Following constructive discussions between Boots and the PDA Union negotiating teams, both parties are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached in respect of the 2026 pay claim, effective from 1 November 2026.
The agreement consists of the following changes to pay and benefits:
- All eligible Pharmacists* within the bargaining unit will receive a 3.4% pay award, which recognises the unique role of Pharmacists within the community pharmacy sector and the business.
- To continue to recognise long-term commitment to Boots, patients and communities, we will increase the minimum salary to £57,542 FTE per annum for all qualified Pharmacists in the bargaining unit with over 10 years’ service at Boots. Therefore, any eligible Pharmacists** whose salary remains below this threshold after the 3.4% pay award has been applied will receive a further increase to bring them up to this minimum level, also effective from 1 November 2026.
- To recognise the unique role of Pharmacist Store Managers at Boots and support colleagues pursuing broader leadership career pathways, all substantively appointed and rated-as-performing Pharmacist Store Managers will receive a minimum annual salary (FTE) based on store size:
- Small stores: £59,145
- Medium stores: £62,040
- Large stores: £67,210
Therefore, any eligible Pharmacist Store Managers** whose salary remains below the applicable minimum following the 3.4% pay award will receive a further increase to bring them up to that level, effective from 1 November 2026.
- To recognise the important role that Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPPs) play in supporting future Independent Prescribers (IP), the honorarium will increase by 10% to £330, a non-consolidated payment which is paid for each IP learner supervised. Eligible DPPs supervising Independent Prescribing learners will receive the payment once sign-off has been completed.
- To recognise the important role that our supervisors play in supporting our Trainee Pharmacists, the trainee supervisor honorarium will increase by 2% to £1530. This non-consolidated honorarium is paid to supervisors who support Trainee Pharmacists.
- To recognise the evolving role of Independent Prescribers and the future direction of the profession, Pharmacists who become practising Independent Prescribers^ at Boots will undertake a salary review with their Line Manager and receive a minimum salary increase of 3%. Any Pharmacist who has moved to a practising Independent Prescriber* role since January 2026 and has not received a minimum 3% uplift will receive this increase in addition to the overall pay award. This will be effective from 1 November 2026. Line managers will be provided with clear guidance on the review process and timescales.
- In recognition of the commitment and flexibility demonstrated by Pharmacists during the Region 1 Short Notice Payment trial, it has been agreed that all Short Notice Payments will be extended to shifts filled within 48 hours of their scheduled start time. Eligible Pharmacists who fulfil such shifts will receive a payment of £75 (pro rata).
- Following the successful trial of the reasonable travel approach for relief Pharmacists, a definitive set of principles has been agreed. These principles set out the approach to travel time for colleagues who are required, at our request, to travel away from their substantive base to fulfil a shift. The guidance will be published and available on BootsLive from 1 November.
- A hard to fill location honorarium and governance framework has been agreed to ensure transparency and consistency around the application of location payments. This guidance will be published and available on BootsLive.
This settlement recognises the vital role Pharmacists play in delivering accessible healthcare to patients and communities across the UK. Their contributions are deeply appreciated by both Boots and the PDA Union, who have a joint commitment to collaborating to ensure a rewarding future for all Pharmacists at Boots.
Both negotiation teams thank Pharmacists for their continued commitment to looking after patients and communities.
* As with previous years, Pharmacists and Pharmacist Store Managers are eligible for the negotiated rates if they are qualified members of the bargaining unit, are employed on 1 November 2026 and are not in their notice period. They will be ineligible for the negotiated pay award if they:
- have joined or had a pay increase on or since 1 August 2026;
- were rated as not performing at EOY 2026;
- are a Trainee Pharmacist.
** Eligibility for the minimum pay levels (items 2,3 and 6 above)
- FTE is based on 40 hours per week
- Eligible Pharmacists for item 2 above are those who have completed 10 years’ continuous service at Boots on or before 31 October 2026. Those reaching 10 years’ continuous service on or after 1 November 2026, and who remain below the minimum at that point, will have their pay adjusted accordingly in the month following the achievement of their service milestone, effective from the 1st of the month after the service milestone was reached.
- Eligible Pharmacist Store Managers who are performing and substantively appointed to a Pharmacist Store Manager role on or after 1 November 2026 will have their pay adjusted as appropriate as at the date of their appointment. The usual application, selection and performance processes will continue to apply.
^ References to practising Independent Prescribers apply to Pharmacists who meet all regulatory and professional criteria required to practise as an Independent Prescriber, as outlined in the ‘Practising IP’ guidance.
Download the statement here
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