The 19th annual C+D Awards lit up the London Hilton on Park Lane on Thursday 10 September, as the community pharmacy sector came together to celebrate the professionals, teams and businesses raising the bar for patient care.
Congratulations to every winner, and to everyone who made the shortlist you represent the very best of a sector that continues to push, grow and put patients first.
This year’s winners spanned coveted favourites like Community Pharmacist of the Year and Independent Pharmacy of the Year, alongside the two new categories introduced for 2026: one recognising the growing importance of face-to-face services and consultations, and another shining a brighter light on the emerging and established talent coming up through the sector.
Our thanks to host Anton Du Beke, to our expert independent judges, and to all our sponsors for making the night such a success.
Already looking ahead to 2027
The C+D Awards will return to the London Hilton on Park Lane on Thursday 9th September and we’d love to see you there.
Book before the end of October to take advantage of our special early-booking offer and secure your seat or table at the best possible rate.
To book, or if you have any questions about the ceremony, reach out to the C+D Awards team at natalia.kay@citeline.com.
Thursday, 9 September 2027
Drinks reception from 6.30pm
London Hilton on Park Lane
22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE
Sponsorship available
Headline, category & bespoke packages
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This award honours a company producing OTC or prescription brands that has demonstrated exceptional partnership with pharmacy teams. Entrants should show meaningful collaboration, valuable educational or in‑store support, joint initiatives that enhance category performance, and clear benefits delivered to pharmacies and their customers.
WINNER
Smart Inhaler Assistant by Smart Respiratory & Pearl Chemist Group
FINALISTS
Whether you are a branch manager, running your own pharmacy, or acting as superintendent, you strive to be the best. Tell us how you have utilised delivery of your contract, developed clinical services and built links with patients and peers.
Community Pharmacist of the Year is always one of our most hotly contested categories but this year it surpassed everything that came before. We were overwhelmed by the sheer number of entries, and by the calibre of the pharmacists behind them: dedicated professionals going above and beyond for their patients and communities every single day.
The standard was so exceptional that narrowing the field was one of the hardest tasks our judges have faced. After much deliberation, we’ve shortlisted the following outstanding individuals and with so much talent on show, we’re thrilled to announce that this year the category will crown two winners.
Congratulations to every shortlisted pharmacist. Making this list is an achievement in itself, and you should be enormously proud. The two winners will be revealed at the C+D Awards ceremony on Thursday, September 10.
WINNERS
FINALISTS
This award focuses on the work done by pharmacy teams, organisations and individuals to challenge inequality. Tell us about an innovative course your pharmacy has run to educate staff about diversity, or an initiative you’ve implemented to promote more diversity in your team. However you’ve promoted equality and diversity, let us know!
WINNER
The Pharmacy Foundations Scholarship Award
FINALISTS
Whether you are a GP or PCN pharmacist, you strive to be the best. Tell us how you have maximised delivery of your contract, developed clinical services and built links with patients and peers.
WINNER
Mina Hunjan, St Wulfstan Surgery
FINALISTS
A travel clinic? Smoking cessation? Diabetes screening? Do you provide public health services? Or perhaps clinical services like flu vaccinations? This is the category for you to showcase your work, and the initiatives you have taken to build upon those good and useful ideas.
WINNER
Liverpool Community Pharmacy Implant Service, Green Lane Pharmacy
FINALISTS
Independent pharmacy juggles a billion things constantly – all while delivering modern, patient-centred services combined with a customer experience that aims to exceed chain retailers – a constant challenge in today’s funding environment. Rewards are due for all, only one can win.
WINNER
Campbeltown Pharmacy, Campbeltown
FINALISTS
Great pharmacy businesses innovate, evolve and raise the bar for competitors with creative ideas that move a business forward. Have you innovated? How, and what impact did it have? Whatever you have done the judges will want to see how your business and, most importantly, your customers have benefited.
WINNER
Life Sciences and Clinical Trials, Boots
FINALISTS
Whether working at the coalface as a pharmacist or technician, in head office as a superintendent, in a professional development role, or as an area or regional manager, an award-worthy manager makes things happen, and makes their team feel good about doing it. Is that you? Or is that your manager?
WINNER
Nicola Brown, Christchurch Pharmacy Mace Avenue Braintree
FINALISTS
Perhaps you have helped recruit patients to your pharmacy’s services and delivered health promotion activities. Or maybe you improved safety or efficiency in the dispensing process, while mentoring colleagues. Either way, this is your time to shine.
WINNER
Ella Walker, Cadbury Heath Pharmacy & Health Clinic
FINALISTS
Tell us how your team puts your pharmacy or pharmacies at the heart of the community it serves, how it has overcome obstacles by working together and how it has used individual skills and strengths to create an even more powerful whole – all to the benefit of patients.
Pharmacy Team of the Year captured the very best of community pharmacy this year, and the response was phenomenal. Entries poured in from teams right across the country each one a reminder of what’s possible when people pull together, play to their strengths and put patients first.
With such an incredible volume of high-quality entries, choosing a shortlist was no easy feat. Our judges have narrowed it down to 20 exceptional teams, and given the strength of the field, we’re delighted to confirm that two winners will be named in this category.
WINNERS
FINALISTS
Back for 2026 and more relevant than ever is the Pharmacy Technician of the Year award. Introduced in response to the changing landscape of community pharmacy, and the role pharmacy technicians are playing in it, we are looking forward to seeing who is nominated the second time around.
WINNER
Emrys Penny-Baker, Pill Pharmacy
FINALISTS
NEW for this year and introduced in response to the growing importance of face to face consultations in community pharmacy. Those at the frontline have the responsibility of being the public face of Pharmacy First and winning over a public more used to GPs. This award reflects the importance of these roles to the future.
WINNER
Roshni Kale, Asda
FINALISTS
Graduating to a bona fide C+D Award following the success of its launch, The Pills was created by C+D to focus on emerging and established talent in the pharmacy industry, bring it all together, and synergise success for all involved. Now The Pills will take a longlist of entrants and whittle them down to just one. Whether you’re a superintendent, an owner, a dispensary assistant or a delivery driver, a pharmacy technician or a plain old pharmacist – let us know. This award will be voted on by the industry itself – and more details on how to submit your application will follow.
WINNER
Paul Mayberry, Mayberry Pharmacy
FINALISTS
VOTING CLOSED
The winner of this award won’t be your average trainee pharmacist; they will have set themselves apart from their peer group with their drive, ingenuity, ideas and commitment to make a difference to their community.
WINNER
Inioluwa Adenuga, The Brooke Surgery / Imaan Healthcare
FINALISTS
Trainers never get the respect they deserve, the budget they need, or the time to make it happen. But have you developed an innovative training programme? Are you a tutor who has found new ways to make that all important training happen? Tell us all.
WINNER
Gompels Services, RUH Bath & BSW ICB
FINALISTS
Jay Badenhorst
Healthcare & Pharmacy Leader
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Healthcare & Pharmacy Leader
Jay is a pharmacist and healthcare leader with over 20 years of experience across community pharmacy, organisational leadership, research, and national representation. After qualifying in South Africa, he established his career in the UK, progressing from frontline pharmacy management to executive and company director roles within independent pharmacy groups, including Whitworth Chemists.
He has held several senior leadership and representative positions across the sector, including as Chair of Community Pharmacy Tees, and as a Board Member and Vice-Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, representing community pharmacy at a national level during a period of significant sector challenge. Most recently, he served as Director of Pharmacy at the Pharmacists’ Defence Association, contributing to work that supported and advocated for employed and self-employed pharmacists. In this role, he influenced national policy, commissioning models, and professional standards through engagement with the NHS, regulators, and government stakeholders.
Jay is an award-winning pharmacist, recognised as C&D Community Pharmacist of the Year in 2015, with additional accolades for leadership and professional excellence. He has contributed to research on early cancer detection, public health interventions, and integrated vaccination service models through community pharmacy and holds a Master of Laws (LL.M., Distinction), which underpins his interest in healthcare regulation and policy.
Stephanie Bancroft
Chair and Co-Chair
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Chair and Co-Chair
Parkinson's Disease Specialist Pharmacy Network (PDSPN) and Pharmacists Consortium London North West (PCLNW)
Stephanie is a community pharmacist and lead for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in North-West London. She organizes regular educational events that support pharmacists’ CPD for revalidation and has led several award-winning projects for community pharmacists, with the aim of improving patient outcomes. Stephanie is deputy chair of the Parkinson’s Disease Specialist Pharmacy Network and a member of Brent and Harrow Local Pharmaceutical Committee.
Rebecca Bastable
Membership Director
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Membership Director
Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK
Rebecca Bastable has worked within pharmacy for 27 years and has been a qualified pharmacy technician for 17 years. Throughout her career, she has held a wide variety of roles across acute hospital services, community pharmacy, the British National Formulary (BNF), integrated cross sector services, and most recently NHS England. This breadth of experience has provided her with a strong understanding of the pharmacy landscape, workforce development, and the evolving role of pharmacy technicians across settings.
As the Membership Director for the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK), Rebecca leads the development and delivery of a targeted membership strategy aimed at driving engagement, strengthening retention, and supporting sustained growth across the UK. She brings expertise in professional standards, collaborative system working, and programme development, applying this to ensure a positive and meaningful membership experience.
Rebecca is passionate about advancing the pharmacy technician profession and ensuring members feel informed, supported, represented, and connected. Her work directly supports APTUK’s mission to champion, develop, and elevate pharmacy technicians, while contributing to the organisation’s strategic priorities and long term vision for the profession.
Chris Bonsell
Senior Clinical Pharmacist in General Practice and Pharmacy Tutor
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Senior Clinical Pharmacist in General Practice and Pharmacy Tutor
Chris has experience of working across many sectors of pharmacy including academia, community, hospital and prison pharmacy. He now mainly works in primary care as a pharmacist independent prescriber and as a Senior pharmacist supporting the training and development of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. He sits on the executive board of the Leeds Palliative Care Network as lead for medicines management and has extensive leadership & EDI experience. He is a member of the PCPA Leadership forum and sits on the UKCPA community pharmacy and Education & Development panels.
Clare Briggs
Sales Director
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Sales Director
Tradebridge
Clare Briggs is Sales Director at TradeBridge, responsible for both the sales team and the relationship experts who manage the client portfolio. She has over 25 years in banking and finance and has specialised in the Healthcare sector 7 for years. Clare's career took her to New York from 2014 to 2019 and in 2021 she joined TradeBridge to focus on the Pharmacy and Dental finance products.
Ashley D Cohen
Managing Director
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Managing Director
Pharm-Assist (Healthcare) Ltd
Ashley Cohen is a pharmacist with over 30 years’ experience having worked in Hospital, Primary care, and for the last 20 years has built up a family based Pharmacy group in Yorkshire. Ashley has developed substantial expertise in providing external clinical contracts to many organisations including, Prison, Hospital, Hospices, intermediate care units, and care homes. Ashley currently has over 10 Pharmacy professional staff employed who work split sector across a number of locations supporting clinical decision making, medication management and formulary development. Ashley is a PCN community pharmacy lead, a committee member for Community Pharmacy North Yorkshire, Chair of Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire and a National Pharmacy Association board member.
Matt Duggan
Associate Director of Marketing
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Associate Director of Marketing
Lupin Healthcare
Matthew Duggan is an experienced pharmaceutical and digital health leader with over 12 years’ experience spanning product management, marketing, sales leadership, and learning & development. He is currently Associate Director of Marketing at Lupin Healthcare, where he leads strategic and operational marketing initiatives across key products and portfolios.
Matthew has a strong track record of delivering commercial outcomes through clear strategy, cross functional collaboration, and effective stakeholder engagement. His background includes senior product and brand management roles at organisations such as Lupin Healthcare, my mhealth, and Chiesi Group, with experience across respiratory, digital health, and self management solutions.
Known for his strengths in change management, project leadership, and influencing across complex organisations, Matthew combines a clinical foundation in physiotherapy with advanced business and marketing development.
Liz Fidler, FAPharm, MBA
Senior Professional Advisor – Pharmacy Technician Practice
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Senior Professional Advisor – Pharmacy Technician Practice
NHS England
Liz joined NHS England in March 2022, having previously held the post of Chief Executive Officer and President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK from 2019-2022. She has held regional posts as Associate Dean for Quality, Interim Pharmacy Dean and Associate Head of Pharmacy in Health Education England. Liz has also worked with the General Pharmaceutical Council as an Education Associate and has held operational leadership posts across many sectors of pharmacy. Liz is an Advisor to the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board and Independent Advisor to the Department of Health Northern Ireland Pharmacy Technician Regulation and Development Oversight Group.
Thorrun Govind
Pharmacist, Solicitor
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Pharmacist, Solicitor
Brabners
Thorrun Govind is a Pharmacist, Solicitor and trusted TV health expert who is dedicated to making healthcare advice accessible and easy to understand. With a passion for preventative health and well-being, Thorrun regularly appears on national television and in the media to share practical tips on topics ranging from nutrition to mental health and everyday wellness.
As a former Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Thorrun has extensive experience in public health and is a leading advocate for empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health. Her clear, relatable approach has made her a go-to voice for trusted health advice, helping people across the UK take small steps towards living healthier lives.
Yasmin Haq
Community and Practice Pharmacist
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Community and Practice Pharmacist
Yasmine is a Clinical PCN Pharmacist working across the North East of England. She splits her time over her practices, working in community and training the new generation of pharmacists through the PCPA. She graduated in 2019 at the University of Sunderland receiving the Jemma O'Sullivan award for her determination, care and compassion shown throughout her degree. Within her time as a Pre-Registration and Provisional Pharmacist she won Pre-Reg of the year for both C+D Awards 2020 and The Pharmacy Business Awards 2020. Her scope of experience started 11 years ago starting as a pharmacy assistant and since then has developed countless qualities to encourage and support many around her. She has since been one of our Women in Pharmacy Advisors, featuring on the podcast series 'a coffee with' and shared her story at The Pharmacy Show 2021 live.
Gordon Hockey
Director, Legal
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Director, Legal
Community Pharmacy England
Gordon practised as a community pharmacist before working for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in various roles, including secretary to the statutory (disciplinary) committee. He is qualified as a barrister and for almost 17 years he worked for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, first as Assistant Registrar, in charge of standards and fitness to practise procedures for veterinary surgeons and nurses; and later as Registrar of the College.
Alison Jones
Director of Policy & Communications
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Director of Policy & Communications
PDA
Alison has worked in the pharmacy and healthcare sector for over 18 years, predominantly in government affairs and policy for LloydsPharmacy, Celesio UK and latterly McKesson UK. This work included leading on consultations across a broad range of policy areas, developing strategic stakeholder engagement plans and working with trade and representative bodies. Prior to her healthcare roles, Alison worked in the public sector for a police authority and the Department of Employment, now known as the Department of Work and Pensions.
Gareth Jones
Director of External and Corporate Affairs
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Director of External and Corporate Affairs
NPA
Gareth is a pharmacist and leads the NPA’s work on policy and external engagement with the NHS, politicians, civil servants and other key stakeholders. He works with other pharmacy associations across Europe and globally via the World Pharmacy Council. He also leads the NPA’s corporate affairs function, supporting the NPA Board, made up entirely of frontline members, in setting the organisation’s direction.
Michael Keen
Past CEO
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Past CEO
Kent and Kingston LPCs
Mixing it up like an old-fashioned chemist, Michael has enjoyed a career spanning many areas of pharmacy and pharmaceuticals. Currently a Fellow of the RPS he also works as a locum. Previously he was chief executive of two LPCs, was a professional liaison for Pfizer, ran operations at the CCA and was superintendent pharmacist at Superdrug. His wide ranging experience and subsequent insight make him a perfect judge for the C+D Awards.
Tess Player
Founder
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Founder
White Coat Consultancy and Confido Collective
Tess Player is the founder of White Coat Consultancy, an independent strategic advisory to the consumer healthcare industry, and of Confido Collective, a specialist healthcare communications agency. She advises companies including Opella, Colgate-Palmolive and Kenvue on healthcare professional engagement, health literacy, and brand and category strategy.
Tess spent almost three decades with SmithKline Beecham, GSK and Haleon. As Vice-President and Global Head of Expert at Haleon from 2014 to 2024, she led a 6,000-strong global function across more than 100 markets and built the healthcare professional engagement model recognised by investors as the company's primary strategic differentiator. She led Haleon's corporate launch to healthcare professionals at the 2022 spin-off, earning 73% trust in the new company within twelve months, and directed its multi-year scientific partnerships with the International Pharmaceutical Federation, the FDI World Dental Federation and WHO-aligned NGOs. Her earlier GSK career included global brand leadership of Sensodyne, where scientific engagement with dental professionals grew the business fourfold across 18 markets, and of Nicorette in the US, where partnership with public health bodies helped secure smoking bans in half of US states.
Pharmacy sits at the centre of her governance work. Tess is a director of the FIP Foundation board, supporting grants, scholarships and capacity-building for pharmacists worldwide, and a school governor. Her work has been shortlisted at Cannes Lions and won Gold at the PM Awards. As a judge, she looks for entries where the evidence is as strong as the idea.
Tim Rendell
Advisor
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Advisor
Community Pharmacy
Tim is a highly experienced community pharmacy leader with more than four decades of senior leadership experience, combining operational expertise, clinical governance, strategic insight, and academic rigour.
He served as Head of Pharmacy and a board member at Day Lewis, leading teams across more than 300 pharmacies nationwide, driving performance, developing people, and shaping organisational strategy. Tim continues to support the Day Lewis family business in an advisory capacity.
Tim holds a Doctorate in Health from the University of Bath, with research focused on pharmacogenomics services in community pharmacy, resulting in multiple peer reviewed publications. He is a Senior Visiting Lecturer at the University of Bath and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Leicester.
He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pharmacy, a GPhC registrant, and Chair of the Executive Operations Board at CPPE. Tim also contributes to pharmacy education through advisory roles with the University of Bath, the University of Leicester, and the GPhC, and is a member of Community Pharmacy Avon and Wiltshire.
David Ridley
Senior Editor
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Senior Editor
HBW Insight
David Ridley is a consumer health analyst covering OTC markets, self-care trends, and industry strategy for HBW Insight. His work focuses on how shifts in consumer behaviour, regulation, and innovation are shaping the future of consumer healthcare.
Aled Roberts
Associate Director Contractor Engagement
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Associate Director Contractor Engagement
Community Pharmacy Wales
Aled is a Community Pharmacist Independent Prescriber, who graduated from Cardiff in 2008, and completed his Independent Prescribing qualification in 2021. Aled fits patient facing work – including delivery of the Wales Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Service - around his main role as Associate Director of Contractor Engagement at Community Pharmacy Wales. In this role he provides support for the Welsh community pharmacy network in delivering all elements of the CPCF, as well as leading national work for CPW on Collaborative working, the Choose Pharmacy digital clinical platform and Electronic Prescribing.
Sukhy Somal
Head of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services
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Head of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services
Black Country ICB
Sukhy has been a pharmacist for over 25 years, she has a vast amount of experience in senior leadership and management roles. These include: District Manager, Area Manager and Professional Services Development Manager. She has previously been a care homes trainer and consultant, as well as the Managing Director of two pharmacies in the Black Country. She has won three consecutive C+D awards, including Manager of the Year 2020, Team of the Year 2021 and Independent Pharmacy of the Year 2022. She has a wealth of experience in delivering training, project management and quality improvement. Her current role in the Black Country brings all her knowledge and skills together in the delivery of successful integration and collaboration across the Black Country Integrated Care System.
Ian Strachan
Member
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Member
NPA
Ian Strachan began his professional life at the Home office as an established forensic scientist at Aldermaston in Berkshire. He is a pilot, a teacher and a writer producing the first accredited training for care homes in the UK. Ian was the longest serving chairman of the national pharmacy association between 2014 and 2018. A period regarded by many as a defining and halcyon period for community pharmacy. He is now a member of the Independent Pharmacy Association board and owns a small group in the Northwest of England.
Mital Thakrar
Head of Private Services
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Head of Private Services
Well Pharmacy
Mital Thakrar is Head of Private Services at Well Pharmacy, where he leads the development and growth of innovative clinical and digital healthcare propositions across the UK. With a strong focus on commercial strategy, patient experience and service innovation, he is passionate about advancing the role of community pharmacy. He is deeply passionate about community pharmacy and its potential to transform access to care and improve patient outcomes.
