Numark, Buttercups Training and PHOENIX UK have announced that all 62 places on their new pharmacy technician apprenticeship programme were fully subscribed within just one day.
The fully funded training initiative from the pharmacy membership organisation, training provider and wholesaler was launched last week (January 13) but just two days later, Numark revealed that all the spaces were already taken.
A spokesperson confirmed to C+D last week (January 17) that all “62 initial places” have been filled and it is “trying to secure more funding for further places”.
Read more: GPhC and NHSE announce ‘unique’ new pharmacy tech fellowship
“In just one hour, 50 of our valued members [seized] this exciting opportunity and by the end of the day, registrations soared, with all available spaces being fully booked,” Numark said.
Numark chair Harry McQuillan added that “the remarkable interest in such a short timeframe showcases not only the sector’s commitment to addressing workforce challenges but also Numark’s dedication to delivering tangible value to its members”.
“More experienced candidates”
Numark members in England can access the apprenticeship, called the Buttercups Pharmacy Technician Training Programme (PTTP) Apprenticeship, with Buttercups facilitating the training programme within it, it said.
It added that it “supports individuals outside the fully funded category (21 years old or younger), ensuring that more experienced candidates can access training opportunities” as older apprentices “typically require greater funding”.
Read more: Funded community pharmacy technician apprenticeship ‘oversubscribed’
The initiative is aimed at addressing workforce shortages in community pharmacy as NHS England’s (NHSE) own community pharmacy technician scheme is “oversubscribed”, the membership body said.
The new scheme is funded through “levy gifting”, with PHOENIX transferring £500,000 of its unused apprenticeship levy funds to support the programme and avoid the money being reallocated by the government, it added.
Read more: Pharmacists risk being ‘sidelined’ by pharmacy techs, Streeting told
“Through levy gifting, we’re not only addressing workforce shortages but also making a tangible, positive impact on community pharmacies,” McQuillan said.
Buttercups Training chief executive Emma Seton added that the education provider is “thrilled to partner with Numark and PHOENIX to deliver this vital training program”, adding that it is “a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration”.
Read more: Community pharmacy technician numbers drop by a third in two years
Numark told C+D that Buttercups is reaching out to the first intake immediately but it is down to the individual when they start their apprenticeship.
It comes after the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) announced earlier this month that “for the first time [it] will be co-hosting a national pharmacy technician fellowship” with NHSE.
And NHSE revealed in October that its newly announced community pharmacy apprenticeship scheme for pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians - with 530 funded places - was “oversubscribed”.