Working in the UK with Boots

What pharmacy roles are available?

We predominantly offer relief roles to our 'New to UK' pharmacists. This means that, once you have completed your training period, you will be working in a number of stores within the same geographical area. Your training store will be within this relief area. This means that you will have wide experience of a number of stores and teams and you will be able to learn more quickly about pharmacy in the UK and the different store formats we have within the company. Most of our available positions are in the South West, North East and along the East coast. Please note; 'New to UK' programme is not available in London.

Where will I be based?

Most of our available positions are in the South West, North East and along the East coast. Have a look at the 'Make a Move' page for guidance and information on the locations on offer. Please note: 'New to UK' programme is not available in London. You can also Contact Lucy for an up-to-date list of opportunities.

How do I register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)?

We will help you to register, but you must follow the GPhC's application and assessment process, which includes an assessment of your qualifications and work experience. The application pack can be found on the GPhC website.

What language tests will I need to take?

The role of a Pharmacist is one of great responsibility and communication is central to your role. We therefore require advanced level English for EEA nationals that join us - that is level C1 in the Common European Framework (CEF), and we recognise any of the following English language qualifications certificates, as long as they have been attained in the last 12 months:

• University of Bath English Language Test (UBELT) - Level 3
• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Level 7
• Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Grade III

Boots work with the University of Bath to provide language tests for our pharmacists. Please see www.bath.ac.uk/ubelt for further details of the test.

Why is there a training period?

It is important that you are able to use your professional knowledge in the UK. It will help you to integrate into the company, into a new culture and into pharmacy in the UK. The programme takes 3 months and covers 4 main sections about the essential aspects of the pharmacists role; the National Health Service, the healthcare counter, the dispensary and Pharmacy law and ethics. The practical experience you will gain in the pharmacy on a daily basis will form the most important part of the training programme.

When will my training store be confirmed?

When you are offered a position with us we will tell you the geographical area in which you will be working. Once we have a confirmed start date from you we will be able to give you a specific store where you will be training for your first three months.

We'll support your registration with the GPhC and reimburse your registration fees. Your flight to the UK will, of course, be paid for by Boots. Once you're here, we'll provide you with four weeks' accommodation, help you open a bank account and arrange an appointment for you to get your National Insurance number. Once we have a date for your induction programme, we'll organise travel to our Nottingham Support Office for your induction, and cover the costs involved.

What help can I expect from Boots?

We will help you with your application, answer any questions you may have and help you register with the GPhC. When you first get to the UK, we'll help you to open a bank account and obtain a National Insurance number. Your colleagues in store will explain about travelling within the local area and the UK, the best places to live, eat and visit and any other day to day matters.

As part of our benefits package, we offer loans to permanent New to UK Pharmacists who work over 30 hours a week to help them with the cost of relocating to the UK. You must apply within your first six months of employment, this is a one-off loan of up to £5,000 and can be used to help with a deposit for rented accommodation, food, clothing or travel costs. The loan is interest free but must be repaid over 12 months. There is also a car loan available to all pharmacists.

Can I bring my family?

Of course. We want you to be happy and settled in the UK. We will pay for their accommodation in the first month too, so that you can all spend that time to learn about schools and potential jobs for your partner.

Where will I live?

For your first month in the UK we will pay for a hotel near to your training store to give you some time to learn about the area and find a house or flat to rent. The rental market in the UK is a large one and there are a wide variety of options available for you. We recommend that you use an estate agent for ease - they will arrange viewings on properties for you and ensure that the contract is fair. Please see www.rightmove.co.uk for some examples of prices and locations of properties.

How long is my contract with Boots?

Once you have completed your training period you will need to commit to 18 months with Boots as a practising Pharmacist. Ideally this will be the minimum time you spend with us - this is a permanent contract and we would encourage you to stay and develop your career with us in the UK.

Will I need to drive?

It is strongly recommended that you drive in the UK. You will need to travel between stores regularly and we find that for all of our pharmacists it is more convenient to drive. There is the option of using public transport to travel between stores of course but we often find that this takes up quite a lot of your valuable time.