University College London Hospitals & Buttercups Training Success Story

A Partnership Focussed on Progress

Since 2020, Buttercups Training and UCLH have been working in partnership to create exceptional learning opportunities for aspiring pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians are rapidly becoming vital contributors to medicines management and patient care within hospital wards. Currently, this collaboration supports over 20 trainee pharmacy technicians, undertaking Buttercups’ nationally recognised Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship programme, with 16 trainees currently gaining hands-on experience on hospital wards across the Trust. The apprenticeship provides a robust framework combining practical skills, clinical knowledge, and professional development tailored to medicines management roles on wards. Entailing a tailored training plan, this structure gives learners exposure to the dynamic and fast-paced world of clinical pharmacy.

Empowering Learners Through Personalised Development

Rakhee Mandalia, Education and Training Lead at UCLH, plays a pivotal role in supporting learners’ personal and professional growth. A focused approach on understanding each learner’s individual interests and with a holistic development plan in place, Rakhee provides a key stepping stone in shaping aspiring career paths that go beyond standard training outcomes.

For example, two learners, Nadia Nozari and Ella Powell, embarked on a meaningful project, through observations and findings, collating data to explore the value of trainee pharmacy technicians within ward-based teams. Their findings were presented at the Trust’s internal festival of excellence conference and have not only informed local practices, but have also laid the foundation for potential academic publications. With there being a dedicated pharmacy research team at the Trust, there’s potentially scope for multiple papers resulting from this initial research completed by the learners.

This is a remarkable achievement, not only for the learners involved but for the wider apprenticeship community. It reinforces the growing role pharmacy technicians play in evidence-based practice and clinical improvement. This goes to show how the importance of having a positive and aspiring workforce, and the right level of education in place, can directly contribute to developments for both learners and employers.

Looking Ahead: More Than Just Apprenticeships

Our partnership is also evolving to address some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare today. Other learners at UCLH are exploring innovative projects related to environmental sustainability and neurodiversity, indicating the wide-ranging influence these apprentices have on enhancing healthcare environments and patient-centred care.

These learner-led initiatives are more than personal development exercises, they are shaping policy, practice, and culture across the organisation.

A Model for NHS Trusts: Leveraging Apprenticeships to Maximise Ward Pharmacy Technician Impact

The experiences at UCLH underline critical success factors that other NHS Trusts can adopt:

• Strategic ward placements: Deploying PTPTs where their skills can optimise stock and medicines management
• Holistic learner support: Encouraging apprentices’ wider interests, particularly in research and quality improvement
• Strong mentorship: Providing guidance that nurtures both clinical competencies and broader professional growth
• Collaborative research: Aligning apprenticeship learners with trust research teams to generate impactful evidence supporting pharmacy technician roles

Buttercups: Delivering Excellence in Pharmacy Technician Training

Buttercups Training’s Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship has proven invaluable in equipping learners with the knowledge and skills essential for ward-based clinical practice. The partnership with UCLH highlights how targeted training and active learner engagement empower pharmacy technicians to deliver meaningful improvements in medicines management and patient care.

By focusing on practical competence alongside knowledge development, Buttercups ensures that apprentices graduate with the tools and confidence to meet the evolving challenges faced by NHS pharmacy services.

Conclusion

The achievements of Buttercups-trained pharmacy technicians at UCLH illustrate how well-structured apprenticeships accelerate workforce development and improve clinical ward services. Through enhanced medicines management, research contribution, and holistic learner support, Buttercups and UCLH are building a skilled pharmacy technician workforce vital for NHS success.

Other NHS trusts looking to optimise ward pharmacy services can look to this partnership as a scalable, effective model marrying apprenticeship training with clinical impact and academic collaboration. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to support and highlight the power of collaborative learning and real-world impact.