Use our industry guide to find key background information, market research, import and export guidelines, statistics, legislation, trade bodies and trade publications.
The Business & Industry Guides series is produced by the Library & Information Service for ICAEW members and ACA students.
We can compile tailored key players reports, mailing lists, market reports, benchmarking reports and industry news. Our enquiry team can also research other industry-specific information, such as taxation, for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.
Trends and forecasts
Pharmacy market review 2024
Review of the UK pharmacy sector published by Christie & Co giving an overview of the market over the past 12 months and analysis of events and factors that will impact the future of the sector.
Market research
Market research reports focusing on this business sector are available from a number of market research specialists. In most cases these reports are available to fee-paying subscribers or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Some free information is available from the following market research specialists, ranging from industry news to executive summaries of the reports.
Euromonitor
A full listing of reference products and research reports on health and beauty specialist retailers from Euromonitor, with a range of global, country and company level reports. Each report provides a contents listing and a useful executive summary reporting on the key trends in each country report.
IBISWorld
Business and industry research specialists offering reports on a wide range of sectors including dispensing chemists in the UK. Report snapshots, table of contents and a sample report are available. The company also produces global industry research reports.
Mintel
A full listing of reports covering the pharmacy industry with the option to view the executive summary and a table of contents for each report.
Useful links
Community pharmacy 2019: Measuring the market
Information on the number and type of of pharmacies in Great Britain and changes in the market since 2016. Published by the Pharmaceutical Journal on 26 March 2019.
Industry news
Statistics on the UK
NHS Business Services Authority
NHS Business Services Authority compiles the regular report General Pharmaceutical Services which includes information on the number of community pharmacies and contractors in England and the services they provide. Data is broken down by region.
Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC)
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee provides information on pharmacy funding in England and statistics on a range of areas including number of community pharmacies, dispensing and remuneration.
Community Pharmacy Wales
The funding and statistics section of the Community Pharmacy Wales site provides data on a range of areas including dispensing, prescribing and services performance.
Office for National Statistics
The Annual Business Survey (ABS) from the Office for National Statistics collects financial information covering UK production, construction, distribution and service industries. Statistics available include:
- number of enterprises;
- total turnover;
- approximate gross value added at basic prices;
- total purchases of goods, materials and services;
- total employment costs;
- total net capital expenditure;
- total net capital expenditure – acquisitions;
- total net capital expenditure – disposals;
- total stocks and work in progress – value at end of year;
- total stocks and work in progress – value at beginning of year;
- total stocks and work in progress – increase during year.
The dataset Non-financial business economy, UK: Sections A to S includes statistics for:
- Dispensing chemist in specialised stores (47.73)
See Division 47: Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles
Statistics on Europe
Eurostat
Eurostat, the EU statistics hub, collates detailed Structural Business Statistics giving the latest figures for industry, construction, trade and services by sector and country. The indicators available include:
- number of enterprises
- turnover or gross premiums written
- production value
- value added at factor cost
- gross operating surplus
- wages and salaries
- social security costs
- gross investment in tangible goods
- gross investment in land
- gross investment in existing buildings and structures
- gross investment in construction and alteration of buildings
- gross investment in machinery and equipment
- number of employees
- number of persons employed per enterprise.
Statistics within the database are available for:
- Dispensing chemist in specialised stores (G4773)
See database section ‘SBS – trade’
Employment
UK
The Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) includes average employment costs within this sector which can be found in Table 14. Average employment costs are provided for full-time employees, part-time employees and all employees.
The data includes average employment costs for:
- pharmacists
- pharmacy and other dispensing assistants.
The annual Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), published by the Office for National Statistics, includes total employee and employment estimates for different industries for Great Britain and the UK. Figures are broken down to show full-time/part-time and public/private splits. The dataset Industry – Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Table 2 includes statistics for:
- Dispensing chemist in specialised stores (47730)
Other regions
Please see individual country profile pages for links to sources of national statistics.
Legislation and regulation
UK
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) provides some information on regulations for community pharmacies.
Business guides
The Library can supply business guides on this sector to ICAEW members and students.
UK key players, ratios and trends
UK benchmarking
Trade bodies
The websites of trade bodies and other organisations in this sector are a useful source of industry overviews, contacts and statistics.
UK
- Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies
- Association of Pharmacy Technicians
- Company Chemists’ Association
- Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland
- Community Pharmacy Scotland
- Community Pharmacy Wales
- General Pharmaceutical Council
- National Pharmacy Association
- Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC)
- Pharmaceutical Society NI
- Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Europe
The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union's web site includes a list of member organisations across Europe.
Global
The International Pharmaceutical Federation provides a list of member organisations.
Trade journals and publications
Trade journals, B2B magazines and specialist consumer magazines are another useful source of news and statistics.
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