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The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has said it is supporting pharmacists at risk of redundancy at the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE), which is based at the University of Manchester.
In a statement published on 28 October 2025, the PDA said: “The CPPE contract is due for renewal next year, and NHS funding is reducing even if the contract is renewed. As a result, some pharmacists are currently facing potential redundancy.”
According to a tender notice published in August 2025 by NHS England, a procurement process is being followed to seek a supplier for the new contract, with a decision on the successful bidder expected in February 2026.
The contract is for a maximum of £49.47m (inclusive of VAT) over three years, with an optional extension of two years, subject to budgetary approval, the notice said.
The CPPE has provided continuing education and professional development for the NHS pharmacy workforce across England since 1991. In October 2025, it launched a new e-learning programme for pharmacy staff to help them support patients with symptoms of long COVID.
Matthew Shaw, director at the CPPE, told The Pharmaceutical Journal: “The procurement exercise offers a maximum funding of £10.11m for the first two years, decreasing to £9.75m for up to three subsequent years. The CPPE annual report for 2024 to 2025 shows that our expenditure to year end March 2025 in line with budget was £12,738,692 (page 51 of the annual report).
“The successful bidder for the new contract beginning 1 April 2026 will receive £2.6m less per annum at the start of the contract than our budget for 2024/2025.”
Shaw said that peak numbers for the CPPE ‘Primary care pharmacy education pathway‘ were 2,400 learners per year, “with each of those learners receiving one-to-one support from a CPPE education supervisor”.
“As the number of pharmacy professionals who are required to undertake the pathway as a requirement of their role has stabilised, the NHS forecasted number of learners has reduced each year to 900 learners a year,” he added.
“The reduction in learner numbers on the pathway necessitates a smaller CPPE education supervisor workforce, resulting in potential redundancy.”
In its five year delivery plan, published on 28 October 2025, the General Pharmaceutical Council said that by the end of the year 2025/2026, it expects to add around 3,000 pharmacists and 1,850 pharmacy technicians to its register, although it will also be removing those who have left or who are no longer eligible to be on it.
Commenting on the potential redundancies, Shaw said that the CPPE has followed a fair process and are working constructively with the PDA and the unions recognised by the University of Manchester.
“We encourage all of our team to consider joining a representative body,” he added.
In its statement, the PDA said that all pharmacists employed at CPPE have fixed-term employment contracts aligned with the contract.
“It is recognised that if the NHS do not renew the contract at [the] University of Manchester, those CPPE pharmacists remaining after this change may face a further redundancy process or potential of transfer to a new employer,” it said.
“In either scenario, the PDA will support those members impacted.”
