Why We Don't Charge Locums a Fee

Why We Don't Charge Locums a Fee

Locum pharmacists give up a lot for flexibility; predictability, in particular. In return, we think the least an agency can do is make sure that flexibility doesn't come at a cost.

That's why we're fee free for Pharmacy Locums.

A simple principle

Our core service, finding shifts, matching locums with pharmacies, and supporting bookings from start to finish has always been free for locums to use. We're paid by the pharmacies who need cover, not by the people providing it.

It's a simple idea, but it shapes a lot of how we operate. If locums aren't paying us, then the only way we keep them engaged is by being genuinely useful to work with; reliable communication, fair treatment, and shifts that are a good fit.

What this means in practice

Because there's no fee sitting between a locum and a shift, locums can register, get matched, and start picking up work without weighing up whether it's worth the cost. That matters most for locums who are newer to locum work, or who work fewer hours and can't absorb an ongoing subscription cost regardless of how much they're booked.

It also means our incentives are aligned with getting things right the first time. We're not relying on repeat subscription payments from locums to stay afloat, we're relying on pharmacies wanting to book them again, which only happens if the placement actually worked.

Why this matters for pharmacies too

Pharmacies benefit from this model as well. A locum who hasn't had to pay to be on our books is more likely to see us as being on their side which tends to translate into locums who are more engaged, more responsive, and more willing to build an ongoing relationship with a pharmacy rather than treating each booking as one-off.

Not the only way to do it

We know other platforms take a different approach, charging locums a subscription for access to premium features or better visibility of shifts. That's a legitimate model, and it works for some people. It's just not ours.

We'd rather locums choose to work with us because the experience is good, not because they've already paid for the privilege.

The bigger picture

This isn't really about fees. It's about where the incentive sits.

We think an agency should be judged on how well it matches people to work and how well it looks after both sides of that relationship.