The Awards are an important way of recognising excellence across all areas of pharmacy, and enable us to demonstrate our continued support of independent community pharmacy in the UK.

Running a pharmacy in the UK is becoming more and more challenging, as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve rapidly and increasing demands are placed on a pharmacist’s time. This is where supply and manufacturing partners can help, taking their relationship with the pharmacist beyond price and looking at how they can tailor their offering to provide exactly the right kind of support pharmacists need in this increasingly challenging healthcare environment.

It means a lot to AAH to be associated with these awards as we, as a company, strive to deliver similar high standards to our customers.

Those that have been nominated continue to drive pharmacy forward through their dedication and passion and rightly deserve any accolades that they receive. It is trough their hard work that pharmacists are being seen as pivotal to local healthcare needs.

I would like to congratulate each and every one of them and wish them all the best on the award night.

Actavis is delighted to be sponsoring the Pharmacy Business Entrepreneur of the Year

We are committed to continuing to provide first class generics on day one of patent expiry, as well as supporting pharmacists through a series of training and education initiatives. We offer our customers high levels of service, with a sales team who are experts in reimbursement.

We also run a hugely successful Accumulator Scheme that offers attractive discounts from a comprehensive product portfolio, already competitively priced. The Scheme is designed to provide the transparency of pricing and continuity of product supply so important in today's fast moving pharmacy business.

Bristol Laboratories Limited is delighted to be associated with the Pharmacy Business Awards 2009 and proud to be sponsoring the Pharmacy Business Team of the Year Award 2009.

Bristol Laboratories Ltd places great emphasis on teamwork which is the backbone of any successful organisation and its efficient running.

While pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers in the community, they too have a team, made up of trained individuals with their own responsibilities, that ensures the smooth running of the business and delivers the best patient-care possible.

With this in mind, Bristol Laboratories Ltd takes pleasure in recognising a team that has contributed significantly to the community through their outstanding service in patient care or business growth. It is only fair that their services receive a just reward, the Pharmacy Business Team of the Year Award 2009.

Bristol Laboratories Ltd would also like to wish all the entrants the very best of the luck.

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is again very proud to be the sponsor of the Pharmacy Business Innovation award, which recognises a forward thinking pharmacist who has demonstrated real passion for innovation. As a company that strives to be at the fore front of the Consumer Healthcare industry, GSK is glad to reward a Pharmacist who holds fast similar standards within the Pharmacy profession.

McNeil Products is delighted to support the Pharmacy Business Awards. We are particularly pleased and proud to sponsor the award for Young Pharmacist of the Year 2009.

In business it is young people, starting out on their careers that will have the challenge and responsibility of delivering the future vision of today’s leadership. This is particularly the case for pharmacy as the profession transitions from a predominantly supply led function into an expanding role that will focus on service and support.

Today’s young pharmacists are emerging from pre-registration with a wide range of knowledge and information. To excel in their new roles, all young pharmacists must be able to take on the challenges with skill and confidence. They must be able to demonstrate their value in an evolving primary healthcare environment through service quality and delivering value added outcomes.

In addition to having a real understanding of these changes, the Pharmacy Business Awards, Young Pharmacist of the Year winner must be able to demonstrate a real passion and desire to take on future challenge whilst already embracing today’s emerging opportunities.

The pharmacy team are an important component to a successful and enterprising community business, so it makes sense to recognise those pharmacists who have invested in the training and development the individuals within their business.

Numark has a proven track record in the provision of a wide range of training for all pharmacy staff so it’s fitting that we support this award for the independent pharmacist who is put training & development at the heart of their business

P&G PharmacyCare is delighted to be sponsoring The Health & Beauty Retailer of the Year Award for the second year running. The front of store staff continue to be key to driving sales as well as developing and nurturing relationships with shoppers, so prescription traffic can be turned into health and beauty purchases.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals is proud to be sponsoring the Pharmacy Business Awards.

Independent community pharmacies play a crucial role in public healthcare. We believe the Pharmacy Business Community Award is a fantastic accolade as it recognises the importance of rewarding independent community pharmacists who support their local community through the friendly, dedicated and committed service they provide.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals continues to develop close relations with independent community pharmacies and by sponsoring the Community Award we honour pharmacists who show results locally and nationally by offering outstanding community care, one that goes beyond the call of duty.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals would like to wish all entrants the very best of the luck.

Wockhardt UK Ltd is proud to be associated with the Pharmacy Business Awards 2009 as sponsor of the Clinical Excellence in Patient Safety Award” said Managing Director Mr Sirjiwan Singh.

Patient safety continues to be a strong focus for Wockhardt UK, therefore we are sponsoring the Clinical Excellence in Patient Safety Award to recognise the invaluable contribution that independent pharmacists make to improving patient safety within their local communities.

Wockhardt UK’s new, safer packaging was designed with patient safety in mind and has been commended by the National Patient Safety Association (NPSA). Safety enhancements include the market leading innovation – Tall Man lettering - for our cephalosporin range. More products will be launched in the new and improved livery soon.