The United Drug Business Development (Independent) Award serves to recognise those who have displayed success in terms of sales, training, recruitment, customer service, Product development or other areas of business development.
The Award for 2023 was won by Higgins Pharmacy, Sligo.
The initial key challenge for Higgins Pharmacy was to define their own identity and objectives in order to become known to the Sligo people as kind and trusted professionals, like the Higgins family, who had started the business.
The team had a goal to maintain and then grow the business, whilst facing another challenge of having never run a business without support. One of the most important issues for the owners was to ensure a great team, which they feel is core to running a successful pharmacy business.
All of the business initiatives which they have started have all impacted greatly on the business and the community they serve. Being accepted onto the ‘Going for Growth’ and ‘Empower’ programmes have really helped in driving our business forward. Their mentorship programmes highlighted areas for improvements and forced the owners to look at areas needing attention.
Deirdre Butler, Owner and Pharmacist said, “We are delighted to win this Award. We have all worked extremely hard in pharmacy, especially during the pandemic and in recent times and to have this recognition is a real validation that we are doing something right.
“I believe that community pharmacy has proven to be the mainstay of healthcare in Ireland and we are proud to be in this profession and doing what we do for patients and for all our customers.
“Everyone here tonight are winners in my eyes. To even be shortlisted for these Awards is an honour as the standard of work and innovation throughout the island in pharmacy is of such a high standard, this is really the icing on the cake for us.”
