Company Information

INFORMATION PACK





2007


The history & structure

As a leading force in UK Optical Retail, our 250 year heritage stretches back as far as the eye can see. Part of an International group, We have 232 group owned branches throughout the UK split across our 2 regions; North and South, these are further divided into 16 areas, 8 for each of the North and South regions. We also have 139 franchise branches that are independently owned.




We employ over 2500 colleagues, 2300 being branch based, comprising Optical Advisers, Dispensing Opticians, Contact Lens Opticians, Branch Managers and Optometrists. Our friendly and caring colleagues deliver incredible customer service on all optical products, including contact lenses, frames, lenses and sunglasses.
To establish where our branches are located please visit our website.


Our Support Centre

Our Support Centre employs around 200 + colleagues split into 6 functions: Human Resources, Finance, Marketing/Commercial, Information Services, Operations and Franchising and is located in Aston, Birmingham.

Across the UK we have field based colleagues who assist and support our branch network; they operate in the following functions: Area Managers, Regional Managers, Clinical Development Managers, Internal Audit, HR Managers and HR Officers.

To identify what current vacancies we currently have please visit our website or call our recruitment team or please submit your CV and covering letters should you wish to make a speculative application.

Our culture & strategy

Our core personal values are ‘’Professional, Friendly and Caring’’ - This is because being ‘Professional, Friendly and Caring’ is something that underpins the way everyone in which we work, how we relate to each other and how we serve our customers. It describes our culture of a culture within which all colleagues can work and be proud.

We have looked at what its customers want and also what we can provide. It has found the things that make us stand out from the crowd; the things that make customers choose to come to us rather than to any of the competition. From this research, our strategy has been created, which we believe will continue to make the Company a success and stay ahead of the competition.


Our Vision is “To make the UK happy with their eyewear”


Having recognised the fact that customers in the UK have a dislike for wearing spectacles we realised that we had to change their views. This re-education’ of UK customers has become one of our key objectives. We aim to make spectacle wearing a positive and happy experience for them, rather than a negative one. Similarly we make the process of buying contact lenses much easier for our customers. That’s where our colleagues come in. We need them to make sure that all customers leave us happy in their eyewear, look stunning and see clearly.

Our Mission is “To be the best Optician in the UK”

To ‘be the best’, we have to challenge ourselves every day – by offering ‘Incredible Service’ to every customer who walks through the door and every colleague that we work with.

Our Customer Proposition is “Perfect eyewear and eyecare for all”

Our customers are looked after by a team of professionals whose sole aim is to ensure they get the PERFECT eyewear and eyecare for them, whether it’s an eye examination, spectacles, contact lenses or sunglasses.






What we offer our employees

To meet ever-changing customer needs, we know that people are right at the heart of everything that we do. Our continuing success depends on attracting the very best people and retaining them. That’s why we are always looking for new talent both internally and externally.

We passionately believe in exceeding customer expectations – every day, in every way. Working with us is not just a job, it’s a career. We believe in giving every individual total support, we appreciate that different people have different aspirations. Our individually tailored approach allows our employees to develop at a pace that suits them. Our training and development structure is carefully structured to maximise the employee’s career potential

We are very proud to have won the National Training Award in 2004 for our training & development structure within our branches for Optical Advisors. We offer a nationally approved Employer Scheme which is accredited with levels equivalent to NVQ’s. Within 24 months of joining us the role of a trainee Optical Advisor can become a Senior Optical Advisor (NVQ level 3) best of all, as their skills grow, so will their salary. In addition they can continue to develop their career to be a qualified Dispensing Optician or a Branch Manager.

Each year we recruit approximately 45 summer students on a 6 weeks work placement whilst they are carrying out their ophthalmic qualification at University, we then offer them fulltime employment once they have qualified. Once again we are keen that our Optometrist’s continue their learning and support them to continue with their CET (Continuous Education Training). We believe that working for us is not just a j0b it is a career.