Job Overview
* 2 posts at Lynebank Hospital, Dunfermline, Fife
* 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?
About the Role
If so, a Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician role starting in September 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.
Training and Qualification
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.
Minimum Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet one of the following qualification routes:
Route A – Standard Entry
* National 5 qualifications at Grades A to C (or equivalent) in Biology
* National 5 qualifications at Grades A to C (or equivalent) in Chemistry
* National 5 qualifications at Grades A to C (or equivalent) in English
* National 5 qualifications at Grades A to C (or equivalent) in Mathematics
* National 5 qualifications at Grades A to C (or equivalent) in One additional subject
Route B – Alternative Entry (Typically Internal Candidates)
* National 5 at Grades A to C in English
* National 5 at Grades A to C in Mathematics
* Completion of an approved Pharmacy Services SQA course that evidences learning at SCQF Level 7 (This will be assessed during the application process and must be clearly evidenced)
Additional Requirement:
* 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.
Role Details
This is a fixed‑term training post based in Primary Care, with placements in a Primary Care 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 an in‑place secondment agreement, from their existing board to apply for this post.
Contact
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
Additional Information
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.
As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full‑time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part‑time hours will be reduced pro‑rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.
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 Immigration 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 website.
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.
Please note the salary is pro rata for part time hours.
Application Guidance
AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must your own.
* Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
* Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
* Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI‑generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.
Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you — not an AI tool.
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.
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