As we head into summer, we get closer to autumn, when we have the pharmacy conferences and awards evenings. Autumn is some time away, but now is the right time to put in your nomination for the Pharmacy Business Awards 2026.
Community pharmacy has been challenging over the past few years, but what community pharmacies share is that they are always there for their local community and patients. This isn’t done by the pharmacist alone - but it's done as a team together. This must be celebrated.
I would encourage every single pharmacy owner to click on this link and put in at least one entry. There are many categories which makes it easier to find one that meets your nominee. The last date for submitting entries is June 5.
Choosing winners
Shilpa Shah CP NEL
As the head judge, I get to read through all the nominations and shortlist them. Then comes the best bit when I get to have an informal chat with the nominee, who gets to tell me a bit more about why they are deserving of the award.
I then write up the notes from this and present it to all the judges at a panel. They have also spent time reading the shortlisted entries. We then have a rich discussion about who the winner should be. It is always so difficult because there are so many amazing nominations.
I feel truly privileged as head judge, as I get to hear from the best of the best. In this role I have met so many people and have often stayed in contact with them. I find the informal chats that we have so inspirational, it’s here that I hear about the background story behind the person.
What do I need from you? I need you to make my job difficult. I want you to challenge me. I need you all to enter so that I have lots of reading to do, because as much as that will take up my time, I do love seeing the innovative, inspirational things that are being done out there.
I always tell people about those whom I met while selecting the award winners – the uniqueness of their work, the difference they were making to the local community, or how they were using technology to help patients.
These awards are an opportunity to celebrate Community Pharmacy. This is the opportunity to celebrate your team, a staff member, your pharmacist or even yourself. Behind every nomination is story, often a story of hard work, resilience and great care for the local community.
Tips on how to apply
The great thing about the Pharmacy Business Awards (pharmacybusinessawards.co.uk) is that there are many different categories. My advice would be to pick the category that best suits the person/team you are nominating.
Please do not rush your nomination. It is so important to fill out all sections and to maximise the word count. Add in as much information as you can so that I (a stranger to your pharmacy) can build up a picture.
Add photos so we as judges can get a feel of what your pharmacy and community look like. Perhaps plan your entry on paper/word first before you fill out the nomination form. If you have any quotes from patients or other HCP’s I would advise adding them in. Community Pharmacy as a profession is very humble. It’s ok when nominating not to be humble.
If you are a trade body, a representative organisation, a wholesaler, a buying group, or part of any other group that works with Community Pharmacy please can you think about nominating some of your clients/customers.
We know that Community Pharmacy staff and owners are humble and often won’t nominate themselves, but in the past when other organisations have nominated them, they've been really pleased and have felt valued and recognised.
These events are important. You and your teams spend every day working hard. There is so much going on at the moment, and it can feel like a challenging time but I know that even a patient thanks you for helping them get that medication that is out of stock everywhere, or when you have helped them when they have been suffering with their symptoms for weeks, it feels so good.
When I visit pharmacies at Christmas, I can see from the chocolate and biscuit boxes piled up at the back of the dispensary how much your patients value you. Now is the time to value yourselves. Now is the time to celebrate yourselves.
Apply here for – don’t delay.
