The best in the pharmacy sector were celebrated for their crucial impact on healthcare at the 26th annual Pharmacy Business Awards held in London on Friday (2 October).
The awards pay tribute to the exceptional dedication of pharmacists who safeguard the health and wellbeing of local communities, and to the industry that supports them.
With over 680 guests in attendance, the awards recognised the best of every facet of community pharmacy, from pharmacy teams and their innovative work, to leading products, wholesalers and manufacturers.
Rajan Shah and Sanjay Patel of West Ealing Pharmacy in London took home the sought after Pharmacy Business of the Year Award.
Their small pharmacy was transformed in new and larger premises, to create a modern and efficient community pharmacy, utilising the range of technology. Their state-of-the-art pharmacy has six consultation rooms and a wide offer for patients, and a collaboration with local GPs. This pharmacy is a fantastic showcase of that community pharmacy can do.
The Ram Solanki Editor’s Award, named in honour of the founder and editor-in-chief of Asian Media Group and Pharmacy Business, Ramniklal Solanki CBE, was collected by Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association.
For more than a decade, Olivier has been a powerful voice for the profession at national level: serving on the sector's key negotiating and representative bodies, appearing regularly on television and radio, and making pharmacy's case to MPs. He said he was surprised and humbled to be honoured.
The highlight of the pharmacy calendar, held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in central London, the Pharmacy Business Awards 2026 brought together pharmacy teams, pharmaceutical industry leaders, healthcare executives and leading politicians.
Lord Leong CBE, Minister for Small Business and Enterprise. Asian Media Group
Chief guest, Lord Leong CBE, Minister for Small Business and Enterprise, told attendees that community pharmacies make a strong contribution to “building healthier communities and stronger local economies”.
“Before entering public service, I spent more than four decades building and running businesses. I know the satisfaction of building a team and earning a customer's trust. I also understand the responsibility of meeting payroll, managing cash flow, and making difficult decisions when costs rise. For pharmacy owners, those responsibilities sit alongside a profound duty of care to patients. That deserves recognition and a government that recognises the connection between a sustainable business and a dependable local health service.
“As small business minister, I want businesses like yours to have the confidence to invest, develop your teams, and adopt technology that makes your working life easier. So, we must listen to your experience when deciding how to remove unnecessary barriers. Strong community pharmacies help build healthier communities and stronger local economies.
He continued his address to recognise the contribution that community pharmacy owners and pharmacy teams make.
“Every nomination reflects a collective effort often sustained over many years. Thank you to Pharmacy Business for bringing that work into the spotlight. To every finalist and winners, congratulations. You should be proud of what you have achieved, and to everyone here, thank you for the businesses you built, the people you employed, and the care you give.”
Hosted by the Asian Media Group (AMG), publishers of Pharmacy Business, and Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat news weeklies, the Pharmacy Business Awards have, illustrate the innovation and dedication of community pharmacists for 26 years.
Shailesh Solanki, Executive Editor of Pharmacy Business.Asian Media Group
In his welcome, Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, discussed the new Prime Minister’s aspirations of for health and social care and bringing back hope and belief to the country. Pharmacy can play an important part in that he said.
“Our new Prime Minister offered a message of hope and of a Britain that starts to believe again.
“Pharmacy should be central to that ambition, with growing prescribing capability and a network embedded in communities across the country. Pharmacies are accessible health hubs that can relieve pressure on general practice, reduce hospital admissions, and directly support local economic revival.
“The Prime Minister promised a circuit breaker for Britain, and a government that puts the care of people at the heart of everything it does. Community pharmacy is where that promise can be kept, in every neighbourhood and in every postcode.”
The nominees and award winners on the evening showed exactly the skills and expertise community pharmacies can bring to primary care.
The Pharmacy Team of the Year was received by Clarepharm Pharmacy team in Honiton, Devon, led by Ronak Maroo.
The team describes their work in community pharmacy not as an occupation but as a “mission” to positively impact their community. Their team culture particularly impressed the judges. Every member is mentored, every opinion valued, and every milestone celebrated, with a continuous approach to learning and effective results for patient care.
The Pharmacy Business Inspiring Woman of the Year Award was awarded to Abiramme Sarangan of Sapphire Pharmacy, Romford, recognising her as a fantastic role model for women in pharmacy.
Determined to own a community pharmacy, she persevered through setbacks and opened her doors just months after having her first child. Balancing a young family with a new business, she empowers her team to step outside their comfort zone and shows that ambition and family life can coexist.
Independent Prescriber of the Year was received by Kamal Nathwani of The Wellness Pharmacy, Southwark. Since qualifying as an Independent Prescriber – a qualification not undertaken until his late 50s – he has embedded prescribing within an integrated clinical service. Prescribing has dramatically changed the services offered, attracting a wide range of private patients who cannot access conventional NHS services, offering easily accessed and personalised care.
The Pharmacy Assistant of the Year Award went to Lorraine Monk of Day Lewis Pharmacy in Wallington. She started as a Saturday girl at age 16 and, four decades on, is still at the heart of her pharmacy. She has helped long-term smokers quit for good, delivered medicines to housebound patients herself and has taken blood pressure checks into a local church.
The Pharmacy Business Development Award was received by Sajeel Abrar of NHL Pharmacy, Preston, transforming a traditional dispensing pharmacy into an integrated neighbourhood healthcare hub. By integrating pharmacy, eyecare and specialist clinical services under one roof, the team has created a model that supports NHS priorities, improves patient outcomes and strengthens the local healthcare system
Gompels Pharmacy, working in collaboration with Royal United Hospitals Bath, took the Enterprise Award. Low retention of pharmacists at the trust was dramatically improved by joint working with Gompels. Trainees are given the opportunity to work in both community pharmacy and secondary care, in a multisector training scheme.
Paul Mayberry, from the Mayberry Pharmacy in Caerphilly, received the Pharmacy Technology Award. He designed this own patient medication record system for the group’s pharmacies. With mandatory barcode checks, a robot-driven central hub and intelligent stock ordering, they have virtually eliminated dispensing errors, significantly cut stock and freed their pharmacists for clinical care.
Full list of winners →
Wholesaler of the Year in association with Ascot Pharma: PHOENIX Medical Supplies Limited
Community Award in association with Sigma Pharmaceuticals: Ashwin Bhatt, Rainbow Pharmacy, Ipswich
Patient Care in Pharmacy Award in association with AAH Pharmaceuticals: Ana Grupeli, Day Lewis Hendford Pharmacy, Yeovil
Pharmacy Technology Award in association with Bestway MedHub: Paul Mayberry, Mayberry Pharmacy, Blackwood, Caerphilly
Pharmacy Team of the Year Award in association with Bristol Laboratories: Ronak Maroo, Clarepharm Pharmacy, Honiton, Devon
Aspiring Pharmacy Leader of the Year in association with Zydus Pharmaceuticals: Prakash Patel, Cordeve Ltd, London
Pharmacy Business Development Award in association with Cipla: Sajeel Abrar, NHL Pharmacy, Preston
Pharmacy Assistant of the Year in association with Strides Healthcare: Lorraine Monk, Day Lewis Pharmacy, Wallington, Surrey
Travel Health Clinic of the Year in association with Takeda: Jignesh Mehta, Woolwich Late Night Pharmacy, Woolwich, London
Independent Prescriber of the Year in association with Brown & Burk: Kamal Nathwani, The Wellness Pharmacy, Southwark
Pharmacy First Excellence Award in association with Lupin: Husam Jawad, Andres Pharmacy, Wembley
Public Health Pharmacist of the Year in association with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals: Abimbola Alaba, Mitcham Pharmacy, Surrey
Pharmacy Future Excellence Award: Mitesh Patel, Boyatt Pharmacy, Eastleigh
Pharmacy Neighbourhood Health Leader of the Year in association with NPA Insurance: Jignesh Patel, CliniLinx Limited, Brentwood
Pharmacy Group of the Year in association with Wockhardt: MSN Pharmacy Group, West Midlands
Multiple Pharmacy of the Year: Asda Great Bridge Pharmacy, Tipton
Pharmacy Clinical Excellence Award in association with Numark: Farhad Mehmood & Ather Diab, Bruntsfield Pharmacy, Edinburgh
Community Pharmacy Heroes in association with Haleon: Dervis Gurol, Healthy-U Pharmacy, Saltdean
Enterprise Award in association with Cencora Alliance Healthcare: Gompels Pharmacy & Royal United Hospitals Bath
Trainee Pharmacist of the Year association with Sandoz: Martina Aikon, Eltham Pharmacy, London
Hospital Pharmacy of the Year in association with Teva: Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London
Inspiring Woman of the Year in association with Crescent Pharma: Abiramme Sarangan, Sapphire Pharmacy, Romford
Pharmacy Business of the Year in association with Meditech: Rajan Shah & Sanjay Patel, West Ealing Pharmacy, London
OTC Brand Impact of the Year in association with IQVIA: Solpadeine MAX, Perrigo UK
Pharmacy Business Innovation in Generics Award: Vigabatrin, Zydus Pharmaceuticals UK
Pharmacy Business Branded Manufacturer of the Year: Haleon
Pharmacy Business Generic Manufacturer of the Year: Teva
Pharmacy Business Ram Solanki Editor’s Award: Olivier Picard, Chair, National Pharmacy Association
Congratulations to all the winners for 2026.
To register your interest in entering the Pharmacy Business Awards 2027, and to receive details as soon as they are published, please email tanuja.parekh@amg.biz
