Previous Experience

Zoe Corcoran began her career as a pharmacy technician apprentice at Bradford College in 1991, completing her apprenticeship a few years later. She went on to gain extensive experience working in pharmacy across both the NHS and private hospital sectors, including large NHS trusts in Bradford, Leeds, Harrogate, and York. These roles developed her strong passion for patient care, professional standards, and workforce development. In 2009, Zoe returned to Bradford College, progressing through a range of teaching and leadership roles. She gained her teaching degree in 2012 and continued to build her career within the college. In 2024, she played a key role in the launch of the School of Pharmacy, becoming its first Head of School at Bradford College and helping to establish a strong vision, structure, and identity for pharmacy education at the college. Now Head of Department for Apprenticeships, Zoe reflects on her career as a happy and rewarding journey. She remains proud of her pharmacy roots and is passionate about developing and supporting the next generation of apprentices.

Previous Experience

James Firth is the Pharmacy Academic Lead at Bradford College and a Registered Pharmacy Technician with over 20 years of experience across NHS services and further education. His professional background includes medicines optimisation, electronic prescribing systems, and leading digital transformation projects within healthcare. In his current role, James leads the development and delivery of pharmacy education programmes, supporting students and apprentices to achieve high standards in learning, professional practice, and career progression. He is particularly passionate about workforce development and preparing the next generation of pharmacy professionals with the skills and knowledge required for modern healthcare. James holds an A1 Assessor Award, an Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) qualification, and a Level 5 Certificate in Education and Training, bringing a strong combination of clinical expertise and educational leadership to his role.

Previous Experience

I began my pharmacy career in 2005 as a counter assistant in community pharmacy, where I quickly discovered my passion for patient care and medicines. I went on to qualify as a pharmacy technician in 2011 and continued working in community pharmacy before moving into hospital pharmacy in 2013. There, I completed rotational training across dispensary, aseptics and ward services, gaining a broad range of clinical and technical experience. In 2018, I specialised in medicines optimisation, leading a team of ward-based pharmacy technicians and support staff. This role sparked my passion for education and training, as I supported trainee pharmacy technicians and pharmacists in developing their skills and confidence in practice. In 2023, I made the move into education at Bradford College, where I trained as a pharmacy lecturer and achieved a qualification in assessing vocational awards. I am currently working towards my Internal Quality Assurer qualification as I continue to develop my expertise in teaching and quality assurance. I now work as Pharmacy Professional Development Lead, where I manage post-registration courses and lead a team of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. I am passionate about supporting learners to achieve their goals and pride myself on working in line with Bradford College values, ensuring a high-quality, inclusive and supportive learning experience that reflects real-world pharmacy practice.