4 minute read
THE place to be for community pharmacy professionals
The Pharmacy Show is the UK’s largest trade show for the primary care and community pharmacy sector. With over 300 exhibitors and a world-class education programme, the Pharmacy Show 2024 edition was buzzing with excitement from the 13th-14th October at the NEC in Birmingham. Every year, it’s the definitive calendar event for creative networking, showcasing new products and innovations and meeting new and existing customers across the industry.
The 2024 edition saw over 8,700 pharmacy professionals from across community pharmacy, general practice and integrated care systems, including 347 exhibitors and 221 speakers. All of this, under one roof, for two days of dedicated trade conversations, education and sales! The event is uniquely designed, with theatres spaced directly across the show floor, to maximise the flow of visitors to exhibitors. Each year, many visitors say they have met suppliers or learnt about products they would not normally have the time to meet with or learn about beforehand, demonstrating that this is the ideal opportunity to showcase new products to potential customers.
The show is widely regarded as bringing commonality of purpose and sharing a united pharmacy voice, across a fast-moving sector. It is the perfect place to carry out a ‘temperature check’ on what is happening across the industry and attracts distinguished keynote speakers.
Garry Tyson, Event Director of The Pharmacy Show stated, “Thank you to everyone who was part of The Pharmacy Show 2024. Speaking to visitors, exhibitors, partners, speakers, and sponsors – the show was the best ever by all accounts. We promise to make it even better in 2025 and will continue to unite our profession and sector. A special thank you to my amazing team this year, whose hard work paid off. I look forward to hearing the success stories from the show and seeing our sector move forward into 2025!”
The 2024 show, like the ones before was designed with dynamism in mind, with dedicated hands-on workshops live on the show floor and the opportunity to test and touch new products and solutions over the course of the two days.
The educational content was exceptional, offering a conference programme filled with expert-led sessions on emerging trends and innovative practices. Highlights included Roz Gittins’ insightful talk, ‘Online Pharmacies: Sharing Learning from the Pharmacy Regulator,’ and a panel discussion on ‘The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board – What It Means for You.’ Chaired by Mahendra G Patel OBE, Head of the Centre for Research Equity at the University of Oxford’s Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, the panel featured distinguished speakers: Professor Claire Anderson, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society; Nicola Stockmann, President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK); Shilpa Shah, CEO of Community Pharmacy North East London and Independent Expert Member of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board; and Laura Angus, Chief Pharmacy Officer and Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation at the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board.
The exhibition showcased a vast array of products and solutions, representing a broad spectrum of the industry. Attendees included well-known household names like Barclays Bank, as well as major industry players such as Bio-Kult, Boots UK, ASDA, ARMY Medical Services, Brother, Procter & Gamble, Puffin Packaging, and LloydsPharmacy Clinical Homecare.
The showcased products included: PICKING HEAD by BD Rowa Technologies, featuring patented V-picking head technology for safe and efficient prescription picking of multiple packages; a NEW LAUNCH by BR Pharmaceuticals – Valucalm and ValuOva, a tailored blend of vitamins and nutrients designed to support individual health needs and lifestyle goals; and Liquid Skin: The Better Bandage by Clemence Medical. This shelf-ready pack contains six units of an innovative skin sealant, offering a superior wound care solution for small cuts, abrasions, and blisters, outperforming traditional plasters and bandages.
The Show featured more than just product displays. It also hosted companies offering valuable services to healthcare professionals, including Personal Tax Returns, Payroll Services, and Pharmacy VAT Returns. In addition, the Show attracted a wide range of prominent pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare brands, from large-scale organisations to smaller companies. Advocates and charities supporting community pharmacies across the UK were also in attendance, contributing to the event's diverse and impactful presence.
This is our pick of the best exhibitors from last year’s event, listed here in alphabetical order: Cripps & Maxim Group. Further details can be found on the next two pages.
Save the date:
The Pharmacy Show 2025,
12th-13th October 2025,
NEC Birmingham
