Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technician

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting two Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technicians for the Bristol Royal Infirmary (City Site). The two-year fixed-term apprenticeship offers hands-on training across clinical services, dispensaries, purchasing, and informatics, preparing you for registration with the GPhC.

The programme includes off-the-job study time, rotational placements, and flexible working options. Applicants should meet GCSE and A-level requirements and be eligible to work in the UK,

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs (A–C/9–4) including Maths, English and Science.
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent.
• Good literacy and numeracy; clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Dispensing and final accuracy checking.
• Ordering and receiving pharmaceutical stock.
• Medicines reconciliation and checking patients' own medications.
• Support other pharmacy services within the department.

Skills

Attention to detail

Literacy & numeracy

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

4 GCSEs including Maths English Science

NVQ Level 2 in pharmacy service skills

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Grade Band 2 (Apprenticeship) Contract Fixed term: 24 months (until February 2029) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (20% off the job study time provided) Job ref 387-D&T3517-LH

Employer Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Bristol Royal Infirmary Town Bristol Salary £25,272 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 06/11/2026 23:59

Band 2 (Apprenticeship)

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust. Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

"Being an apprentice in the pharmacy team at Bristol Foundation Trust has been a great experience! It has given me the opportunity to learn new skills to be able to deliver safe and effective patient care to support people in their healthcare journeys" - 2nd year pre-registration pharmacy technician

We are delighted to be recruiting for two Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technicians within our welcoming pharmacy team at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (City Site)

These fixed-term positions offer the chance to complete an innovative two-year apprenticeship programme in a supportive learning environment, preparing you for registration as a Pharmacy Technician.

This is a great chance to develop your career, gain new qualifications, and contribute even more to patient care across the Trust. If you’re enthusiastic, motivated, and ready to take the next step, we’d love to hear from you!

• A robust and well structured timetable, with rotational placements in a variety of our pharmacy settings, including clinical services, dispensaries, purchasing, clinical trials, Warfarin clinic and pharmacy informatics, and external placements across the local area, to experience all areas of pharmacy.
• We offer flexible working
• Being part of an experienced and supportive team within the pharmacy department
• Upon successful completion of the 2-year apprenticeship, you will be eligible to register with the professional pharmacy body, the GPhC.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Main duties of the job

Main duties will include training to achieve competencies in the following areas:

• Dispensing and final accuracy checking
• Ordering and receiving pharmaceutical stock (stock management)
• Working in a clinical patient environment including carrying out Medicines Reconciliation and checking patients own medication
• Supporting other pharmacy services within the department

Alongside this day to day work you will also get off the job training time to develop the additional skills required to be a pharmacy technician, including understanding medicines regulations and law, increasing but not limited to clinical knowledge on the use of medicines and their mechanism of actions and principals of aseptic manufacture.

Eligibility Criteria

Please note, to be eligible for the apprenticeship, you must:

• Be aged 16+
• Have lived in the UK/EEA for the past 3 years
• Have legal right to work in the UK for the duration of the apprenticeship. If you require a visa, it must allow you to work and undertake an apprenticeship. Visas issued solely for educational or study purposes do not meet the eligibility requirements.
• Not be on another government-funded programme

Please note there are minimum academic requirements for access to this apprenticeship of 4 GCSE’s (or equivalent) A*-C/9-4, which must include Maths, English and Science (certificates will ideally be seen at interview)

Candidates must be available to start the post by February 2027.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• 4 GCSE passes at grade C or 4 and above including Maths, English and Science (note you must have the necessary certificates available as evidence)
• Qualifications at A level or above
• NVQ Level 2 certificate in pharmacy service skills
• Supportive
• Respectful

Public Sector Language Competency

• Be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard

Knowledge and Experience

• Good standard of literacy and numeracy
• Previous experience of working in pharmacy
• A good understanding of the role of a pharmacy technician
• Understanding of the GPhC standards for pharmacy professionals

Skills and Abilities

• Enthusiasm and motivation
• Excellent communication and team working skills
• Show an understanding of confidentiality
• Organisational and time management skills required for planning own work/self-development
• Ability to use initiative
• Ability to identify and present evidence of knowledge, achievement and competence
• Knowledge and understanding of career pathway
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure
• Excellent attention to detail

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Jenny Maby Job title Lead Pharmacy Technician for Education & Training Email address [e-mail] Additional information Jenny Gray, Lead Pharmacist for Education and Training (City) - [e-mail]