Trainee pharmacists employed by Boots will receive a pay increase from 1 April.
As a result of an agreement between the retailer and the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) union, trainee pharmacists across England and Northern Ireland will receive a pay uplift.
The new hourly pay rates for those in Zone A in England and Northern Ireland will be £14.52, which is a 14% increase since last April when the rate was £12.69.
Those in Zone B will receive £14.52, a 5% uplift from £13.79, while those working in Zone C will also see a 5% rise, from £14.05 last year.
The pay zones are linked to the cost of living in the area.
A joint statement from Boots and the PDA stated: “Boots and the PDA are pleased to confirm that from April, there will be a pay increase for trainee pharmacists in England and Northern Ireland. The new pay rates will be applied centrally in the April pay run. The new rates will show during the annual benefits enrolment window from 18 February to allow team members to select benefits on their new hourly rate for 1 April.”
In October 2024, the PDA announced that fully qualified Boots pharmacists would receive a 4% pay uplift from the following month, with all eligible pharmacists not in their notice period, or who had not had a pay increase on or since 1 August, receiving it as part of a recognition of their role within the community pharmacy sector and the business.
Meanwhile, all qualified pharmacists with more than 10 years’ service on or before 31 October were paid a minimum of £53,000 per annum, with those eligible who remain below the threshold after the 4% rise receiving a further increase to bring them up to the minimum.
