New Pharmacy Manager Joins Local Team From Down Under

08/20/2012 / SubmitMyPR /

Ben Sherwood has been welcomed to the community of Charlbury as Pharmacy Manager of The Midcounties Co-operative branch on Market Street, a popular local Pharmacy selling well known medicines and sun creams while offering prescriptions.

Originally from Brisbane, Ben aged 34 has settled in Oxford to join the Midcounties team after working between England and Australia as a pharmacist for over ten years.

After qualifying in 2002 from University of Queensland, Ben worked in a number of independent pharmacies across Queensland before coming to work in England for Boots for one year. He enjoyed the experience so much, he convinced his wife to move to the UK permanently, immigrating in 2008.

Since then, Ben worked at Lloyds Pharmacy for over three years but was drawn to The Midcounties Co-operative Pharmacy because of its co-operative values.

Ben said: “After working in a range of pharmacy businesses, it’s a breath of fresh air to find one with the same values I believe in and even better that we get to celebrate them for this International Year of Co-operatives.

“I enjoy the friendly atmosphere and Midcounties community focus is fantastic.”

Being a pharmacist wasn’t always Ben’s plan. He started his working career in the military in Australia but wanted a job that involved more interaction with people and was in demand across the world, allowing him to travel.

Ben added: “It’s great to be part of a community pharmacy again as I grew up in a small town. I’m looking forward to getting to know my local customers and building on the personal services we offer.”

Julie Sheldon, Midcounties’ Operations Manager, said: “We’re thrilled to have Ben on board. He has an impressive wealth of experience which he can apply in his new role and share with the team.

“He’s a passionate individual and will challenge us as a business which we’re really looking forward to.”

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Midcounties Co-operative has its headquarters in Warwickshire, with trading outlets in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and the surrounding counties.

The Society’s trading groups are food retail, funeral, travel, pharmacy, childcare nurseries, employee benefits and energy. The Midcounties Co-operative is the largest independent co-operative society in the UK and has more than 470 branches, and 245,000 active trading members. It has recently been ranked in The Sunday Times Best 100 Companies To Work For list.

The Society's mission statement is 'To be a successful consumer co-operative working towards creating a better, fairer world, and to enhance the lives of our colleagues, members, customers, and the communities we serve'.

For more details call Sarah Stevenson at Seal on 0121 616 5800.

Visit www.midcounties.coop

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives, highlighting the contribution of co-operatives to socio-economic development, particularly their impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The Year will highlight the strengths of the co-operative business model as an alternative means of doing business and furthering socio-economic development.