If you have submitted your Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme application, this is now being reviewed by the NHS.
NHS England Workforce, Training and Education (WT&E) has launched a new round of funding to support the recruitment and training of Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (PTPTs) in community pharmacy.
The Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme (CPTAP) 2026 will strengthen the workforce by supporting learners to complete a 24-month apprenticeship, enabling them to gain the skills and experience needed for this essential role.
The funding is available for new PTPTs who have not enrolled in or started training. Training placements must begin between July 2026 and 30th September 2026.
Funding Support
NHSE WT&E is offering a training contribution of £15,505 per trainee, per year for two years (24 months) to support community pharmacies in developing an employer-led work-based training programme.
Timeline
Notification of outcome emailed to pharmacy contractors w/c 22nd June
Contractors have until 3rd July to confirm acceptance of offer
July/August Recruitment and apprenticeship enrolment
PTPTs must be enrolled on and have started the apprenticeship programme between July 2026 and 30 September 2026.
Why act now?
Skills4Pharmacy has already helped over 400 PTPTs get started on their training journey this year - let us help you grow your pharmacy team next.
Pharmacy Technicians are essential to the transformation of community pharmacy. Upon qualification and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration, they bring:
Enhanced clinical expertise
Improved operational efficiency
Capacity to support expanded patient care services
If you have applied for CPTAP funding, complete a funding and eligibility health check with Skills4Pharmacy.
Skills4 offers a free consultation to make sure any existing staff members or new hires are eligible for the apprenticeship and the potential funding options available:
How Skills4Pharmacy can help:
Checking eligibility of your current or future employee before enrolment onto the apprenticeship programme
Complimentary no-cost recruitment support if you need a new employee for the Pharmacy Technician role
Providing no-cost recruitment support if you need a new employee to back fill into a Pharmacy Assistant role
£1M levy transfer to deliver the apprenticeship training at no cost
Guidance on available incentives up to £6,000 per learner
Understanding National Insurance (NI) apprentice relief for learners under 25
If you have not applied for CPTAP funding Skills4Pharmacy can support with funding consultation outside of the CPTAP initiative.
How Skills4Pharmacy can help:
Skills4 have £1M levy transfer support to make deliver the apprenticeship training at no cost
Guidance on available incentives of up to £3,000 through to October 2026, with support around upcoming funding opportunities of up to £6,000 thereafter
Complimentary no-cost recruitment support if you need a new employee in either the Pharmacy Service Assistant of Pharmacy technician role
Support with understanding National Insurance (NI) apprentice relief for learners under 25
Provide guidance on short course commercial modules to support current and future staff
Get in Touch
Reach out to our dedaicated team to discuss your workforce needs, application support, funding guidance and future webinar support sessions.