Ramila Shah’s positive thinking and dedication to detail certainly caught the judges’ attention in the Retail Skills category

In her near quarter century working at Avicenna Pharmacy in Luton’s Bury Park, Ramila Shah has been repeatedly asked if she wants to transfer from the shop floor to the dispensary. She has always declined, saying: “Even though I have trained as a dispenser, I love engaging with the customers.” This zeal is just one of the factors that saw her awarded a Highly Commended in the Retail Skills category.

Ramila loves merchandising and creates displays so eye catching that the pharmacy has earned the nickname “The Beauty of Bury Park”. She skilfully ties in products related to the season and customer base, and is adept at link sales. It is a rare staff member that gets asked for by name, but this is exactly what many do when they visit the pharmacy, and the assistant manager is always happy to oblige.

While Ramila’s long service means she knows every nook and cranny of her pharmacy and many of the customers – and indeed their children – she says she still loves to learn new skills and extend her knowledge, either from formal educational opportunities or simply by watching what other staff members do well. She even enjoys the arrival of a new locum, saying: “It is great to get another perspective on our role in the community.”

She is delighted at her success at this year’s Awards, for which she was nominated by Avicenna retail head Naz Meghji, and puts it down to “positive thinking and trying to deliver the best service you can”. The judges’ agreed that Ramila’s pride in creating an inviting and interesting retail environment really shone through in her entry.

So is Ramila looking for a new challenge now? Not in the slightest. She says: “I enjoy my job every day and love making a difference to people’s lives... I’m still going and hope to keep going for a long time yet!”