Pharmacy Technician Apprentice

Strayside Health; Harrogate; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 19,000; Full time

Job summary

Strayside Health is offering an enthusiastic individual a Pharmacy Technician Apprentice role, combining community and general practice settings as part of a funded learning path. You will split time between Strayside Health and Cohens Pharmacy in Harrogate, with study time allocated for the Pharmacy Technician qualification.

You will join a supportive team and develop skills in medicines management, patient safety and dispensing under supervision, progressing toward registration with the GPhC.

Qualifications

• Experience in General Practice or community pharmacy is preferred.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organisation and time-management abilities.
• Ability to work accurately, methodically and confidentially.
• Ability to follow instructions and prioritise tasks to deadlines.
• Basic IT skills and willingness to learn new computer systems.
• Commitment to patient safety and high-quality care.
• Eligibility: UK residency and rights to work, age 16+.

Responsibilities

• Undertake a Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship programme in primary care and community settings.
• Support medicines optimisation, repeat prescribing processes and medicines reconciliation.
• Develop knowledge of prescription processing and medicines management.
• Maintain accurate and confidential patient records and participate in training.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team and attend required education sessions.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organisation

Time-management

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Teamwork

Follow instructions

Maths & English readiness

Education

Level 2 Maths and English

Job description

Job summary

Strayside Health are delighted to offer an opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our pharmacy team as a Pharmacy Technician Apprentice.

This is a fantastic opportunity to earn while you learn, combining practical experience in general practice and community pharmacy with structured learning and development. As part of the apprenticeship, you will spend two days each week working in the Pharmacy team at Strayside Health, two days at Cohens Pharmacy in Harrogate, gaining valuable practical experience across a range of community pharmacy services, with one day dedicated to study and learning towards your Pharmacy Technician qualification.

You will become part of the wider Practice team at Strayside Health, working alongside experienced Pharmacy Technicians, Clinical Pharmacists and our Medicines Manager. This will give you a unique opportunity to understand how pharmacy supports patients across both community and general practice settings.

The apprenticeship will provide you with the knowledge, skills and experience required to develop a rewarding career as a Pharmacy Technician.

Main duties of the job

As a Pharmacy Technician Apprentice, you will undertake a structured programme of learning and development and will gain experience in both community pharmacy and primary care.

Working alongside experienced pharmacy professionals, your duties and development will include:

• Developing an understanding of the legal and professional requirements surrounding the supply of medicines.
• Supporting the ordering, receipt, storage and distribution of medicines.
• Developing knowledge of prescription processing and medicines management.
• Supporting the Strayside Health pharmacy team as your knowledge and competence develop.
• Developing an understanding of medicines reconciliation, medication safety and repeat prescribing processes.
• Maintaining accurate and confidential patient records.
• Working within relevant legislation, professional standards, Trust/practice policies and standard operating procedures.
• Working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Attending all required education and training sessions and completing the academic requirements of the apprenticeship.
• Maintaining a portfolio of evidence and demonstrating progress against the apprenticeship competencies.
• Learning how to dispense and supply medicines safely and accurately.

You will be supported throughout your apprenticeship by experienced pharmacy professionals and will gradually develop your skills and responsibilities as your knowledge and competence increase.

About us

Strayside Health is a friendly, dynamic and forward-thinking GP practice serving a population of just under 16,000 patients. Situated in central Harrogate, we are based in modern, purpose-built premises with excellent transport links.

Strayside Health formed following the successful merger of East Parade and Park Parade Surgeries in April 2025. We are a progressive practice that is keen to embrace change whilst maintaining the traditional values of patient-centred general practice.

Our pharmacy team is an important part of the practice and currently includes Clinical Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and a Medicines Manager. We work closely with our GP and wider multidisciplinary teams to provide high-quality, safe and effective care for our patients.

We have a strong team ethos and are committed to supporting our staff to develop their skills and careers. We are looking for someone who shares our enthusiasm for providing high-quality patient care and who is ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges of a career in pharmacy.

This apprenticeship offers a route into the pharmacy profession by providing experience in both community pharmacy and general practice. You will have protected time for the academic and work-based learning required as part of your Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship. You will be expected to attend all required training and complete the relevant assignments, assessments and portfolio work.

Job responsibilities

To undertake a Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship programme whilst working within primary care and community pharmacy settings. The post holder will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

The apprentice will work under the supervision of registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to support medicines optimisation, repeat prescribing processes, medicines reconciliation, patient safety and the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical services.

Qualifications

Essential

• Previous experience in either General Practice or community pharmacy
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Good organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work accurately and methodically.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.Ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.
• Basic IT skills and confidence in learning new computer systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good attention to detail.
• Commitment to patient safety and high-quality care.
• To join this apprenticeship, you must meet the eligibility criteria set out by the apprenticeship standard and Buttercups Training. These requirements ensure that you have the appropriate professional registration, workplace context and foundational knowledge needed to successfully complete the programme.
• Applicants must:
• Have a right to work and abode in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years. Additional eligibility rules apply to EEA nationals and non-UK nationals
• Be aged 16 years or over
• Not be in full-time education or enrolled onto another government-funded programme
• Not hold an equivalent qualification at the same level
• Not hold a Level 4 qualification or above, unless it is 'materially different' from the apprenticeship.
• English & maths
• For this programme, there are GPhC requirements for learners to be working at a Level 2 standard for maths and English. To meet these requirements, all learners are required to undertake the following:
• An initial assessment in maths and English during the enrolment process to determine the current level
• Where Level 2 standards for maths and English cannot be evidenced and demonstrated, maths and English training and learning will be included on the Individual Training Plan for the programme. This training could include Functional Skills in maths and English courses or Access courses as required

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.

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