Published: May 24, 2022
Unity Trust Bank is proud to be an associate sponsor of the Scottish Pharmacist Awards 2022. The event is being held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Here, Relationship Manager Scott Hutchinson explains why Unity is committed to supporting the pharmacy sector and how our funding helps frontline healthcare providers deliver vital services to the people who need them:
The Scottish Pharmacist Awards is one of the most prominent events in the pharmacy calendar in Scotland and recognises the fantastic work pharmacies do in keeping our nation healthy.
As a commercial bank that only lends to organisations that deliver demonstrable impact in local communities, we have provided funding for 24 pharmacies in Scotland in recent years, many of them in rural communities where people rely heavily on their services.
Our commitment to the sector was never stronger than it was during the height of the pandemic when we provided loans and financial support worth £23m to pharmacy operators during 2021, enabling them to deliver valuable frontline healthcare.
Unity helps a broad mix of pharmacy customers – first-time buyers, established operators looking for a better relationship with a different bank and those wanting to expand their operations.
We offer something different from mainstream banks, and operators choose us because of two key factors – our sector expertise and our ethical and social values.
Whilst many banks no longer have healthcare specialists, Unity has a dedicated team of experienced relationship managers who understand the ins and outs of how pharmacies work, the pressures they face and how unique they are in terms of their finances and operations.
People are generally more discerning about who they do business with today and our values in wanting to create a better society by supporting organisations that address social, economic and environmental needs really resonate with pharmacy operators.
Pharmacies are no longer just seen as a place to pick up a prescription and are often the first port of call for people seeking same-day advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses and services such as blood pressure monitoring and flu jabs.
This is of particular benefit to the elderly, as they don’t have to wait for a GP appointment or travel miles to their local surgery.
The pharmacy sector helps relieve the pressure on GPs which ultimately benefits the whole community.
At Unity we also align our lending and carbon footprint to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone.
One of these SDGs focuses on ‘good health and wellbeing’ and pharmacies contribute by providing access to quality healthcare services, supporting the management of national health risks, helping to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance misuse and ensuring access to sexual and reproductive services.
If you would like you like to know more about how Unity Trust Bank can support the pharmacy sector, email scott.hutchinson@unity.co.uk
