If you are in the thick of exams, good luck! It may be hard to see beyond the next test. But if you are planning to head for the world of work once all the stress is behind you, there’s a great future waiting in the world of eyecare. If you like working with people and have strong communication skills becoming an optical assistant in an opticians is a good starting point. Customer service experience is helpful but not essential.…
Students from schools across south west England took part in a taster day in April, designed to inspire them to consider a career in optometry. The 50 pupils, from years 10 to 13, met academic staff from Plymouth university’s optometry programme, attended mini lectures on eye anatomy and visual processing, and had the opportunity to take part in a practical session using equipment in the optometry lab, including video slit lamps. A much broader career They also met current students,…
Qualifying as an optician gives you access to a rewarding career. From the opportunity to earn while you learn to being a style guru or getting to grips with the latest technology, there are many reasons to consider this option for your future. Flexible learning You can study ophthalmic dispensing full or part-time, so you can earn while you learn. There are day release and distance learning options, or foundation degree (two year) and BSc (three year) courses. Providers include…
Megan never planned to become a dispensing optician. Now she’s on course to become fully qualified in a professional career. She applied for a job at Specsavers Fox Valley practice in Sheffield in her year out before going to university. She had planned to study forensic science. “I had no idea what working at an opticians involved as I’d never had an eye test myself,” Megan says. She quickly realised she’d found her passion. “As I grew more comfortable with…
Specsavers is offering staff e-learning to help them understand the needs of customers with conditions such as autism or ADHD. The module is available for community practices as well as in support offices. 'With around 15% of people in the UK thought to be neurodiverse, it's really important that we all understand neurodiversity. Having this knowledge, and the ability to have the right conversations, will make a big difference,’ says Amy Cooper, co-chair of the neurodiversity colleague network group. 'The…
Optometrist Katie Martin has achieved her pre-registration qualifications in under a year, surprising her colleagues. Trainees have two years and three months to finish the scheme. Nathan Burn, a director at Specsavers Plymouth, says: “We’ve all said a huge congratulations to Katie for stunning us by completing her pre-reg so quickly. “We're simply in awe of her. It really is a fantastic achievement. She made it look so easy, even though many others will tell you it absolutely isn't. We're…
Kay Bagshaw is a dispensing optician and a tutor for optical apprenticeships at Woodspeen Training How do you start your day? I log onto the e-portfolio system and check if any learners have uploaded work ready for feedback. I go through emails and diary tasks. Then it’s on to the first group training session, on a Teams call with a group of learners for 2.5 hours. We will discuss a new topic, or build knowledge by adding to a previous…
A project to inspire young people to become optometrists is being expanded across the UK. Specsavers is rolling out its Bright Futures bursary programme into England and Wales after it was initially launched in Scotland and Northern Ireland. More than £2,000 is available to help students into their career and pay for some of their equipment. The programme also offers part-time work in local branches, providing vital experience as well as shadowing and mentoring. "The bursary will allow partners in…
Specsavers is helping partners who own and run local practices and home visit domiciliary services to fund optometrists’ professional advancement. Clinical services director Giles Edmonds says: “We know our clinicians love enhanced optical services and the range of development opportunities on offer – so we're making a big investment here. “We're going to go shoulder to shoulder on professional certificates for medical retina and glaucoma in the UK and Ireland as well as for independent prescribing courses in Scotland and…
A video to inspire young people into optics careers will run in hundreds of schools and colleges during National Apprenticeship Week, starting 6 February. Adam Matthews, an apprentice at Specsavers Chesterfield, Derbyshire, will feature alongside colleagues Helen Belkhodja, a director covering four of the firm’s practices in Surrey, and head of apprenticeships Dena Wyatt. “It’s exciting to be taking part,” says Adam, who joined the apprenticeship scheme in June 2022. “I’ve learnt a huge range of skills in a variety…