ITH Pharma Review - Real Employee Experience

Published: 9 December 2025

ITH Pharma Limited operates within the UK pharmaceutical sector, supplying medications and nutritional products to hospitals and healthcare providers.

While the company markets itself as a professional, innovative organisation, multiple employee accounts reveal a starkly different experience behind the scenes.

Reports from current and former staff indicate a workplace marked by high pressure, strict management, and limited support, painting a picture of systemic issues rather than isolated incidents.

This review consolidates these experiences across departments, roles, and years, offering a factual and detailed overview of the working conditions at ITH Pharma, including recruitment, training, management, workload, pay, career prospects, workplace culture, and overall employee well-being.

Editorial note: Content on this page reflects commonly reported employee experiences observed across publicly available review platforms. It represents opinion and commentary, not verified facts, and does not reproduce individual reviews.

Company Details

• Company Name: ITH Pharma Limited
• Company Number: 06569105
• Company Type: Private Limited Company
• Company Status: Active
• Incorporation Date: 17 April 2008
• Nature of Business (SIC): 32990 - Other manufacturing not elsewhere classified
• Company Size: 201-500 employees
• Registered Office Address: 4th Floor, 95 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7AB, United Kingdom
• Headquarters Address: 4 Premier Park Road, London, NW10 7NZ, United Kingdom
• Enquiries Phone Line: 020 8838 8260
• Enquiries Email: info@ithpharma.com
• Website: ithpharma.com
• Company size: 201-500 employees
• Roles include production, compounding, technical assistants, quality control, and supporting staff
• Part of the ITH Group, which also includes: ITH Health, The Private Pharmacy, ITH Laboratories, ITH Systems
• Specialises in aseptic compounding services for all therapy areas, particularly: Parenteral Nutrition, Chemotherapy, CIVAS (Closed Intravenous Administration Systems)

Recruitment and Interview Process

Employees describe the recruitment process as unusually straightforward. In many cases, applicants are “offered” jobs with minimal screening.

Interviews focus primarily on CVs and work history, with little emphasis on assessing the individual’s suitability for the role.

While this approach allows fresh graduates and individuals with little experience to gain entry, it also appears to contribute to the company’s exceptionally high turnover, with vacancies frequently refilled as staff leave.

Several employees reported feeling misled by the job description during interviews, expecting structured professional growth but encountering repetitive tasks and limited progression instead.

This discrepancy often leads to early disillusionment for new staff.

Training and Onboarding

The onboarding experience at ITH Pharma is often described as rushed and inconsistent.

Trainers have been reported as unapproachable, sometimes arrogant, and in extreme cases, openly rude to new employees.

Several accounts describe being left to figure out tasks independently, creating confusion and anxiety, particularly for those entering the pharmaceutical industry for the first time.

Although some employees note that training provides exposure to aseptic production processes and other basic industry knowledge, the general consensus is that it is insufficient to fully prepare staff for the day-to-day responsibilities of the role.

Workplace Environment and Culture

The culture at ITH Pharma is widely characterised as highly controlled and rigid.

Employees frequently report restrictions on communication during work, often being told not to talk even when carrying out professional discussions.

Staff describe being monitored closely, sometimes via CCTV, and a zero-tolerance approach to mistakes, which fosters a climate of stress and fear rather than learning.

Gossip and favouritism are reported as common, with certain employees receiving preferential treatment based on personal relationships with trainers or management.

New staff often feel undervalued and pressured, while long-term employees report persistent frustration with the organisation’s lack of flexibility or recognition.

Management and HR

Management practices are a consistent point of concern.

Employees describe leadership as lacking empathy and being authoritarian in style.

HR, in particular, is often characterised as “headmaster-like,” giving orders rather than guidance and enforcing rules with little regard for employee welfare.

Complaints and concerns raised by staff are reportedly ignored or downplayed, leaving employees feeling unsupported.

Several reviews highlight that speaking up against management can result in being labelled “difficult” or, in some cases, risk termination.

Workload, Productivity, and Pressure

ITH Pharma operates a fast-paced, numbers-driven environment.

Employees across multiple departments report unrealistic targets and excessive workloads.

Staff frequently work long hours, often standing for extended periods and performing repetitive tasks with minimal breaks.

The high demands, combined with strict supervision, contribute to both physical strain and mental fatigue.

Reports indicate that mistakes are not tolerated, and employees can be reprimanded or dismissed for failing to meet expectations.

Even during initial training or probation, staff may face significant pressure, with some describing the environment as mentally and physically draining.

Pay, Benefits, and Contract Conditions

Compensation at ITH Pharma is widely viewed as low relative to the demands of the roles.

Reports indicate:

• No sick pay during the six-month probation period
• Inconsistent overtime pay; extra hours are sometimes unpaid
• Pay rises occurring infrequently, roughly once every two years
• Contracts containing clauses that require repayment of training costs (up to £1,000) if an employee leaves within the first year

Additionally, employees report limited holiday flexibility, with strict rules on the number of people allowed off at any given time.

Benefits such as pension contributions or healthcare perks are rarely mentioned, and many staff feel the pay does not fairly compensate for the workload or stress.

Career Progression and Job Security

Career advancement is often limited. Promotions reportedly require personal recommendation from management and additional training, rather than being based purely on merit.

This has created a perception of favouritism, where only select individuals have a realistic opportunity for advancement.

High turnover is a recurring issue, with staff rarely staying longer than a year.

New hires frequently replace departing employees, reinforcing the cycle of instability and contributing to a workplace where long-term development and job security are limited.

Physical and Mental Health Impact

Employees consistently report both physical and mental strain.

Long periods of standing, repetitive tasks, and fast-paced work contribute to fatigue, back pain, and overall physical exhaustion.

Mentally, the combination of high pressure, micromanagement, and strict rules creates a stressful environment.

Some employees describe the workplace as demoralising, with feelings of burnout common.

The lack of support from management and HR exacerbates these issues, leaving staff with limited recourse to address the challenges they face.

ITH Pharma Limited: The Real Picture

While ITH Pharma presents itself as a professional and innovative pharmaceutical company, employee experiences reveal a more challenging reality.

This section highlights the key aspects of working at ITH Pharma, based on recurring patterns reported by staff across multiple departments and years.

Key Insights:

• Workplace Culture: Highly controlled and rigid; employees report little freedom to communicate or collaborate during work. Gossip and favouritism are common.
• Management Style: Authoritarian and unempathetic; HR often acts like a “headmaster” rather than a support system. Concerns raised by staff are frequently ignored.
• Training and Onboarding: Training is rushed and inconsistent; new hires often left unclear on responsibilities. Trainers can be rude or dismissive.
• Workload and Pressure: Fast-paced and demanding; strict productivity targets, long hours, and minimal breaks are common. Mistakes are not tolerated.
• Pay and Benefits: Low relative to workload; probation periods without sick pay; overtime inconsistently paid; pay rises infrequent (approx. every 2 years).
• Contracts: Include repayment clauses for training costs (up to £1,000) if leaving within the first year; holiday restrictions are strict.
• Career Progression: Limited; promotions often based on personal recommendations rather than merit; high turnover contributes to instability.
• Employee Well-being: Work is physically and mentally exhausting; standing for long periods, repetitive tasks, and constant supervision contribute to fatigue and stress.
• Job Security: High turnover; employees rarely remain longer than a year; recruitment is ongoing to replace departing staff.
• Pros: Provides entry-level pharmaceutical experience; exposure to aseptic production; supportive colleagues in some departments; occasional perks like free food.

The real picture of working at ITH Pharma is one of high pressure, limited support, and strict management.

While it may offer a starting point for those new to the pharmaceutical sector, prospective employees should be aware of the demanding environment, low pay, limited career progression, and high turnover before joining.

Working at ITH Pharma Limited: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Provides entry-level experience in pharmaceutical production, suitable for recent graduates.
• Exposure to aseptic production processes and basic pharmaceutical operations.
• Opportunity to learn standard industry procedures and gain hands-on experience.
• Supportive colleagues in some departments, offering guidance and teamwork.
• Occasional perks, such as free food in certain areas.
• Can serve as a stepping stone for those seeking initial experience in the pharmaceutical sector.

Cons:

• Highly controlled and rigid workplace; limited freedom to communicate or collaborate during work.
• Authoritarian management and HR; concerns raised by employees are often ignored.
• Rushed and inconsistent training; new staff may be left unclear about responsibilities.
• High workload and constant pressure; long hours with minimal breaks are common.
• Low pay relative to workload; probation periods without sick pay; overtime inconsistently paid.
• Strict contracts with repayment clauses for training costs if leaving within the first year.
• Limited career progression; promotions often depend on favouritism rather than merit.
• High employee turnover; staff rarely remain longer than a year, creating instability.
• Physically and mentally exhausting work; repetitive tasks and long periods standing.
• Negative impact on work-life balance due to demanding schedules and strict monitoring.

Verdict: Should You Work for ITH Pharma?

Based on multiple employee accounts spanning several years, working at ITH Pharma Limited is best suited for individuals seeking entry-level exposure to pharmaceutical production rather than long-term career development.

While the company provides basic training and some hands-on experience, the overall working environment is demanding, rigid, and often stressful.

Key considerations for potential employees:

• Expect high pressure and long hours, with minimal tolerance for mistakes.
• Pay and benefits are generally low relative to workload, with probation periods lacking sick pay and overtime inconsistently compensated.
• Management and HR are frequently described as authoritarian and unsupportive, and career progression is limited.
• The workplace culture is controlled and hierarchical, with reports of favouritism and limited freedom to communicate.

ITH Pharma may provide a starting point for newcomers to the pharmaceutical sector, but it is not recommended for those seeking a supportive, stable, or career-oriented environment.

Prospective employees should carefully consider whether the experience and exposure outweigh the challenges and potential strain on work-life balance.

Note: ITH Pharma Limited may not be ideal for those expecting stable management structure, clear communication, consistent operational practices, or predictable work-life balance. The environment can feel highly pressurised due to the nature of aseptic production, and experiences may vary significantly between departments.

In short: If you are not prepared for a demanding, fast-paced, tightly regulated pharmaceutical setting with potential departmental inconsistencies, or if you have alternative job options, a position at ITH Pharma Limited should be considered carefully.