Our Training Programmes

(Plymouth Rotational Opportunity for Progression through Experience & Learning)

PROPEL is suited to newly qualified or other-sector experienced pharmacists looking to progress their career in hospital clinical pharmacy. During the programme, you will not only develop your clinical knowledge but you will develop other non-clinical skills such as leadership, resilience and management. 

The learning and experience we have designed can be mapped against RPS frameworks. You will be supported through our PROPEL Programme to develop a portfolio to prepare for advanced clinical practice/ Band 8a roles and to enable  your continuum of development towards consultancy. 

As our hospital is a Level 1 major trauma centre, the largest hospital in the Peninsula, a tertiary referral centre for other specialties and the busiest emergency department within the region,  we are confident you will gain a wide variety of experience in our well-regarded specialisms. 

First 18 months (Band 6) 

• Undertake 3-month core rotations in Medical Admissions, Surgical Care, Healthcare of Older People, Generalised Paediatrics, Aseptic Services, and Medicines Information. 
• You will be supported to do post graduate studies with one of our chosen universities. The first year will see you gain a Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy (as part of clinical diploma) 
• You will get protected time for your study 
• You will get regular progress reviews with the aim to progress to Band 7 role after 18 months
• You will be supported and mentored by experienced pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and the education and training team
• You will get opportunity to mentor our trainee pharmacists and Pre-reg pharmacy technicians 

Second 18 months (Band 7 Rotational Pharmacists):

• You will be expected to continue your postgraduate clinical diploma studies to completion 
• You will be able to experience various clinical specialties in more depth and detail for 6 months each time. 
• We offer a choice of core- specialised rotations in gastroenterology, paediatrics and neonatal medicine, neurology, cardiology, respiratory, critical care and urgent & emergency care, renal medicine, cardiology, aseptics and cancer services or aseptics and clinical trials 
• There are also second choice offerings in hepatology, patient safety, governance and formulary,  clinical academic internships & research (subject to funding), HIV medicine and antimicrobials, Rheumatology, Trauma and Orthopaedics, other specialised surgery such as vascular surgery and ENT and Mental Health. 
• At this stage, you will be expected to work more closely with the multidisciplinary team, develop/ review guidelines, protocols and PGDs and involvement in quality improvement and audit work. Quality improvement is important to us: we are part of the Quality Academy. 
• If not already done, there is an option to do Non-Medical Prescribing at this stage. 
• You will be assigned more responsibility and will continue to develop your leadership, management, research and education skills. 
• You may want to continue the 6 monthly rotations for longer than 18months, until you decide on your area of interest for advanced specialist practice. 

To apply for the programme, visit jobs.nhs.uk

The hospital is a tertiary centre for Cardiothoracics, Trauma, Renal Transplant, Opthalmology, Neuro ITU, Neurosurgery, Interventional radiology and Hepatology. 

We are a forward-thinking department, which values our responsibility within the hospital and region. The department is large with over 150 staff. We are always excited to welcome and develop the future generation of pharmacists. We care about our trainees and ensuring the right development environment.  

Work Experience

We offer opportunities for summer placements in July and September. 

School age:

• 1 day visits during the week 14 to 25 July

• 4 spaces for 1 week placements between Monday 7 to Friday 11 July 2025 (9:30am to 3:30pm)

MPharm Undergraduates 2nd and 3rd year:

• 4 spaces for 1 week placements between Monday 21 to Friday 25 July

• 4 spaces for 1 week placements Monday 1 September to Friday 5 September 2025 

International Pharmacy students arranged via BPSA representative:

• 4 places between from Monday 14 to Friday 25 July 2025 

Apply for pharmacy work experience

Closing date 30th May 2025

Foundation Training Year 

In 2026/27, we will be offering 12 foundation trainee placements with a mixture of hospital only and some cross-sectors programmes. 

You will receive an induction timetable and programme when you start with us. During your induction, you will get the opportunity to meet and bond with the other trainees as well as meet the pharmacy team. This is an example of the annual training plan that you will be given: Pharmacists Trainee Timetable example 2023.xlsx [xlsx] 48KB

During the hospital programme you will experience a variety of clinical practice from our breadth of services. For cross-sector, you will spend a minimum of 13 weeks with either our PCN (GP) partners, community pharmacy, Livewell and elective surgery centre. You will receive regular support throughout your training year: your wellbeing and career is important to us.

We recruit via ORIEL and work with NHS England WT&E to provide your comprehensive training programme. Part of your training will  include (regional) local learning sets where you will meet other trainees within the Peninsula and have the opportunity to network with other peers. Apply for Pharmacy Foundation Training Year via ORIEL 

After your training year, you will without doubt want to join our PROPEL programme, to continue to develop and progress your career in Britain's Ocean City! 

We value our technician workforce and invest heavily in training. We run PTPT apprenticeships in partnership with Pharmacy Workforce Development South (PWDS),  Health Education England and accredited course providers. 

PTPTs are trained across sectors and complete a GPhC recognised 2-year training programme. This qualification combined with the work experience will enable registration as a pharmacy technician with the GPhC.

The education providers that we use: 

• Bradford college – Level 3 Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians BTEC Level 3 Diploma 
• University of East Anglia – Certificate of higher education in pharmacy technician practice apprenticeship

We employ and train around 4 x PTPTs per 6 months. This can mean at any one time we can have between 8-10 trainees per year.  The PTPT apprenticeship can be hospital only or cross sector. We work in partnership with local GP practices and partner organisations such as Livewell Southwest to provide cross-sector training.  

The role of a pharmacy technician is varied and does not only involve accuracy checking. Our technicians go on to do various roles such as procurement, Aseptics Services, Medicines Optimisation, Managerial roles and training others including trainee pharmacists. 

During your time as a PTPT you will be supported by our experienced Senior Pharmacy Technicians for Education and Training, other technicians who will act as your practice supervisor, pharmacists and the rest of the Pharmacy Team. 

Our PTPT apprenticeships are advertised on NHS Jobs.

We encourage and want our pharmacy technicians to develop and progress their career. 

Newly qualified pharmacy technicians are supported from the day they qualify. We have a 6-month programme to help newly qualified pharmacy technicians to transition easily and quickly to more autonomous practitioners. 

We have Medicines Optimisation Technicians that are an integral part of the clinical pharmacy team and have daily responsibilities to support the optimisation of medicines.  

Some of our pharmacy technicians work within Aseptics services, High-Cost Drugs, Procurement or Supply Services utilising their various skills to support patients directly or indirectly. 

We have close affiliations with Pharmacy Workforce Development South (PWDS) to offer post-registration development, for example Clinical Prioritisation module. We also take up and encourage other career development opportunities such as NHS Leadership Academy, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Programme, CPPE Leading for change and sector specific diplomas or certificates.  

Some of our most senior positions within the department are held by pharmacy technicians, which we think is proof that we are not "pharmacist-centric". 

We advertise our programmes on NHS Jobs.

We have a large number of non-registered staff whom we highly value and also recognise their importance for the optimum function of our department.  

Our non-registered staff work in various areas of pharmacy such as the general office ( administration), High-cost drugs, Procurements, Stores, Distribution, Dispensary and Aseptics

Like all our other staff, we encourage and support PSA ( also known as ATOs or if more senior, SATOs) to develop and progress their career. We encourage and support staff to undertake various apprenticeships, for example BTEC Level 2, Pharmacy Services Assistant. 

Bradford College is one the education providers that we have worked with to provide a Level 2 Apprenticeship for Pharmacy Services Assistant. 

We advertise our apprenticeships on NHS Jobs.