Employers had until last Friday (January 20) to confirm the number of posts they wished to advertise via the scheme, and a full list of employers is expected by the end of the month, HEE head of pharmacy Gail Fleming told C+D.

However, Boots confirmed to C+D last week that it is "taking part" in the scheme and will have “approximately 500” pre-reg places recruited through the system for the 2018 start date.

“We are currently working to agree the stores that will be involved,” the health and beauty giant said.

“Delighted” to be involved

The pre-reg team at Lloydspharmacy said it is “delighted” to recruit a “proportion” of its 2018 pre-regs through the national scheme.

The multiple has so far allocated 80 posts and a “final confirmation of numbers will be in May”, a spokesperson told C+D.

Ms Fleming said the HEE scheme has “taken a lot of learning” from the recruitment methods used by other professions, including dentists, doctors and healthcare scientists, and will use the same IT platform as them, ORIEL.

“Adapting what is already there so it is suitable for pharmacy saves us from having to invest in a brand new system,” she said.

Last September, current and former students came out in support of the England-wide scheme.

C+D has launched a dedicated zone for pharmacy students. Find all the latest news, views and analysis here

You can also search for the latest pre-reg vaccancies on C+D Jobs