Nicola Kelly, the Society’s membership assistant,
gives a copy of the new leaflet to a visitor to the Society’s
stand |
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Network News is produced by The Pharmaceutical Journal in association with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's public relations and membership unit as a service to members of the Society resident in Great Britain
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Think for a moment how you first became interested in becoming a
pharmacist. Maybe it was a visit to a local pharmacy that inspired you
or a family
member who was a pharmacist? Perhaps you saw a presentation school or
heard about the pharmacy profession through your careers adviser? Whichever
way it was it is likely that someone helped you to make up your mind
by showing you how diverse and rewarding a career in pharmacy could be.
This is why the Society is encouraging branches to get involved with
promoting pharmacy careers locally. Of course, many branches already
do a great deal to promote pharmacy by visiting schools, attending careers
conventions and forming links with local and regional education and training
partners. The value of such work was highlighted in a survey undertaken
by the Society in autumn 2005. Almost 58 per cent of branches responding
to the survey proactively work with their local schools and colleges
to promote pharmacy to young people.
At the beginning of 2005, the Society’s public relations and membership
team took over responsibility for promoting pharmacy as a career and
since then have produced a range of new careers materials including a
leaflet, poster, presentation and website (www.pharmacycareers.org.uk).
This work has already attracted the support of Jane Kennedy MP, the health
minister with specific responsibility for pharmacy issues.
She said: “The website, which the Society has developed, is a valuable
resource. It provides useful information to help with career decisions
and highlights the great diversity of career pathways within pharmacy,
as well as the valuable contribution pharmacists in all areas can make
to patient care.”
Cath O’Brien, the Society’s Director for Wales, has been
using the new careers materials extensively. She says: “We have
had great success at engaging with Careers Wales. Local help with careers
through the Branch network is vital to maintain the momentum and ensure
that we get out and about to all of the schools and local careers fairs
and get our message across.
“We are keen to engage with the schools sector. There are falling
numbers of students choosing science subjects and we need to stimulate
interest
and make students aware at a young age to ensure we can encourage pharmacy
as a career choice. To ensure this we need to educate both students and
careers teachers in schools, but we can only do this effectively with
the support of the branches.”
Bharat Nathwani, Council member and sponsor for the branch and regional
network says: “Branches are in an ideal position to
be the first point of contact for anyone considering a career in pharmacy.
With exciting new career opportunities across all sectors of the profession
there has never been a more exciting time to embark on a career in pharmacy.”
For more information about the support available to promote pharmacy
careers contact Nicola Kelly via e-mail at careers@rpsgb.org or call
020 7572 2330.
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Pharmaceutical Journal