The National Apprenticeship Scheme has been in place since 2009, and apprenticeships have a long tradition in the United Kingdom, but some employers in the optical industry have yet to embrace them. Read on to hear how optical apprenticeships can benefit you, your staff and your business. Mandy Boucher is a tutor on the level 2 optical assistant apprenticeship and says, “This is a way to empower learners to engage through hands-on learning.” As a dispensing optician (DO) with more…
Firstly, I will point out that I am new to being a STEM Ambassador. I took the plunge a couple of months back and went through the process as outlined on their website. STEM offers great support and guidance, including training materials that take you through the application process. They even handle the DBS for you. My motivation was really as an extension of the Careers in Eyecare work that ABDO has engaged with. Becoming an Ambassador seemed like a…
Thomas Gluyas is an apprentice optical assistant. Read on to find out more about his working week! PLUS: Check out Careers In Eyecare for more inspiration. Every Monday I receive a two-and-a-half-hour online lesson on a topic related to the optical industry. These topics have been appropriate to the level of knowledge I had at the time and have progressed week on week. For example earlier lessons included the patient journey and good record keeping whereas a recent lesson was…
Are you looking for a new challenge? Have you thought about becoming a STEM ambassador? You could inspire a future dispensing optician, optometrist or optical assistant. Find what being a STEM ambassador entails and how to apply using the links below. Become a STEM ambassador Read Nick’s experience of his first STEM sessions Tips for talking to students about STEM STEM Careers in Eyecare lesson plan Careers in Eyecare Lesson powerpoint Are you a teacher? You can book a STEM ambassador to come…
It’s National Eye Health Week and it’s a great time to think about whether you are looking after your eyes. If you haven’t been to the opticians before, now is a great time to phone up or go online and book your first sight test. Lots of people qualify for a NHS sight test – you can find out if you can qualify if you live in England, Northern Ireland or Wales. In Scotland everyone gets NHS sight care. Did…
Retail is a great place to start your career. These great tips from the Careers in Eyecare experts can help you get the retail jobs you apply for! Retail is a great place to start your career – there are so many different shops you can work in you’re sure to find one that appeals. But if you have an eye on your dream job, what will you need to make sure that you are picked for the role when…
If you have just left school and aren’t sure about your next step, you’re not alone. Thousands of 16 to 18-year-olds have finished school and are ready to explore the world of work. These tips from youth-friendly organisation ABDO will help you make the leap. School leavers – ready to make the jump to working? You may have something lined up already, but if you don’t, here are some tips to help you explore what you might like to do.…
What do you do when Results Day comes around and you didn’t get the grades you wanted for your chosen degree? You’ve still got great options, explain the team at Careers in Eyecare. The pandemic has been tough for everyone, and if you have been studying for A levels it has been doubly hard. The combination of lockdown and uncertainty about the A level process for many months has left many students feeling that their results don’t truly reflect what…
Work experience is a great way for young people to build skills, learn about the world of work and get a taste for a possible career path. Find out more about work experience below. We have developed guides for employers and young people to make it easy to offer well structured and useful work experience, and help you to inspire the next generation in eyecare. Student work experience workbookEmployers’ guide to work experienceHow to find work experience for students
Thomas Gluyas is an apprentice optical assistant, training with Woodspeen. Read on for his tips for a successful apprenticeship. Could a Career in Eyecare be what you’ve been looking for? Thomas's tips for success Don’t be afraid to try an apprenticeship in something you’d never considered before.For me, where I work and who I work with is more important than the content of the apprenticeship itself.Think where you could be in two or three years’ time after taking your apprenticeship:…