Clare Macpherson, Lead Pharmacist for Medicine

Why do I love my job? I love being a pharmacist because I get to help people feel better and understand how the body works. I didn’t want to be a doctor or a nurse because those jobs can be very hands‑on, but pharmacy was perfect for me. What’s really cool is that pharmacists can work in loads of different places — in a high‑street pharmacy, in a doctor’s surgery, in a hospital, or even in a lab helping to invent brand‑new medicines.

What did I love doing at school?  I was a total science fan! I liked most subjects, but physics and human biology were my favourites. I loved learning how things worked — especially the human body.

Childhood hobbies? I played lots of sport and represented my school in hockey, netball, tennis and athletics. I also learned to play the guitar and read loads of books. I liked keeping busy and trying new things.

How to get into pharmacy?  If you enjoy science — especially chemistry — and you like helping people, pharmacy could be a great job for you. My mum suggested it to me when I was about twelve, and later on I got a Saturday job in a pharmacy to see what it was like. I loved it, and I’ve worked in pharmacy ever since.

Related jobs? If going to university isn’t your thing, you can still work in pharmacy. You could train as a pharmacy technician or assistant, which means learning on the job while studying at the same time.

Career high? One of the proudest moments in my career was being invited to speak at a conference in Belgium about my work as a pharmacist prescriber. It felt amazing to share my experiences with pharmacists from another country and to know that what I do every day could help improve patient care in their country.

Begin your career journey

Discover roles in pharmacy with the NHS or National Careers Service.