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08 April 2008
UniChem Supports BPSA Annual Conference
UniChem has once again offered its support to the annual
conference for the British Pharmaceutical Students Association (BPSA), which
this year took place between 25 and 29 March at Kingston University.
Mike Smith kicked off the week on Tuesday 25 March, by presenting on the topic
of ‘owning your own independent pharmacy business’. This is part of an ongoing
initiative to raise awareness of this career option for newly qualified
pharmacists.
Commenting on the presentation Mike said; “I always start my presentation by
asking delegates for a show of hands as to who has considered pharmacy
ownership as a career option. The response can vary, but once I have been
through the facts about pharmacy ownership, including showing the students the
support that is available to them and the video case studies of those
independent pharmacists who have made a success of their businesses, the number
of hands raised when I ask the same question at the end of the presentation
almost always doubles.
I’m extremely hearted by the response I get from pharmacy students on this
initiative, and for the future of the independent pharmacy sector it is
important that students understand all of the options that are available to
them.”
On Wednesday 26 March, UniChem and the NPA were joint sponsors of the 1001
nights Arabian evening and UniChem was also represented at the afternoon Q+A
session by Sanjay Pathak, Commercial Services Manager at UniChem. The Q+A
session covered a range of topics around the future of the pharmacy profession
and what the current challenges and opportunities are for both pharmacy
students and newly qualified pharmacists.
Sanjay commented: “The BPSA delegates provided some interesting debate around a
range of areas currently faced by the profession, and it is great to see that
these pharmacy students are so committed to both their futures and the future
of the profession at large.
”There is some real enthusiasm from BPSA members to proactively engage in all
the issues that are currently affecting pharmacy, and I think that the
profession is in safe hands with future pharmacists like this.”
To conclude the week, UniChem was an exhibitor at the Medical Exhibition on BPSA
day - Friday 28 March. UniChem’s attendance was to launch a work placement
introductory scheme; a new initiative developed with the BPSA and in
association with the UniChem Customer Forums.
The initiative will offer pharmacy students the opportunity to undertake summer
work placements at a participating independent community pharmacy in their
local area. UniChem is piloting this introductory scheme for summer 2008, by
matching the contact details of participating pharmacies and pharmacy students
within a local area and facilitating the exchange of these details between the
two parties. This then allows the student and participating pharmacy to
establish a point of contact in order to arrange a work placement for the 2008
summer vacation.
Commenting on the initiative Chris Martin, Chairman of the UniChem Customer
Forums says: “Independent pharmacists do not necessarily have the same time or
resource as the multiples, to look for students to undertake work placements
during the summer. Similarly it is harder for a pharmacy student to look for a
work placement at an independent pharmacy, and UniChem hopes to provide that
initial point of contact between the pharmacy and the student. Once this
contact has been established, then the two parties have an excellent
opportunity to organise a summer placement, which will be of mutual benefit not
just for that summer, but in terms of possible collaboration for future career
and business opportunities.”
The pilot has generated an extremely positive response from BPSA delegates, and
UniChem is now asking any of its independent customers who are interested in
partaking in the scheme for Summer 2008, to obtain an ‘Expression of Interest’
form by contacting UniChem on 0208 974 4045 or emailing
communications@unichem.co.uk. All forms received by 22 April will be included
in the introductory scheme.
For more information please contact:
Sanam Conway, Communications Executive: 0208 974 4045
Helena Bate, Communications Manager: 0208 974 4044
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