Key Summary
- Community pharmacies intending to access CPTAP funding have been advised to check that they have accepted a funding offer by today, 3 July
- To facilitate this employer-led, work-based training, NHS is contributing £15,505 per trainee per year for two years.
- Skills4Pharmacy will guide contractors through available financial incentives, including up to £4,000 per learner and National Insurance apprentice relief for learners under 25.
Skills4Pharmacy has offered to help pharmacy contractors who want to avail the NHS Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme (CPTAP) that delivers formal apprenticeship training at no cost.
Contractors who submitted applications for CPTAP must act quickly upon receiving their notification. NHS England Workforce, Training and Education (WT&E) has confirmed that the window for accepting funding is Friday, 3 July.
To support contractors through the next steps, Skills4Pharmacy can help employers access a £1 million levy transfer, delivering the formal apprenticeship training at no cost.
The programme provides funding to support community pharmacies in recruiting and training pharmacy technicians, which would bolster workforce capacity and expand clinical service delivery across the sector.
To facilitate this employer-led, work-based training, NHS is contributing £15,505 per trainee per year for two years (24 months).
How Skills4Pharmacy can help
Skills4Pharmacy is facilitating access to a £1 million levy transfer, delivering apprenticeship training at zero cost to the employer.
To provide much-needed relief to busy contractors, Skills4Pharmacy is also offering complimentary recruitment support to help hire new pharmacy technicians or backfill vital Pharmacy Service Assistant roles.
Additionally, Skills4Pharmacy will guide contractors through available financial incentives, including up to £4,000 per learner (rising to £6,000 from October 2026) and National Insurance (NI) apprentice relief for learners under 25.
Key timelines
Contractors who submitted applications must act quickly upon receiving their notification. NHSE has confirmed that the window for accepting funding is 3 July.
From July to August, candidate recruitment and enrolments would take place, and from July to 30 September, learners have to enrol and commence their apprenticeship programme.
Skills4Pharmacy has assured contractors that they can provide teams to "handle heavy lifting, from compliance and recruitment to unlocking extra funding."
Contractors can also approach them if they need to recruit a trainee or would like guidance on alternative funding options.
Skills4Pharmacy has secured over £3 million in apprenticeship levy transfer funding for pharmacies across England in two years.
