated structures. We understand both the bee behaviour and the site constraints – and we write RAMS that reflect the actual risks present at that specific location, not a generic template.

Experience in Complex Industrial Environments

We have worked in demanding industrial environments including chemical industry sites, heavy manufacturing and process industries. These sites have specific contractor requirements that go well beyond standard pest control – permit-to-work systems, site-specific induction, PPE standards, process area exclusion zones and H&S protocols that must be followed precisely.

A honey bee colony near a process area, ventilation intake or employee thoroughfare on an industrial site is not a nuisance — it is a health and safety matter. We understand both the bee behaviour and the site constraints, and our RAMS reflect the actual risks present at your specific location.

Nationwide Coverage with Site Access Experience

We operate across England, Scotland and Wales. We are accustomed to the requirements of managed sites – induction processes, permit-to-work systems, restricted working hours and security protocols. Tell us what your site requires and we will accommodate it.

Pricing – Day Rate Basis

We price on a day rate basis. Once we understand your situation through the enquiry process — location, property type, access requirements, number of operatives needed and photos – we provide a full written cost indication showing whether the job is likely to require one day or two, and the total cost. There are no hidden extras.

Access costs such as MEWP or scaffold hire are quoted separately where required. We provide formal cost indication documents compatible with purchase order and procurement requirements.

Scaffold Liaison – At No Additional Charge

Where scaffold access is required we are happy to liaise directly with your scaffolding contractor on your behalf at no additional charge. We advise on the precise access requirements for the removal so the scaffold is specified correctly first time – avoiding the cost and disruption of the scaffold returning for a second visit because the brief was wrong.

For facilities managers and estates teams managing complex or listed structures, this removes the need to act as go-between on a technical conversation about access requirements you may not be best placed to specify. We deal with the scaffolder directly.

NACE & BPCA Members

SwarmCatcher are associate members of the National Association of Chimney Engineers (NACE) and full members of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), demonstrating adherence to codes of practice in both chimney engineering and pest management.

How It Works

Our process is designed to get to resolution quickly without unnecessary site visits or upfront paperwork.

1. Initial enquiry
Use the commercial contact form below. Tell us your organisation, your role, the site location and a brief description of the situation. Photos help but are not essential at this stage.

2. We assess your situation
We contact you to gather further detail using our structured information-gathering process. In most cases this removes the need for a pre-removal site survey, saving time and cost. If a site investigation is needed we will tell you and explain why. More on our site investigation process at our Honey Bee Surveys page.

3. Cost Indication
We provide a cost indication on a fixed price or day rate basis, with a formal cost indication document for your records and purchase order process.

4. Documentation package
On appointment we supply site-specific RAMS, method statement, insurance certificate, company registration details, health and safety policy and references — everything your procurement and H&S teams require.

5. Removal and reinstatement
We carry out the removal, relocate the colony, remove all wax, honey and detritus, and reinstate and proof the entry point. We leave the site clean, tidy and bee-free.

If Bees Are Getting Into Your Building

Immediate action while waiting for removal:

Bees entering through the fireplace:

Bees entering through air vents or airbricks:

Bees entering through light fittings (flat roofs, dormers, ceiling voids):

Commercial sites – multiple entry points:

At a Glance

We regularly work on Honey Bees in Chimney removals – the most common commercial scenario followed closely by Honey Bees in Walls.

How We Price

We price once we understand the job – location, property type, access requirements and the scenario you have described. Our cost indication process is designed to give you an accurate figure without requiring a site visit in most cases.

We price on a day rate basis, indicating clearly whether the job is likely to be completed in one day or whether a second day will be required and what that costs. Where access equipment such as a MEWP or scaffold is needed, this is quoted separately. There are no hidden extras.

Where scaffold access is required we are happy to liaise with your scaffolding contractor directly at no charge, ensuring the access is specified correctly before anything is erected.

Fixed price is available for straightforward jobs. For more complex work a day rate with a clear indication of likely duration gives you a more accurate picture than a fixed price that has to build in excessive contingency.
For residential clients, our pricing page explains the full cost breakdown including day rates, access costs and what’s included.

NB Quality photographs of the elevation and internal location allow us to assess access requirements (MEWPs/Scaffolding) remotely, reducing the need for a site survey.

FAQ’s

Learn more About Us – 20+ years specialist experience.