With an amazing work ethic and always putting the needs of her customers first, Sophie Shanks is certainly one to watch in the future

Sophie Shanks was unwavering in her determination to work in pharmacy, saying: “I knew how great a career it would be.” Now a dispensing assistant at LloydsPharmacy in Buckley, Flintshire, she adds: “I can’t see myself doing anything else – the last two years have been such as fantastic experience.” Sophie’s Highly Commended in the Rising Star category, sponsored by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, shows that she is exactly where she should be.

Since starting her career, Sophie has completed her healthcare advisor and dispensing assistant training and is waiting to enrol on a pharmacy technician course, aiming to eventually become an accuracy checking technician. Jonathan Tabiner Shaw, area manager at LloydsPharmacy parent company Celesio UK, calls her “an asset to the branch”, praising her “amazing work ethic” and saying that she “can run the dispensary with her eyes closed”. He sees her going even further, stepping into supervisor and management roles, and becoming a key person for the company. This has already started, with Sophie attending a course at LloydsPharmacy HQ on electronic prescriptions so that she can train staff at other branches in Wales.

As well as managing the in-store dispensary, Sophie helps maintain the off-site dispensing system, and has been vital in building the pharmacy’s monitored dosage system service. She is delighted that the pharmacy has become a centre for hearing services in the area and is publicising this fact so that other pharmacies know they can refer patients as needed. She also helps out, covering illness and holidays in other branches.

Sophie’s instincts are well honed, despite not having many years of experience under her belt. For instance, when a customer kept buying thrush cream, she sensitively approached him and encouraged him to be checked for diabetes, which he turned out to have. Awards judge and 2016 Spotlight Award winner Myra Battle was particularly taken by this, remarking how Sophie is “happy having difficult conversations with customers to support their health”.