New home creates jobs at Halifax pharmacy

A pharmacy in Halifax has moved to new premises, creating two new jobs and increasing its range of services, with the support of a five-figure loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.

Ovenden Pharmacy is based within the Beechwood Medical Centre in Ovenden, West Yorkshire, and offers a full range of pharmacy services including NHS prescription dispensing, as well as additional specialist on-site treatments including smoking cessation clinics and blood-pressure monitoring.

The pharmacy had previously been located just across the street from its new home, but the move to the new, larger premises was part of the business’ long-term growth plans to expand and develop the range of services offered to customers and increase its range of commercial stock.

In addition to being closer to the GPs’ surgery for patients, the new site has also enabled the pharmacy to extend its opening hours much later into the evening. The firm currently has two on-site pharmacists as well as a team of eight members of staff, and the increased size and opening hours required the recruitment of two new employees.

Pharmacist and owner of Ovenden Pharmacy, Qasim Ashraf, approached Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking’s healthcare banking team to secure the Government-backed Funding for Lending scheme in order to acquire and fit out the new premises.

Qasim Ashraf said: “The move to the new premises marks a new chapter in our growth, enabling us to offer a range of new services within the pharmacy, and boosting our work with the local NHS Care Trust to provide minor ailment treatments, such as emergency contraception, as well as out of hours prescription dispensing.

“The constant support from our relationship manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking has been essential in completing the move, and we’re looking for new opportunities in the coming year to help us to build upon this growth.”

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