A new partnership between Buttercups Training, Numark, and Phoenix which leverages ‘levy gifting’ aims to provide funded training places for pharmacy technicians and help address the workforce challenges facing community pharmacies.

Large businesses like Phoenix currently contribute to an apprenticeship levy fund designed to finance training programmes. Under levy gifting, government rules allow Phoenix to share up to 50 per cent of its levy to fund apprenticeships for smaller organisations.

By using a combination of funds from Phoenix and the BPP Social Impact Fund, up to £500,000 is being made available to support apprenticeship programmes for Numark members.

Buttercups will facilitate this process, ensuring a seamless connection between Numark members and the relevant training programmes.

The partnership will focus on the Buttercups Pharmacy Technician Training Programme Apprenticeship (PTTP), which is especially suited for older apprentices who typically require greater funding.

While younger candidates (21 and under) traditionally get fully funded training, this initiative extends free training to all eligible candidates, says Numark.

Applications for training will be treated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, says Numark. Members can apply via the Numark website.

The PTTP is particularly appropriate for this initiative, says Numark, because many community pharmacies have experienced dispensing assistants who ready to advance into pharmacy technician roles.

“With the NHS England Community Pharmacy Technician Programme oversubscribed, this initiative offers members in England a valuable opportunity to secure training support for their teams. Beyond addressing workforce shortages, it highlights the social value of reinvesting unused funds into smaller businesses, fostering growth and sustainability across the industry.”