In January, Training Matters began its search for the best in community pharmacy for the Recognition of Excellence Awards 2016

We wanted to find people who make a difference to their team, pharmacy and community and I'm pleased to say that we definitely found the best that that community pharmacy has to offer. Our judges whittled down the entries to just 21 finalists who joined us, the top brass of the pharmacy industry, and co-host, Falklands War veteran and inspirational speaker Simon Weston, for a celebratory lunch at the fabulous Dorchester Hotel in London on 30 June.

It's been a tough year for community pharmacy. Possible cuts and closures are causing worrying times, and with Brexit looming, pharmacy owners could be facing some hard decisions. And in turn, support teams may have to cope with difficult changes. But what has become obvious from all of this is the public's support for pharmacy. Their stories demonstrate the positive impact and the importance of community pharmacy teams.

And that's what this year's event was all about. Now in its third year, the Awards focus on one thing: rewarding hard-working and dedicated pharmacy support staff for their outstanding work. The Recognition of Excellence Awards set out to celebrate the many positive stories about community pharmacy and to recognise achievement.

We had some fantastic finalists this year, so read on to find out more about them and their inspiring stories:

Myra Battle may have a fighting name, but her ascent to the top of this year's Recognition of Excellence Awards was less of a fight and more a unanimous decision by the judges. Myra scooped the coveted Spotlight Award, the Counter Intelligence and Innovation gongs, as well as being named Highly Commended in the Outstanding Contribution category. Read more...

As her Awards entry proved, Gennie Charlett's dedication to pharmacy and her customers at her LloydsPharmacy branch in Witney, Oxfordshire, is second to none and this is why she was rewarded with a Highly Commended in this year's Customer Care category. Read more...

Boots Healthcare Advisor Helen Parton, from the Northgate branch in Newark, Nottinghamshire, took home two of the top prizes at this year's Awards ceremony thanks to her natural ability to read and adapt to different situations and maintain true professionalism in her role. Read more...

For Michelle Tingley, pharmacy technician at Dears Pharmacy in Glenrothes, Fife, open communication with customers is key to a successful service. This was applauded by the RoE judges and Michelle was awarded Highly Commended in the Customer Care category. Read more...

Jen Ainsworth, from Boots' Milton Keynes Crown Walk branch, thrives on helping customers and is making a positive difference to them and to her pharmacy. Her story caught the eye of our judging panel and she was named Highly Commended in the Infant Care category. Read more...

In 2007, Kelly-Marie Ball started her career in pharmacy as a delivery driver. Less than a decade later, now working as Team Leader at Priory Pharmacy in Dudley, she has scooped not one, but two Training Matters Recognition of Excellence gongs: Healthy Living Advisor and Team Leader 2016. Read more...

Cheryl Anne Payne, medicines counter assistant at Avicenna Pharmacy in Bishopsworth, Bristol, fought off fierce competition to be awarded Highly Commended in this year's Healthy Living Advisor category and says her Awards success is a personal triumph as well as a tribute to the success of the whole team. Read more...

Karen Janes, dispensary assistant at LloydsPharmacy in Wimborne, Dorset, impressed the judges with her enthusiasm and drive for providing professional services and was awarded a Highly Commended in the Healthy Living Advisor category at this year's Awards. Read more...

Sonia Cope from LloydsPharmacy's Rupert Street branch in Bolton, Lancashire, is committed to learning, realising that it is the key to providing customers with exactly what they need. This is why she was named Highly Commended in the Counter Intelligence category. Read more...

Deborah Aris may have started her career in pharmacy by accident, but after 25 years in the same Day Lewis store in Ledbury, Herefordshire, her passion, knowledge and dedication prove she made the right choice, as did her Highly Commended award in the Counter Intelligence category at the RoE Awards. Read more...

It was Tracey Doughty's passion for training, skincare and how to improve the pharmacy experience of customers at her Day Lewis pharmacy branch in Wareham, Dorset, that won over the judges and meant that she was awarded a Highly Commended in the Innovation category. Read more...

Charlotte Burls from LloydsPharmacy in Wantage, Oxfordshire, is using her knowledge to push LloydsPharmacy to the forefront of innovative services and systems. This caught the eye of the judges and resulted in her being named Highly Commended in the Outstanding Contribution category. Read more...

Agnieszka Galbas, assistant manager at Day Lewis pharmacy in Balham, London, won over the judges with her aptitude for building customer loyalty, promoting services and increasing the value of transactions and was named the winner of this year's Retail Skills category. Read more...

Rosalind Jones, supervisor and dispensing assistant at LloydsPharmacy in New Haw, Surrey, was bowled over when her area manager nominated her for the Retails Skills Award and even more so when the judges endorsed his decision by awarding her a Highly Commended in the category. Read more...

It was assistant manager Ramila Shah's positive thinking, dedication to pharmacy and pride in creating an inviting and interesting retail enviroment at Avicenna Pharmacy in Luton's Bury Park that caught the judges' attention in the Retail Skills category and led to her being awarded a Highly Commended. Read more...

Gemma Richardson left school after her A-levels, clueless about what she wanted to do next, but after two years in pharmacy, she's providing award-winning care which was recognised by the RoE judging panel as they awarded her a Highly Commended in the Rising Star category. Read more...

With just 14 months in pharmacy, newcomer Naomi Rettig, dispensing assistant at Rosser's Chemist in Monmouth, South Wales, proves it's never too late to find a career you love and was named Highly Commended in the Rising Star category at this year's RoE Awards. Read more...

Rupen Patel has climbed the pharmacy career ladder and become an invaluable asset at LloydsPharmacy, not only in his Goring on Thames branch but at a regional level too. His ambition and commitment to the company meant he was awarded the top accolade in the Rising Star category. Read more...

With nearly 40 years' unwavering enthusiasm and devotion to pharmacy, Barbara Wiseman, dispensing assistant at Avicenna Pharmacy on The Green in Luton, was a clear winner for our judges and came out on top in the Outstanding Contribution category. Read more...

From part-time sales assistant to non-pharmacist manager, Luke Simmons is leading the way at the LloydsPharmacy in Chertsey, Surrey and was awarded a Highly Commended in the Team Leader category at the RoE Awards for his hard work and dedication to his role. Read more...

Pharmacy technician Kiran Bening, from Superdrug's Market Way branch in Coventry, impressed our panel of judges with her proactive attitude, positive attitude and excellent leadership skills, which resulted in her being named Highly Commended in the Team Leader category. Read more...