Training and development
Alliance Boots is a dynamic international group and achieving our ambitious goals depends on the motivation and quality of our employees at every level. Our employees are a key asset.
We believe working for Alliance Boots offers an exciting and stimulating environment where employees can develop their careers. We offer considerable scope for personal and professional development through training and international mobility. We also provide opportunities for continuous learning undertaken in the working environment. There is a significant amount of ‘on the job’ training within the business environment.
Pharmacy degree course at the University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’
As a pharmacy-led business we have always been interested in supporting the education of pharmacists. We have been aware for some time of the need to develop a world-class, internationally recognised pharmacy qualification. In 2008/09, we achieved this goal in partnership with the University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’ and The University of Nottingham School of Pharmacy. Following the signing of a co-operation agreement, a new five year pharmacy degree course has now begun for international students at the University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’.
Both universities involved have an international reputation for excellence in their respective fields. The University of Nottingham School of Pharmacy will provide the necessary degree accreditation and will help the lecturers at the University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’ develop the new elements of this degree course. The course will focus on developing students’ understanding of the demands of the modern pharmacy profession, in terms of both delivering healthcare and building a successful business. In addition, we will be able to work with our partners to develop projects to combat the threat to public health posed by medical counterfeiting across the globe.
This course offers an opportunity for student mobility, joint research projects, integration of students with different cultures, traditions and background education and finally gives qualified people an opportunity to work in an international context at university, in research centres, and in multinational companies, as well as at the national or European medicines agencies. It is a truly international pharmacy platform for students. To ensure quality and allow for maximum interaction between professors and students the programme has been initially limited to 80 students per year.
The University of Nottingham School of Pharmacy’s special professor
I recognise the importance of pharmacy education and I am proud to be part of it
Ornella Barra
Chief Executive, Pharmaceutical Wholesale Division
Alliance Boots is strongly committed to the pharmacy profession and the education and development of future pharmacists.
Ornella Barra, chairman of the social responsibilities committee, gave her first lecture in December 2008 as special professor at The University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy. Part of the lecture covered the changing nature of pharmacy and the clear need for entrepreneurs in the industry.
Taking training and development further
Alliance Boots is committed to the wellbeing of its people and to supporting them through training and development to realise their true potential. During the year many new training initiatives were launched to support our people.
Boots UK launched a new e-learning system in August 2008, which enables our people working in stores to access learning materials at a time that suits them.
The Boots Commercial Academy was set up in October 2008 to help improve the commercial capabilities of management teams across the business, including category management. In addition, during 2008/09, over 2,500 employees attended Boots UK’s Leadership Development Programme. As part of this initiative, a series of two day courses led by area managers were run for the benefit of 1,200 store managers, enabling stronger relationships to be built within the newly-formed area teams. During the year, the same initiative provided a range of further development opportunities for many other employees across the stores organisation including senior leaders, area managers and human resources professionals. The programme helps managers engage with our people so that they understand the future of the business and the importance of their role in achieving our goals.
During 2009/10, action is being taken to extend the programme to every local pharmacy store manager in order to enhance leadership behaviour and further transform the organisation for the benefit of colleagues and customers.
Great Place to Work Survey
The Great Place to Work employee survey, which measures the level of engagement employees have within the workplace, was developed by Boots UK and remains an important element of their annual human resources programme.
National Training Awards winner
Boots UK was awarded a National Training Award in October 2008. These awards celebrate organisations that achieve outstanding success through training and development. We received the award for the training and development activity that was undertaken regarding our distribution centre network. As part of our Skills for Life programme, a wide range of training opportunities were made available for our people, including the ability to work towards qualifications on site as well as facilitating access to a wide range of vocational training opportunities. Over 1,300 of the network logistics team have engaged in this kind of learning.
