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A Numark survey of its members' 2014-15 pre-registration trainees has revealed that
56 per cent have an ambition to own their own pharmacy. Only 12 per cent of those questioned dismissed it out of hand with the remaining students undecided.

The survey was conducted among over 100 pre-reg trainees working in independent pharmacies before they took their registration assessment.

The trainees were asked what they saw themselves doing in five years' time €“ 18 per cent said they would be working in their own pharmacy and 35 per cent believed they would be working in an independent community pharmacy.

Very few harboured desires to work for one of the multiples (14 per cent), perhaps reflective of their choice of independent pharmacy for their pre-reg year. Hospital pharmacy was the preferred destination of 15 per cent.

Yvonne Tuckley, Numark's learning and development manager, said: €What is evident from the survey is that many of our trainees have entrepreneurial desires, which is great news for the future of the independent sector. It appears that they are inspired by business owners, whether family members or the tutors they have met in their pre-reg year.€

When asked whether, knowing what they know now, they would still choose a career in pharmacy, few said an outright 'no'. Two-thirds (68 per cent) said they would still do a pharmacy degree, with a quarter (24 per cent) saying they would have considered it more carefully.

Working in a community pharmacy was largely how they imagined, according to 63 per cent of respondents. Some 22 per cent said it was actually better than they imagined.

However the survey showed that the pharmacy degree course didn't necessarily prepare students for life at the coalface. The trainees were asked: 'What do you think your degree course should have covered, but didn't?'. The responses were varied, but a fifth mentioned the Drug Tariff, reimbursement and endorsement, and many mentioned OTC products. A substantial number of respondents said they would have benefited from more extended placements to understand the practicalities of being a pharmacist.

In response to the question 'What should you have paid more attention to at university?', the trainees again highlighted OTC workshops plus pharmacy law and ethics, clinical sessions and dispensing errors.