Pharmaceutical jobs in United Kingdom

• 3 posts at Lynebank Hospital, Dunfermline, Fife • 1 post at Cupar Health Centre

Salary/Banding: Band 4 (Annex 21 U)

• Year 1: 70% of Band 4 salary (currently aligned to the Real Living Wage – approx. £12.60/hour)

• Year 2: 75% of Band 4 salary

Do you have an interest in pharmacy and medicines? Want to help deliver high-quality patient care while gaining a vocational qualification—and get paid to study?

If so, a Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician role starting in April 2026 could be the perfect opportunity for you.

At NHS Fife, our Pharmacy & Medicines Directorate serves a population of around 380,000 people. We’re a team of over 300 pharmacy staff working across sectors to deliver safe, effective, and person-centred care. As a trainee, you’ll be part of this team — rotating across pharmacy settings, building a portfolio of work‑based evidence, and gaining valuable experience.

You’ll complete the Diploma in Pharmacy Services, which includes:

• Knowledge-based learning (PDA in Pharmacy Services SCQF Level 7) via blended learning with West College Scotland
• Vocational training (SVQ in Pharmacy Services SCQF Level 8) over two years

On successful completion, you’ll be eligible to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and apply for Pharmacy Technician roles across NHS sectors.

Applicants must meet one of the following qualification routes:

• National 5 qualifications at Grades A to C (or equivalent) in:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• Mathematics
• One additional subject

• National 5 qualifications at Grades A to C (or equivalent) in:

• English
• Mathematics

AND

• Completion of an approved Pharmacy Services SQA course at SCQF Level 7

• If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 7 is required (GPhC regulatory standard)

Applicants must also meet the Modern Apprenticeship eligibility criteria as defined by Skills Development Scotland.

This is a fixed‑term training post based in Primary Care, with placements in a Primary Care Pharmacy Pharmacy base, GP practices working alongside clinical pharmacy teams, and rotations to a local community pharmacy. Rotations will be allocated on appointment and may change depending on service needs. Some travel will be required across settings, and there may be opportunities to spend time in acute or community hospital environment.

Existing permanent employees must first discuss this opportunity with their substantive line manager. The secondment policy can be found here Hub • Blink (joinblink.com) If you do not have approval for a secondment from your current line manager, you will not be able to progress your application for a fixed‑term post. External applicants, with continuous NHS Service, must also have in place a secondment agreement, from their existing board to apply for this post.

To find out more information or to arrange an informal chat, please contact:

Michelle Jackson - Lead Pharmacy Technician – Primary Care, michelle.jackson@nhs.scot

or

Louise Hamilton - Specialist Pharmacy Technician – Primary Care, louise.hamilton3@nhs.scot

Internal pharmacy applicants who wish to discuss how their current qualifications align with the entry requirements are encouraged to speak with their line manager in the first instance.

A requirement of this post is to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme Prior to appointment.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.

As part of the pre‑employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre‑settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK websitehere.

For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be foundhere.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.

We offer flexible working and family‑friendly policies and fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long‑term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.