PRESS RELEASE: UKPPLAB Launches ‘Big Conversation’ on a Vision and Common Purpose for Pharmacy Professional Leadership

The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (UKPPLAB) is launching a ‘Big Conversation’ as part of a groundbreaking collaborative approach to shaping pharmacy professional leadership for the future.

‘Enabling us to be the best that pharmacy can be’ webinars will be held across the UK from 3 to 25 February 2025, giving pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider pharmacy team members an opportunity to have their say on a proposed vision and common purpose for pharmacy professional leadership.

To join, choose from the list of webinars below and click the link for details and to sign up. You don’t have to be a member of a professional leadership body or specialist professional group to join a webinar. All webinars are open to everyone.

Mon 3 Feb, 6-7.15pm UKPPLAB (England)

Tues 4 Feb, 12.15-1.30pm College of Mental Health Pharmacy

Wed 5 Feb, 12.15-1.30pm Primary Care Pharmacy Association

Thurs 6 Feb, 4-5.15pm UKPPLAB (Scotland)

Mon 10 Feb, 4-5.15pm UKPPLAB (Wales)

Tues 11 Feb, 4-5.15pm UK Clinical Pharmacy Association

Wed 12 Feb, 4-5.15pm British Oncology Pharmacy Association

Thurs 13 Feb, 4-5.15pm UKPPLAB (Public and Patient Group)

Mon 24 Feb, 12.15-1.30pm Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK

Tues 25 Feb, 7-8.15pm Pharmacy Forum Northern Ireland

The UKPPLAB - made up of eight pharmacy professional leadership bodies (PLBs) and specialist professional groups (SPGs), and independent expert members - was set up in response to the UK Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership. In a first for pharmacy, Board members are co-creating shared principles for inclusive, effective and sustainable leadership that will help enable PLBs and SPGs to meet the opportunities and challenges of the future.

“The world of pharmacy is changing at an unprecedented pace, and we believe it’s crucial to involve the whole pharmacy team in shaping what comes next for leadership of the professions,” said UKPPLAB Independent Chair, Sir Hugh Taylor.

“By hosting these webinars, we’re creating a platform where voices from across the UK can come together to give their views and ensure that vision and common purpose for pharmacy professional leadership of the future is inclusive and effective with collaboration at its core.”

The series of webinars, open to everyone working in pharmacy, will feature Board members from across the professions who will lead discussions on the vision for professional leadership and the importance of collaboration across organisations, sectors and geographies.

Joan Saddler, Chair of the UKPPLAB Patient and Public Reference Group, “I see the webinars as an opportunity to capture a wide range of views. At a time of significant planned change, where care and support closer to home will become increasingly important for patients and the public, the role of leaders working with and through communities will become even more important to patients and the public. Pharmacy leaders can help communities access services more quickly in ways that meet the needs of different communities. It's important that we hear everyone’s views. Please get involved, we need to hear from you."

Feedback from this national conversation will be considered by the Board in March 2025 and a final, updated vision and common purpose will be published in Summer 2025.

The first webinar will take place on Monday 3 February and will be followed by a series of online sessions throughout February. Participants can register for any of the webinars at https://jointheconversation.scwcsu.nhs.uk/pharmacy-professional-leadership

Comments from Board members included:
“APTUK is delighted to be collaborating on the shared vision and common purpose of the UKPPLAB and will continue to professionally lead on behalf of pharmacy technicians, ensuring parity of esteem in future-facing pharmacy strategy and workstreams.”
Nicola Stockmann, President, Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK.

“The UKPPLAB is an opportunity for our pharmacy professional leadership bodies, specialist professional groups and the wider pharmacy team to collaborate and work together for our profession and our patients. With our joint vision - which embraces unified and inclusive leadership, advocacy and public awareness and aspires to be a unified and powerful voice for our pharmacy profession – we will endeavour to co-design a shared vision for professional leadership which we are all proud of, that will enable us to be the best that pharmacy can be.”
Joe Williams, Chair, British Oncology Pharmacy Association

"Pharmacy students have a unique perspective that can help shape the future of professional leadership. By engaging in this conversation, you're not just sharing your opinion - you're helping to create a stronger, more unified leadership that will benefit patients and everyone working in pharmacy now and in the future."
Emeka Onwudiwe, President, British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association

Now is a very important time for all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to have their say in the future of pharmacy professional leadership in the UK. I would encourage everyone to get involved in the conversation, whatever memberships you may or may not have in pharmacy leadership bodies or specialist interest groups. This is a rare opportunity to input your views into a shared, unified and collaborative voice for UK pharmacy with the aim of directly improved outcomes for patients.
Karen Shuker, President, College of Mental Health Pharmacy

"The UKPPLAB provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to catalyse real and lasting changes to pharmacy leadership across all four nations in the UK. Speaking to hardworking colleagues providing patient facing services across different settings, a commonly reported theme has been a disconnect between pharmacy leadership organisations and their working lives. We must ensure we co-design meaningful leadership and representative organisations that offer practical and accessible support for pharmacy professionals throughout their working lives. I would encourage all colleagues to engage and contribute in the coming months to ensure we create strong and robust pharmacy leadership for the future."
Graham Stretch, President, Primary Care Pharmacy Association

“The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board is a wonderful opportunity for professional leadership bodies and specialist professional groups to collaborate and work together to support pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Along with the help of expert members, the UKPPLAB will be ready to tackle the challenges ahead in a cohesive and effective manner ensuring all voices from the pharmacy sector are heard and empowered.”
Sheelin McKeagney, Chair, Pharmacy Forum Northern Ireland

“Professional leadership strengthens the entire pharmacy ecosystem, and this draft Vision and Common Purpose for pharmacy professional leadership, which has been developed by members of the UKPPLAB Board working closely together, demonstrates the importance of open and effective collaboration. More collaborative leadership for pharmacy is something that will benefit our organisations today and shape the landscape for years to come.”

Claire Anderson, President, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

“The future of UK healthcare is dependent on collaborative and multiprofessional working to ensure better outcomes and experience for our patients. Where better to cement this first than within our own professions? The UKPPLAB offers us a once-in-a-career opportunity to bring everyone together, with unified direction, renewed purpose, and professional standards and development that we will be proud of amongst health and care professions, and that our patients and public can rely on.”
John Warburton, Chair, UK Clinical Pharmacy Association

About UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board:
The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board was established in 2023 to strengthen collaboration between pharmacy professional leadership bodies and specialist professional groups, enabling and supporting pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to meet the opportunities and challenges ahead.

The independent Board, chaired by Sir Hugh Taylor, includes 21 members who bring a wide range of expertise and experience. Over three years, the Board will lead the implementation of recommendations from the UK Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership’s report, published in February 2023.

Media Contact:
UKPPLAB Secretariat: england.ukpplboard@nhs.net