June 2006

Associated Chemists (Wicker) Ltd were this week awarded the Platinum Design Award 2006 for excellence in shop design, beating around 1500 pharmacies from around the country to claim the top prize.

The biennial awards ceremony, which was held at the All England Lawn Tennis Association in Wimbledon on Friday, saw Wicker Pharmacy being chosen from a short list of four pharmacies, all of whom were competing for the top prize. Award sponsor ‘Ceuta’s’ Chief Executive, Edwin Bessant, said “The Platinum Design Awards set the standard for other pharmacy businesses to aspire to, and demonstrate to a wider audience the contributions to healthcare that pharmacies across the UK make on a daily basis.”

The Company has spent over £700,000 on refurbishments after a compulsory purchase order was served on part of the premises in 2004 to accommodate Sheffield’s inner relief road. The pharmacy features four types of consultation areas, two dispensaries, a robotic dispensing unit extending over two floors and a separate reception for drug misuse patients

Judges commented that the Wicker Pharmacy “design was clearly done in conjunction with customers, giving them what they need and want.”

Martin Bennett of the Wicker Pharmacy commented “I’m really pleased and would like to thank the pharmacy staff for all their hard work. I think when you walk into the pharmacy it’s got that ‘wow’ factor”.