Welcome to the training opportunities for pharmacy staff website. This page has been designed for both pharmacy staff and employers to find out about the excellent training opportunities on offer across South Yorkshire. This page will provide links to all the training programmes available for pharmacy staff across South Yorkshire, in addition to providing feedback from staff members who have previously accessed our courses.
Across South Yorkshire the ICS is committed to providing support to employees and employers to allow our staff to develop their skills and learn new ways of working.
To note: Some of the courses offered below will need employer support before applying. Please discuss with your employers before completing an application form.
The page will be updated regularly to show what is currently available to staff and employers.
Training Opportunities By Job Role
In this section there are lists of learning opportunities for different Pharmacy roles. Please select the role that applies to you to see the different training offers available:
- Independent Prescribing Qualification Independent Prescribing
Link: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/pharmacy/independent-prescribing
- Educational Supervisor (ES) Training including Designated Supervisor (DS)
Link: https://www.propharmace.com/est/
- Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) Training
Link: https://www.propharmace.com/est/
- Clinical Diplomas - submit expression of interest for Skill investment funding to Link: england.wtepharmacy.ney@nhs.net
- Advanced Clinical Practitioner Training
Link: https://yhtraininghubs.co.uk/south-yorkshire/south-yorkshire-schemes/acp-training-in-primary-care/
- Primary care pharmacy education pathway (CPPE)
Link: https://www.cppe.ac.uk/career/pcpep/pcpep-training-pathway
- Continued Professional Development (CPD) Events
- Pharmacist Mental Health Specialist Training
Link: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/pharmacy/specialist-mental-health-pharmacist-training-pathway
- Future Leaders Programme
Link: https://www.yorksandhumberdeanery.nhs.uk/education/future_leaders_programme
- Newly Qualified Pharmacist Pathway
- NHS Leadership Academy
Link: https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/programmes/
- Safer Prescribing (eLearning)
Link: https://www.safeprescriber.org/
- Masters Opportunities (Funding Available – see link for detail)
Link: https://yh.insight.leeds.ac.uk/masters-opportunities-academic-year-2025-26/
- Level 4 Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Service & Therapeutics
- Level 6 Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship
Link: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0895-v1-1
- Level 6 Clinical Trials Specialist Apprenticeship
Link: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0609-v1-0
- Pharmacy Accreditation Checking Training https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/courses/level-3-pharmacy-accredited-checking-training-act/
- Word document
- Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/courses/level-3-pharmacy-accredited-checking-training-act/
- Word document
- NHS Leadership Academy
Link: https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/programmes/
- Future Leaders Programme
Link: https://www.yorksandhumberdeanery.nhs.uk/education/future_leaders_programme
- Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship (£8,000 funding available)
Link: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/471
Pharmacy Technician Level 3 (£8,000 funding available for Apprentices)
https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/courses/level-3-pharmacy-technician/
- Level 5 Diploma of Higher Education in Advanced Pharmacy Technician Practice
- Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant (£5,000 funding available)
Link: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/396
Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant (£5,000 funding available for Apprentices)
https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/courses/level-2-pharmacy-services-assistant/
- Level 2 Apprenticeship (£7,000 funding available)
Link: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/249
- Level 3 Apprenticeships (£22,000 funding available)
Link: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/755
- Medicines Counter Assistant Courses (online)
Link: https://www.npa.co.uk/training/training-a-z/trainingtraining-a-z-medicines-counter-assistant-course/
Link: https://www.buttercupstraining.co.uk/course/support-staff-course-medicines-counter-assistants
- Healthcare Assistant Courses (online)
Link: https://www.buttercupstraining.co.uk/course/support-staff-course-pharmacy-healthcare-assistants
- Accuracy Checking Assistant Courses (online)
Link: https://www.npa.co.uk/training/training-a-z/accuracy-checking-for-dispensers/
Link: https://www.buttercupstraining.co.uk/course/accuracy-checking-dispensing-assistants
- Pharmacy Support Worker Courses (online)
Link: https://www.buttercupstraining.co.uk/course/pharmacy-support-worker-course
Apprenticeships
There are many apprenticeships available in Pharmacy. These are often funded, even in the parts of our industry where you might think they aren’t!
Large employers can use their apprenticeship levy to fund the training costs of apprenticeships. Interested staff can approach their Apprenticeship Lead who works in the Learning and Development Team as well as their line manager for more information.
Small, non-levy paying employers can apply for levy transfer from a large employer in South Yorkshire using the form linked here: https://www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2023-11/apprenticeship-levy-transfer-%282244%29.pdf. This covers the whole of the training fees, but not any salary contribution.
Are you interested in a beginning an apprenticeship? There’s some helpful information that can be found here: https://www.syrechealthandsocialcarecareers.co.uk/apprenticeships/thinking-about-doing-apprenticeship
Below is a complete list of pharmacy apprenticeships available. These have been included in the above section by job role where there are relevant apprenticeships for the job roles, but for a complete list please click on the section below where you can find out more about the programmes, how much funding is available, and local training providers who offer the courses.
- Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant (£5,000 funding available for Apprentices)
- https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/courses/level-2-pharmacy-services-assistant/
- Pharmacy Technician Level 3 (£8,000 funding available for Apprentices)
- https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/courses/level-3-pharmacy-technician/
- Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant Apprenticeship
Link: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/396
- Level 2 Science Manufacturing Process Operative
Link: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/249
- Level 3 Science Manufacturing Technician
Link: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/755
- Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship
Link: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/471
- Level 5 Diploma of Higher Education in Advanced Pharmacy Technician Practice
- Level 6 Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship
Link: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0895-v1-1
- Level 6 Clinical Trials Specialist Apprenticeship
Link: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0609-v1-0
Local Provider Training Offers
In addition to courses listed above, various organisations across South Yorkshire also offer a range of courses for their staff. These are a mixture of pharmacy-specific and non-pharmacy specific courses. If you work for any of the following organisations, please click on the links below to find out what’s on offer to you:
- SYICB People Hub - Learning and Development at South Yorkshire ICB
Link: https://nhs.sharepoint.com/sites/03N_People_Hub/SitePages/Home-Learning-and-Development.aspx
- SY Primary Care Workforce and Training Hub
Link: https://yhtraininghubs.co.uk/south-yorkshire/event-region/south-yorkshire-events/
Learning More About Pharmacy Work; a Resource for Students in Secondary Education
Are You in Secondary Education and Want to Learn More About Pharmacy Careers? Please Click Here:
Springpod – Link: https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/work-experience-in-pharmacy-north-east-north-cumbria-and-yorkshire/WEXP-00351
More Information
Bradford College, BTEC Level 4 Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Services and Therapeutics Course:
- I have enjoyed the knowledge and skills I have gained, not just through the course material but through the webinars. Also, I have enjoyed watching my writing skills develop. This course has led me to progress in my current role and allowed me to take on more responsibilities, such as: have my own hypertension clinics as well as being able to complete small medication reviews (for example, PPI reviews and allergy reviews). If you are looking at helping patients through gaining a better understanding about health conditions and treatment's, this is the course for you - Amie Bridges, Lead Clinical Pharmacy Technician at Upton Surgery, describing her experience of the BTEC Level 4 Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Services and Therapeutics Course.