Introduction
This paper is based on the first wave of findings from a unique four year longitudinal study examining early career choices and expectations of pharmacists in the 2006 pharmacy graduate cohort. A main aim of the study is to understand what factors are influential in pharmacy career choices, whether they are put into practice and how career expectations and motivations may change over time through experience. The aim of this paper is to examine the characteristics of 'would be' entrepreneurs within this cohort group in the context of previous studies on the pharmacy workforce. Data from the first pharmacy workforce census 1 showed that 13.2% of working pharmacists were pharmacy owners, 79% were male and 21% female. Some minority ethnic groups were over represented as pharmacy owners.

Method
The first survey in the study was administered in the spring of 2005 to pharmacy students at 14 GB schools of pharmacy. The main focus of this survey was career choices made pre-University and as undergraduates.

Findings
The response rate was 67% (n=1159), 71.5% of respondents were female. The proportion of respondents who were certain they would own a pharmacy in 10 years time was 33%, but higher for males (44%) and lower for females (28%). Minority ethnic groups showed proportionately high levels of entrepreneurial intentions. For example, 40% of Black African, 40% of Indian and 37% of Pakistani respondents compared to 16% of white British respondents were certain they would own a pharmacy. Interestingly, white Irish were the group most likely to display entrepreneurial intentions (58%). There was also a strong link between the desire to own a pharmacy and having extended family who are pharmacists, particularly with Indian respondents, which also supports findings from previous studies 2.

Discussion
The findings demonstrate continuity with previous research, showing a link between ethnicity, entrepreneurialism and how factors such as having support networks from family members in the profession play an important role in career choice. However, this study shows for the first time that larger proportions of women are displaying entrepreneurial intentions than have been identified in the past. This could be a reflection of an increasingly feminised profession. The high levels of white Irish students with entrepreneurial intentions is also a new finding. It will be of great interest to find out whether respondents' intentions are put into practice in the coming waves of this study.

References

1. Hassell K, & Shann P, (2003) 'Pharmacist work patterns: Summary of the 2002 pharmacy workforce census'. London - Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
2. Hassell K, Noyce P, & Jesson J (1998) 'White and ethnic minority self-employment in retail pharmacy in Britain: a historical and comparative analysis'.
Work, Employment and Society Vol 12 (2) pp 245-271

This research is supported by a grant from the Pharmacy Research Trust (RPSGB)