The Pharmaceutical Journal - Future Pharmacists Writing Competition Brief: Bridging the Gap Between Pharmacy Education and NHS Workforce Needs
The Pharmaceutical Journal (PJ) is calling on MPharm students and Foundation Trainee pharmacists to submit their evidence-based critiques of pharmacy training with the aim of improving practice readiness.
Pharmacy education and training has undergone substantial changes in the past four years, with the introduction of new standards from the General Pharmaceutical Council. However, the roles of pharmacists in every setting are also evolving at pace.
Together with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (BPSA), The Pharmaceutical Journal is launching a writing to competition inviting BPSA members to critically examine the evidence on the practice readiness of pharmacist graduates in light of these changing responsibilities and propose well‐considered changes to the curriculum, placements, or foundation training that will better align with the evolving demands of the NHS.
Submissions must be evidence-based, and aim to stimulate constructive debate on how to improve pharmacy education for future healthcare challenges.
We look forward to your innovative and thoughtful contributions to this important discussion on the future of pharmacy education in the NHS.
Please note that all submissions must be entirely original work and must not have been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Submissions that fail to meet this requirement will be flagged by the Competitions Coordinator and other members of the judging panel, resulting in disqualification of the entry.
So, how do I enter?
Entrants should be a member of the BPSA - studying for a Pharmacy degree or undertaking their Foundation Training Year.
Please email completed essays to editor@pharmaceutical-journal.com with your full name, university and year of study (e.g. Becky Smith, ex Cardiff University, Foundation Trainee Pharmacist) and include ‘PJ Future Pharmacists Writing Competition’ in the subject line.
Please note that entries CANNOT be revised once submitted.
By submitting your work, you agree that the competition organisers may publish your submission in the event of success.
Assessment Criteria:
Focus question: ‘Examine the evidence on practice readiness of pharmacist graduates and propose changes to the curriculum, placements or foundation training to better align with evolving NHS demands.’
Target audience: Pharmacy professionals with an interest in healthcare policy, pharmacy education, and clinical practice innovation.
Individual entries only: This competition does not accept group submissions.
Articles should follow a clear and structured approach that includes:
A headline: A short, punchy title that captures the argument.
Introduction: Set out the problem of practice readiness among pharmacist graduates, explaining its significance for patient care and the NHS.
Evidence review: Provide a balanced discussion of existing evidence, using quantitative data and peer-reviewed sources where possible.
Analysis: Identify key issues that contribute to gaps in practice readiness.
Proposals for change: Clearly outline actionable changes. Support your proposals with relevant evidence or successful examples from comparable contexts.
Counter arguments: Briefly acknowledge alternative perspectives or potential challenges to your proposals and explain why your recommendations are both innovative and feasible.
A conclusive call-to-action or recommendation.
Conclusion: Summarise your key points and reinforce the potential positive impact of your proposed changes.
All claims and data should be supported by published evidence.
All authors must disclose any conflicts of interest.
References:
All submissions should include a numbered reference list at the end of the article.
Images and tables may be included and references should use the Vancouver referencing style.
Articles should be no more than 1,200 words (excluding references, titles and captions).
Articles should be submitted in Microsoft Word format.
All articles must have accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Additional Notes:
Tone and style: Submissions should be written in an authoritative yet engaging tone.
Authorship and acknowledgement: All individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the submission should be named as co-authors.
If any writing assistance or editorial support was received, including the use of AI, this should be acknowledged appropriately.
Adjudication process:
All entries will be assessed by a panel of experts based on the following criteria:
Relevance and focus: How well does the submission address the central question regarding practice readiness and proposed educational reforms?
Evidence and analysis: Is the argument underpinned by robust, peer-reviewed evidence? Are claims clearly articulated and supported?
Innovation and feasibility: Do the proposed changes to the curriculum, placements, or training offer realistic, innovative solutions that respond to evolving NHS needs?
Structure and clarity: Is the piece well-organised, logically structured, and engaging from the headline to the conclusion?
Writing quality: Is the submission written in a clear, concise, and professional manner, free from typographical and grammatical errors?
Shortlisted participants may be contacted for further clarification or invited to provide additional information on their submission.
The winner and runner-ups will be notified following the competition deadline.
Feedback will NOT be provided on all submissions.
The Prize:
First Place: The winning article will be published in The Pharmaceutical Journal, and the winner will be invited to spend a day with The PJ team to observe how the latest news, features, and learning content are delivered to readers.
Runner-ups: The runner-ups will also have the opportunity to have their article published in The Pharmaceutical Journal.
Deadline:
Monday 2nd June 2025 23:59 GMT+0
Late submissions will NOT be considered. Entrants should ensure they allow sufficient time for submission.
For any queries regarding the submission process, content guidelines or technical issues with the submission, please contact the competition organising team at editor@pharmaceutical-journal.com.
These guidelines have been developed to ensure that each submission meets the highest standard and contributes meaningfully to ongoing debates in pharmacy practice. Best of luck with your submission, we look forward to reviewing your evidence-based proposals!
Erica Agyei-Bekoe
Competitions Coordinator 2024/25
This information is also available on The Pharmaceutical Journal website. Click here for competition details.
