Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week and the incredible impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses, and the economy

This week, we proudly celebrate our apprentices at Alliance Healthcare, including Karly Godber, Customer Care Coordinator. Since joining us in 2018, Karly has completed two apprenticeships and experienced remarkable growth due to her commitment to learning and development.

Karly shares her journey: "Starting as a Customer Service Advisor, I was determined to build a career within Alliance Healthcare. I seized every opportunity and enrolled in an apprenticeship to achieve Customer Services Level 2. It not only enhanced my confidence but also led to a promotion as Senior Advisor. The SWOT model I learned on the course really helped structure my interview answers."

Following this, I embarked on the Team Leader Level 3 course. Despite virtual workshops due to the pandemic, we learned extensive knowledge from leaders across various areas of the business. Within three months, I became a Team Manager and utilised my newfound skills during a challenging period of change."

Apprenticeships have not only given me more skills and confidence in my career path, but they have also provided development opportunities and progression at Alliance Healthcare. As a team manager, I've encouraged eight team members to pursue their own apprenticeships, resulting in improved service and overall customer experience!"

Karly has now recently joined the Area Customer Care Management team and we wish her the best of luck in her new role!

Alliance Healthcare UK and Pharmacist Support Join Forces for Student Bursary Scheme

Alliance Healthcare UK, the country's largest medicines wholesaler, is partnering with Pharmacist Support in a three-year collaboration. Their joint effort will bolster the charity’s Student Bursary Scheme. 

Pharmacist Support is an independent charity that strives to enhance the well-being of pharmacists and their communities. A key initiative of theirs is the Student Bursary Scheme. This programme offers invaluable aid to 3rd year MPharm students (or 4th-year students on a 5-year sandwich degree) who are coping with unexpected hurdles. The scheme assists students enduring financial difficulties to proceed with their studies and make valuable contributions to Great Britain's pharmacy sector. 

Successful applicants receive bursaries between £3,000 and £5,000. These funds equip them with resources to surmount challenges and forge successful careers in pharmacy. 

Danielle Hunt, Chief Executive of Pharmacist Support, shared her enthusiasm about this partnership:  

"Collaborating with Alliance Healthcare UK represents a significant stride in our continuous endeavour to support future generations of pharmacists." 

Hunt also highlighted that both organisations share a commitment towards empowering the upcoming generation of pharmacy professionals. By engaging in this long-term collaboration, Alliance Healthcare UK becomes instrumental in driving Pharmacist Support's strategic plans for lasting change within the pharmacy industry. 

Marie Evans, Managing Director at Alliance Healthcare UK echoed Hunt's sentiments:  

"We are excited to partner with Pharmacist Support on their annual Student Bursary Scheme. This partnership reflects our commitment to investing in the future of pharmacy professionals and fostering a supportive environment for aspiring talents in the field. We believe in the importance of investing in the education and well-being of aspiring pharmacists, and this partnership aligns perfectly with our values and commitment to making a positive impact on the communities we serve." 

This three-year agreement marks an advancement in fostering positive change within the pharmacy sector by providing opportunities for growth and success. Both organisations anticipate making substantial contributions to student lives through the Pharmacist Support Student Bursary Scheme which launches on 29th January 2024. 

The central message behind this partnership is unequivocal: both organisations are profoundly committed to aiding those within the pharmacy profession who are grappling with adversity. This collaborative endeavour not only demonstrates corporate social responsibility but also promises enduring improvements within the broader pharmacy community. 

How can students apply?

The Bursary Scheme will open on Monday 29 January 2024

To request a bursary application form and guidance notes, Students should email grants@pharmacistsupport.org with evidence that they are enrolled on the 3rd year of an MPharm degree course (or 4th year if undertaking a 5-year sandwich/integrated degree).

The closing date for applications is 22 April 2024.

Exeter site welcomes local MP

On Friday 12 December we hosted a visit from Exeter’s Labour MP, Ben Bradshaw, and the Party’s parliamentary candidate for Exeter, Steve Race, Alliance Healthcare’s Exeter service centre in Marsh Barton.

Ben and Steve were given a full tour of the site by Simon Jones, Regional Operations Manager, and Lewis Bonthrone, Fleet and Transport Manager. The two were shown how our sites deliver medicine to over 1,400 sites across the southwest and met some of the 200+ Exeter team members, such as Luke Howarth and Angela Ford pictured.

Following the tour of the site, Ben and Steve were briefed about the business and the important role the site plays in the medical supply chain. The two were impressed by the enormous coverage of the Exeter service centre and our importance to the medical supply chain as the UK’s largest distributor of NHS medicines.

Our teams are committed to creating healthier futures. Together with our suppliers and partners, we play a vital role in helping patients get the medicines they need in the right place, at the right time.

Thank you to everyone involved in the visit and a special thanks to those at the Exeter site for all of your hard work.

Alliance Healthcare team member receives King’s New Year’s Honour

We are thrilled to share that Alliance Healthcare UK’s Health & Safety expert, Jon Cornforth, has been recommended by his Majesty the King to receive the honour of the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM), for service to the community of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, particularly during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Jon was dedicated to keeping teams and customers safe during the pandemic, enabling us to deliver medication, including vaccines and lateral flow tests to the NHS, pharmacy and dispensing doctors seamlessly throughout. He has given a huge amount of time to fundraise for various charities, alongside supporting young people of all educational and social backgrounds and abilities, to encourage triumph over adversity. 

Sally Gillborn MBE, CEO of North Notts Business Improvement District described him as a “compassionate, community minded individual who will always go that extra mile to help wherever he can”, He is also recognised for his hands-on help given to local charities, schools and colleges.

His impressive list of contributions include:

• - Championing the skills agenda for young people overcoming difficulties including drug addiction.
• - Working to help ex-offenders in a prison to improve their long-term employment prospects.
• - Presenting to Y11 students to provide hope and reassurance to those who didn’t excel in academic      exams.
• - Sourcing plumbing and building materials for a local college for use by apprentice plumbers and   builders and by the charity ‘Hope for the Homeless’, to be used to upgrade housing.
• - Developing the first business plan for the North Notts Business Improvement District Steering    Group, ensuring that skills and community initiatives were at its forefront.
• - Working with the Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, who support education, inclusion,   health and fitness.
• - Fundraising for Rotherham College.
• - Providing local schools with advice, hand sanitiser, posters and social distancing kits during the   pandemic.
• - Completing the Yorkshire Peaks challenge for charity three times.

When asked about this amazing recognition he said “I don’t do any of it for my own personal reward – I just like helping people.”

Congratulations, Jon-Paul Cornforth BEM!

Alliance Healthcare UK supports Mental Health UK this December

Mental Health UK is a charity that delivers national and local services that promote understanding and management of mental health in a person-centered and empathetic way. We are proud to be supporting better mental health for all in December, and have raised over £1,300 so far from festive fundraising stalls and a Christmas raffle at our Support Centre.

Amidst our busiest time of year, our Operation team membersalso found the time to give back to local causes and communities nationwide. Today, Exeter generously donated over 40 lunches to St Petrock’s, a local charity that has been supporting homelessness for a decade. We extend our gratitude to all our teams for coming together this month to support those who need it most.

UK Minister for Public Health visits Alcura

We were delighted to welcome the The Minister for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care, the Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP to Alcura’s Brackmills site to show her the fantastic work our Northampton team are doing.

The minister was given a full tour of the site by Alcura’s Head of Production, Ellie Taylor, and saw first-hand the vital role our staff play in the medicine supply chain.

The minster then sat down with Alliance Healthcare’s Marie Evans, Owen Cooper, Sam Unsworth and Catherine Van Vilet to discuss the key challenges the sector faces and the incredible work of Alcura’s home care offering. 

Thank you to everyone involved in the visit and a special thanks to the Alcura Northampton Team for all of your hard work. 

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2023: Alliance Healthcare UK and Alphega Pharmacy Reiterate Their Commitment

Alliance Healthcare UK and Alphega Pharmacy are once more rallying behind World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) this year. This marks a continuation of their support from the previous year, as they aim to tackle the global challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

The theme for WAAW 2023 is "Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together”. This decision was made after a comprehensive online consultation by the World Health Organisation, with stakeholders spanning human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors in search of an impactful campaign theme.

This year's WAAW runs from the 18th till the 25th of November. The week-long initiative aspires to raise awareness about global antimicrobial resistance (AMR), driving best practices regarding antimicrobial usage to curtail the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

Marie Evans, Managing Director, Alliance Healthcare said: “We are once again proud to be supporting AMR week to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage best practices for using antimicrobials. It is important to continue to share awareness of this and pledge our support along with the NHS.”

The campaign alerts people that unnecessary intake of antibiotics could lead them towards having more serious or prolonged infections and strongly encourages adherence to doctor’s advice on antibiotic use.

Support us and the NHS during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

Alliance Healthcare continues its pledge to be an Antibiotic Guardian and is proud to support this campaign once more. Find out more here.

Alliance Healthcare UK and Alphega Pharmacy UK support Pharmacist Support’s ACTNow campaign

Alliance Healthcare UK and Alphega Pharmacy UK are once again proudly supporting Pharmacist Support’s ACTNow campaign.

The campaign supports pharmacists and pharmacy teams to encourage a mental health and wellbeing culture shift in the workplace, this year’s focus is to highlight real life workplace wellbeing practices that have made a positive impact.

ACTnow encourages individuals to:

• - Allow time for wellbeing
• - Consider the needs of others
• - Take action

In 2022, the ACTNow campaign achieved remarkable milestones, with a 49% increase in sign-ups and a 197% rise in social media engagement compared to the previous year. The campaign garnered over 16,000 website page views, reached a broader audience, including more male pharmacists, and received overwhelming positive feedback, with 88% of participants finding it very useful or useful, and 85% expressing the desire for future campaigns.

To find out more about the ACTNow Campaign please click here.

Alliance Healthcare Team Member Completes Blenheim Palace Triathlon in Aid of Cancer Research UK

Alliance Healthcare UK Chessington Support Centre team member, Roslyn Glover, has raised over £2,900 for Cancer Research UK taking part in this year’s Super Sprint Triathlon.

Roslyn was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 2019 and started running as part of her recovery. In 2020, she took part in the Race for Life 5km race and then, inspired by the GB Triathlon Team, Roslyn decided she would train for a triathlon.

The Super Sprint Triathlon is a 400-meter lake swim, 13.3km cycle and then a 2.9km run set in the grounds of UNESCO World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace. Each year, over 7,000 participants of all ages and abilities take part in the triathlon.

Roslyn finished the lake swim and closed road course in an impressive 1 hr 22 mins 51 secs this June.

The Cencora Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Alliance Healthcare’s parent company Cencora, is proud to show support for Roslyn by donating $2,500 USD bringing the total to almost £5,000. You can still donate here.

Ros Glover, AHUK customer finance team member, said:

“I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 2019, so the Cancer Research charity is, quite literally, very close to my heart. I was inspired by the GB Triathlon Team at the Tokyo Olympics and set my sights on completing a triathlon with the ambition to raise funds for the charity. It was an incredible challenge but completing the race gave me a real sense of achievement. A huge thank you to everyone who sponsored and supported me.”

Sam Unsworth, Head of Communications at Alliance Healthcare UK, said:

“This is a fantastic achievement and Roslyn should be proud of the extraordinary sum she has raised for Cancer Research, which has been matched by the Cencora Foundation. We are pleased that so many Alliance Healthcare UK team members showed their support for Roslyn, and we look forward to seeing what challenge she takes on next.”

AmerisourceBergen becomes Cencora, in alignment with the company’s growing global footprint and central role in pharmaceutical access and care

New name of company reflects unified global presence and collective goal of creating healthier futures by accelerating positive outcomes for customers and their patients

Company announces more than $5 million commitment to global corporate philanthropic efforts

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (August 30, 2023) – Cencora, Inc. (NYSE: COR) today announced the completion of its name and stock ticker change from AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE: ABC), marking the latest stage of the company’s evolution as a leader in global pharmaceutical services. Cencora will begin trading under the new ticker symbol “COR” on the New York Stock Exchange at the open of the market trading today, August 30, 2023. 

Under the new name Cencora, the company unifies its 46,000 employees – across several global business segments – under one identity, propelled by a bold vision and purpose-driven approach to creating healthier futures.

The new name underscores Cencora’s experience and vision when it comes to connecting manufacturers, providers, pharmacies and patients, and ensuring the consistent, reliable flow of treatments to those who need them at a time of growing complexity.

"Today is a significant and exciting milestone for Cencora. Our new name is a reminder of our customers, their patients, and our team members who are at the center of everything we do,” said Steven H. Collis, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer of Cencora. “It represents the healthier futures we strive for serving as a trusted industry partner that prioritizes innovation, advocates for patient access, and advances strategic partnerships across the global pharmaceutical value chain.”

As a global healthcare company, Cencora will continue to invest in and focus on its core pharmaceutical distribution business, while also growing its platform of pharma and biopharma services to support pharmaceutical innovation and access across the globe.

Aligned with the company’s purpose, and to commemorate this seminal moment in the organization’s history, Cencora also announced a $5 million donation to the Cencora Impact Foundation, formerly known as the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, an independent not-for-profit charitable giving organization. The donation will be used to launch the Cencora Healthier Futures Grant Program, which aims to identify opportunities to support those on the front lines of healthcare in underserved populations who are driving innovation in global health. Targeted donations from the Cencora Healthier Futures Grant Program, operated by Cencora Impact Foundation, will go toward nonprofits and charities around the world that are advancing access to care and directly impacting communities in need.

The inaugural donation out of the Cencora Healthier Futures Grant Program will be a $500,000 grant made to the UNICEF Health Fund, which focuses on ensuring every child has the ability to survive and thrive by providing strong primary healthcare systems, training healthcare professionals, and working closely with national governments to ensure programs are replicable at scale. These system-wide responses aim to reduce the number of maternal and newborn deaths, provide children with immunizations, reduce malnutrition, address adolescent mental health, and combat the rise of non-communicable diseases. 

“We are grateful for support from the Cencora Impact Foundation to help UNICEF deliver large-scale, sustainable results in ensuring the health of the world’s most vulnerable children,” said V. Renée Cutting, Chief Philanthropy Officer, UNICEF USA.

Cencora Ventures, formerly known as AB Health Ventures, the company’s dedicated corporate venture fund, has also committed to donating 10% of future realized profits to support the efforts of the Cencora Impact Foundation and its continued work to improve healthcare access globally.

For more information about the rebrand and updated design and branding elements, visit: www.cencora.com

About Cencora

Cencora is a leading global pharmaceutical solutions organization centered on improving the lives of people and animals around the world. We partner with pharmaceutical innovators across the value chain to facilitate and optimize market access to therapies. Care providers depend on us for the secure, reliable delivery of pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, and solutions. Our 46,000+ worldwide team members contribute to positive health outcomes through the power of our purpose: We are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures. Cencora is ranked #11 on the Fortune 500 and #24 on the Global Fortune 500 with more than $200 billion in annual revenue. Learn more at www.cencora.com