Returning to work can be daunting. But a returner-friendly employer can make the world of difference.
Every month, Back To Work Connect spotlights Irish companies that offer the most support to returnees, so you can find your perfect back-to-work fit.
This month we’re profiling Uniphar.
If career progression opportunities, meeting new people, and working towards a bigger cause are important to you, then Uniphar may be the perfect place to restart your career.
Uniphar: Company background
Uniphar is one of Ireland’s leading publicly listed organisations, working to improve patient access to medicines globally, and providing outsourced and specialised services to their clients.
The company has several locations around the world, including in the US, UK and Ireland (Dublin, Sligo, Limerick, and Cork) with a workforce of almost 3,000 staff.
Wondering what exactly they do? Uniphar distributes medicines and products to all retail and hospital pharmacies nationwide, providing up to 11 deliveries each week.
Currently, they have a network of over 138 company-owned pharmacies under the Allcare Pharmacy, Hickey’s Pharmacy and McCauley Pharmacy brands.
Uniphar prides itself on its employees who they describe as the company’s “most important asset.”
The company employs people from different backgrounds, educations, and experiences – and offers great career progression opportunities. (And bonus: Achieving gender balance in key senior management positions is a priority for the company too!)
Uniphar is an inclusive employer that’s big on diversity and works hard to overcome any barriers that exist within the organisation.
The company has three separate divisions: Medtech, Supply Chain and Retail, and Pharma
Why work at Uniphar?
Re-entering the workforce can be daunting. Fortunately, Uniphar is a welcoming environment – and there are lots of great reasons to join the team.
There’s a broad range of roles available to suit everyone, including permanent, contract, full-time, part-time, customer-facing, office-based, warehouse roles, and lots more.
You’ll learn new things every day by working with experienced teams, gain broad experience, and have the opportunity to progress within the company. (Many of Uniphar’s staff have been with the company for many years and have been promoted many times during that period.)
The company offers internal training and onboarding programmes to ensure you always feel supported at work.
While Uniphar is quickly growing, they still work cross-functionally on a regular basis, which improves communications and relationships between departments and creates a fulfilling work environment.
Other perks include:
· Hybrid working
· Big company small office – meet/communicate with interesting people
· Free parking, subsidised lunches, recently refurbished office with meeting rooms
· Income protection, death in service, pension, EAP programme
What to expect
If a varied and exciting role is what you’re after, you’ll fit right in, because no two days are the same at Uniphar.
The company is growing at such a fast pace, that there is always something happening, something new to consider, and more people to meet.
On any given day, lots is happening at the office, from onboarding and induction training to training courses for pharmacists to events for Uniphar’s agency and own brands (Dr Hauschka, AYA, Kit&Kaboodle to name but a few).
Uniphar’s open plan offices provide ample opportunity for all departments to mix – great for communication and getting to know your new colleagues!
What employees love about working at Uniphar
There’s a lot to love about working at Uniphar. Current employees list career progression opportunities, flexibility, and the people as some of their favourite things.
Working towards a bigger cause is also an important and rewarding part of the job.
Everyone at Uniphar is working towards the goal of improving patient access to medicines. Everything they do – whether it is in finance, customer service, or the warehouse – is about getting medicines to pharmacies and hospitals to help those who need support.
When asked what his favourite thing about working at Uniphar is, Jeff, one of the company’s project managers, said:
“The people! Last year I was interviewing a candidate for a position in Uniphar, alongside someone who had been in Uniphar for over 15 years. When we came to the point in the interview when the candidate asked us about the pros of working for Uniphar, we both said ‘the people in the company’ – so it must be true!”
Careers at Uniphar
Uniphar has a broad range of opportunities available across its warehouses, head office, and on the road.
Warehouse: Uniphar offers opportunities across its warehouses at different levels from General Operatives, Engineers, Drivers, Team Leads and more.
Head office: Its head office consists of roles including Finance, Human Resources, Customer Service, Buying, Marketing, Quality, Supply Chain administration and more.
On the Road: Some staff spend their time on the road, making sales, creating business, getting out meeting people and checking in on pharmacies. Uniphar is always on the lookout for new Sales Reps, Business Development Executives, Territory Managers, Merchandisers and more.
To boost your odds of getting hired, you should do your background research on Uniphar and its businesses before interviewing. Uniphar looks for employees who are adaptable, quick thinking and focused on results.
Ideal candidates will also be smart, down-to-earth, highly commercial and driven.
Interesting in a career at Uniphar?
If you’d like to know more about the roles Uniphar is currently hiring for, check out our returner-friendly jobs board.