Career Curve Ball leads Lauren to Pharmacy Services Apprenticeship

Comber woman Lauren Hewitt (33) thinks the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Pharmacy Services is something to shout about, given the roles it can lead to, and for her, a fulfilling career in community pharmacy and a teaching role at South Eastern Regional College (SERC).

Lauren, who completed an MSci in Genetics (Immunology) – essentially a degree with a master’s project - at the University of Aberdeen in 2011, had planned to do a Phd, but suddenly had to rethink her plans.  Lauren said, “Funding for my project was cut which left me without a job and a mortgage to pay.  I ended up taking the first job that came along, a Healthcare Adviser with Boots in Aberdeen, which I loved.   The role is essentially a Medicines Counter Assistant in other pharmacies.  I worked there for 2 years before returning to Northern Ireland to a dispensing assistant role, progressing to dispenser and then to my current position as a pharmacy technician - at Horner Pharmacy in Comber – which I gained through the Level 3 Pharmacy Services apprenticeship at SERC and completed in June 2021.”

She added, “The apprenticeship is a specific way of completing pharmacy technician training. Pharmacy is currently classed as an under skilled profession, so going the apprenticeship route means that your course fees are covered by the Government which is great for both employer and the employed apprentice.”

“There's an assumption that everyone must have a pharmacy degree to work in a pharmacy and whilst that is true for the role of a pharmacist, pharmacy consists of a multi-disciplinary team, and most roles - Medicines Counter Assistant, Dispensing Assistant, Dispenser, Pharmacy Technician - do not require a degree but can be achieved through a mix of learning on the job, distance learning, or the apprenticeship route for the Pharmacy Technician, which I completed.  I am currently progressing to Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician via distance learning.”

“The best thing about the apprenticeship was working and earning a wage combined with a day in SERC for theory. The apprenticeship offers a good work-life balance but, as with any course, you need to be disciplined to complete assignments on time and put in some additional self-study hours.”

Lauren concluded, “My qualifications and experience to date meant I could apply for the part-time teaching register at SERC, and I was delighted to secure a part-time post, teaching the next generation of Pharmacy Technicians, in September 2021. I never would have believed that one disappointment in my plan could lead to such a fulfilling career. I would recommend anyone wishing to pursue a role in community or hospital pharmacy to consider the Level 3 Apprenticeship Services.”

Visit www.serc.ac.uk/NI-Apprenticeship-Week-2022 to unlock your future #BetterOffAtSERC.