Phoenix has taken a minority stake in Buttercups Training to help fund investment in the company's IT-based training programmes.Vanessa Kingsbury, managing director of Buttercups Training, said the move would provide the backing to expand its core training offering, and to develop innovative delivery methods."This investment will enable us to reach the independent pharmacy sector, allowing more of them to take advantage of what my team has to offer, and to enjoy some of the training grants we have managed to secure," she said.Paul Smith, ceo of Phoenix, said: "Our investment is an important part of our commitment to forging partnerships that will bring many added benefits to the wider pharmacy sector."