THE impact of the pandemic has seen a Solihull beautician embark on a new career – at the pharmacy next door to where she used to work.
When the first lockdown hit and shops were ordered to close, big hearted Lisa Turvey, who worked at Arena Hair & Beauty in Yew Tree Lane, popped into the neighbouring Late Night Yew Tree Pharmacy to see if she could be of any help as a volunteer.
The owner, Rashid Mahmood, said yes, and Lisa found herself thriving in her new environment.
“At the time we had a lot of staff off sick and Lisa come in and she was absolutely brilliant.
“It also gave her an insight into what we do and then we had a conversation about what the training entails and I said ‘we could put you on our apprenticeship programme’.
“Then when we had the gap and everything re-opened she had a chat with her manager at the salon and she was really supportive and it took off from there.”
Since then Lisa’s done a year of training, juggling working at the pharmacy and studying at Metropolitan College on her Dispensary Assistant course NVQ Level 2.
“Due to her enthusiasm and commitment to her new role she was nominated as a finalist in the National Pharmacy Awards held in the Houses of Commons,” said Rashid.
“She was up against a tough group of nominees who had been in the business for many years and she received a pharmacy recognition award.
“She was also nominated as a finalist in the Chemist and Druggist magazine as a Covid-19 hero held at the O2 Arena in London.
“We all fully appreciate the negative impact Covid-19 has had on all of us. However from this pandemic Lisa has had a positive change and has joined a career in healthcare.”
Lisa said: “I was working as a beauty therapist but Covid just changed the industry.
“Did I make the right decision? 120 per cent I did.
“It’s fast paced, I’m helping a lot of people and I’m just waiting to start my Level 3 Pharmacist Technician course.”
