UKPPLAB Board publishes collaborative proposals for the future of the Royal College of Pharmacy

UKPPLAB Board publishes collaborative proposals for the future of pharmacy professional leadership as part of the Royal College of Pharmacy

The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board has today published its proposals for a bold and ambitious new approach to pharmacy professional leadership in the UK, involving a more inclusive Royal College of Pharmacy by December 2029. Developed collaboratively by Board members, the proposals set out recommendations for the future strategy and form of the Royal College when it is established in April 2026. The proposals are designed to create a new professional home for pharmacy, with an ambitious strategy, which is inclusive from the beginning, and has a clear, attractive offer for members, and which is grounded in engagement with patients and the public. The proposals have been developed by the eight professional leadership bodies and specialist professional groups and independent expert members involved in the Board, which include the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

The Board’s recommendations for the future Royal College cover:

1. Endorsing and adopting the Vision and Common Purpose for Pharmacy Professional Leadership principles as foundational for its work.

2. Embedding collaboration and co-creation as watchwords, so its strategy is co owned by those engaged in pharmacy professional leadership across the UK.

3. Committing to a wide-ranging engagement exercise on its strategy, including the Board’s contributions, to identify early tangible actions.

4. Leading a three-stage inclusion process to include specialist professional groups, pharmacy technicians and Northern Ireland within the Royal College subject to consultation and special resolution votes.

On future strategy the Board commends five ambitions:

• Co-create a unified and inclusive professional home.

• Prioritise excellence and ambition in education, innovation, research and career development.

• Strengthen the collective voice of pharmacy professional leadership through collaboration.

• Renew relationships, enhancing engagement with members, potential members and wider stakeholders.

• Showcase and promote the best in pharmacy leadership.

Board members have signed up to a three-stage inclusion process to be completed by December 2029. This outlines how the Royal College could become a more inclusive professional leadership home for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmaceutical scientists, pharmacy trainees and students, and others working in pharmacy across the UK, including Northern Ireland.

Key elements could include (all subject to the required engagement, member consultation and member votes):

• Inclusion of pharmacy technicians as Royal College members with distinct and equitable representation at Council, Senate and Board level.

• Inclusion of pharmacists in Northern Ireland as Royal College members - and forming a National Council for Northern Ireland.

• Inclusion of the specialist professional groups and their members, through the creation of a Forum of Specialist Associations – involving the British Oncology Pharmacy Association, the College of Mental Health Pharmacy, the Primary Care Pharmacy Association and the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association in the first instance – and its subsequent incorporation through a formal role in the Royal College’s governance and professional leadership.

View the UKPPLAB 'A New Future for Pharmacy Professional Leadership in the UK' statement February 2026

View the Graphic - A New Future for Pharmacy Professional Leadership in the UK

The APTUK Executive Committee reflects on the statement and our members below:

Amy Laflin - APTUK President shares her reflections in a video

Gail Hall - APTUK Vice President shares her reflections in a video

Trudy Krysta - APTUK Professional Lead for England shares her reflections in a video 

Register for a webinar: Next steps towards an inclusive Royal College of Pharmacy 

Each webinar will have a particular focus, but everyone is welcome to join.

To register, please sign up here: 

• Tuesday 24 February, 6-7pm – to focus on pharmacy technicians across the UK.
• Wednesday 25 February, 6-7pm – to focus on pharmacy teams in Northern Ireland.
• Tuesday 3 March, 7-8pm – to focus on members of specialist professional groups.
• Wednesday 4 March, 1-2pm – to focus on pharmacy students and trainees.