Apprentice Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

NHS; Colchester; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS organization is seeking an Apprentice Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician at Colchester Hospital. This is a two-year apprenticeship starting in February 2026, providing comprehensive training in pharmacy practices. Candidates must have at least 4 GCSEs, including Maths, English, and a Science subject. A passion for patient care and commitment to self-study are essential. The role includes participation in a busy pharmacy service, requiring flexibility with work hours.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

37 days annual leave (pro rata)

NHS discounts

Health and Wellbeing programs

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade 9-4 including Maths, English, and Science.
• Motivated and enthusiastic about a career as a pharmacy technician.
• Ability to self-study and attend mandatory study days.

Responsibilities

• Participate in a 7-day service including lates and weekends.
• Complete a Certificate of Higher Education in Pharmacy Technician Practice.
• Communicate and work effectively with patients and multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication with patients

Accuracy

Ability to prioritize work

Calm under pressure

Education

GCSEs Grade A*-C

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills

Job description

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Apprentice Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

The closing date is 03 December 2025

Are you an enthusiastic motivated individual looking for a future career as a qualified Pharmacy Technician? This training post includes an apprenticeship and starts February 2026 ending 22 February 2028 at Colchester Hospital.

Applicants must meet Apprenticeship criteria and have a minimum of 4 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade 9-4 or A*-C (Maths, English and Chemistry or Biology).

You must be self-directed to meet deadlines, committed to self-study and effectively use study time given by the department to complete the course and be eligible to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy Technician. You must demonstrate an understanding and compliance with the values and behaviours expected of NHS staff and the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals.

Pharmacies are busy departments covering a diverse range of activities and functions including: dispensary, logistics, quality control, manufacture/preparation of medicines/products including chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition, clinical trials, ward based/clinical activities, medicines information and community services. We have an automated robotic dispensing and stock supply system. This course places emphasis on clinical ward based and dispensary work.

You will be required to participate in our 7 day service including lates, weekends and bank holidays.

Main duties of the job

Salary will be Band 4 Annex 21: Year 1 (£21,113) 70% top Band 4 and Year 2 (£22,621) 75% top Band 4. Internal applicants will be via Annex 30.

You will undertake a Certificate of Higher Education, in Pharmacy Technician Practice delivered by the School of Pharmacy at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. The course has a blended learning approach using e-learning, classroom tutorials, practical sessions and portfolio building. There will be on-going assessments, observations with mandatory study days and forums.

This course places emphasis on clinical ward based and dispensary work. You will communicate and work effectively with patients, ward based teams and multi-disciplinary staff to provide a safe, timely and efficient patient-centred service aiding supply, patient compliance and discharges. The course also includes Accredited Checking, Medicines Management and Medicines Reconciliation.

You must be able to attend mandatory study days, follow procedures, apply theory to practice and have an interest in a career as a hospital based Pharmacy Technician. Appropriate supervision and training will be provided throughout.

About us

We are East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals, we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offers a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Experience

• Working effectively as part of a team under supervision
• Applying theory to practice
• Able to prioritise/organise own work/study to achieve deadlines
• Using own initiative
• Interacting and communicating confidently and effectively with patients/people
• Accuracy
• Work calmly under pressure and meet deadlines
• Working in a pharmacy
• Stock control
• Moving and handling loads

Qualifications

• At least 4 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade A* - C or new GCSEs Grades 9 - 4 including Maths, English and at least one Science that includes chemistry or biology
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills/individual units or equivalent
• Any other relevant qualification

Knowledge

• Evidence of research into the undertaking required for an Apprentice Pre-registration (trainee) Pharmacy Technician
• Evidence of research into the role of the Pharmacy Technician
• Standards for Pharmacy Professionals (May 2017)
• Awareness of Trust's values and expected behaviours
• Stock control & stock rotation
• Aspects of hospital pharmacy
• Role related interests

Personal Skills

• Motivated and enthusiastic for a career as a pharmacy technician and dedicated to the undertaking required for the course
• Ability to attend the required study days
• Commitment to self-study (home and off the job learning) to enable sufficient learning to complete course
• Demonstrate Trust values and behaviours

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£21,113 to £22,621 a year. Annex 21 Year 1 70% top Band 4, Year 2 75% top Band 4.