A local business has been recognised as an outstanding example in its class at a recent prestigious awards ceremony, with help from a Tees Valley college.

Marton Pharmacy won the Community Pharmacist of the Year award and was named runner up in the Clinical Service award at the Chemist and Druggist Awards in London following the launch of a holistic therapy centre to complement the traditional medicines offered.

Following initial success, staff from the pharmacy undertook a Holistic Therapy course at Redcar & Cleveland College, allowing them to expand the range of treatments it offers to include holistic facials, body massage and stone therapy massage.

With the course, which is studied one evening a week, students cover a range of areas including anatomy of the face and body, health and safety relating to holistic therapies and knowledge of holistic therapy products as well as carrying out of treatments on real clients in the college’s TS10 salon.

On completing the required assessments, students qualify for a nationally and internationally recognised qualification within the beauty and holistics industry.

Practice Manager Michelle Myers, said:

“Holistic therapy isn’t the first thing you would expect to be on offer at a pharmacy, but we are increasingly looking to launch new services that build upon the traditional areas that people would visit a pharmacy for.

“The holistic centre has been a real hit with customers and we’re already looking at further courses we can undertake to increase the number of treatments we can offer.”

The Holistic Therapy course is just one of a range of beauty and holistic therapy courses offered by the college.

Delia Leadbitter, Head of Division for Beauty and Holistic Therapies at Redcar & Cleveland College said of the college’s offer:

“Redcar & Cleveland College’s range of hair, beauty and holistic therapy courses offer both individuals and businesses the opportunity to study in a flexible manner within facilities at the college which are outstanding.

“We are increasingly working with local businesses, such as Marton Pharmacy, to help them develop new and existing skills within their staff and we are already seeing a growth in inquiries for similar courses starting this September.”

Details of all the part-time and business training courses at Redcar & Cleveland College can be found by logging onto www.cleveland.ac.uk or by calling 01642 473132.