Specsavers Bingley and Folkestone shortlisted for Hearing Care Practice of the Year

Two Specsavers practices recognised in the Optician Awards 2026 for making hearing care more accessible, integrated and community focused

Specsavers Bingley and Specsavers Folkestone have both been shortlisted for Hearing Care Practice of the Year at the Optician Awards 2026.

The shortlist recognition reflects two distinctive approaches united by the same ambition: to make hearing care a natural part of everyday healthcare and help more people stay safe, independent and connected.

Bingley makes hearing part of every customer journey

Specsavers Bingley has embedded hearing care across the practice, with optical colleagues opening conversations and offering hearing screening to eligible adults attending for sight tests. From a starting point of 4% of its over-50s screening opportunity, the practice went on to achieve 125% of its daily target and became the leading store for over-50s hearing screeners in Specsavers’ North East division.

The team has also taken hearing care beyond the practice through music festivals, family activities and creative campaigns. Its misheard song lyrics challenge, hearing-protection activity and live DJ event for the Specsavers Test List campaign have helped make conversations about hearing more approachable.

Fraz Hussain, Audiology Director at Specsavers Bingley, said: “We are incredibly proud to be shortlisted. Our whole team has worked hard to make hearing care part of the everyday conversation, whether someone is visiting for a sight test, meeting us at a community event or simply asking for advice. This recognition belongs to every colleague who has helped make hearing support feel relevant, accessible and welcoming.”

Folkestone demonstrates the power of joined-up care

Specsavers Folkestone, together with its spokes including New Romney, has been recognised for creating a seamless approach in which eye and ear health are cared for by one multidisciplinary team. Hearing screening is incorporated into the optical journey, while cross-trained colleagues can discuss hearing loss, hearing aids, wax removal and appropriate next steps with confidence.

The practice has also developed its own talent pipeline, with two former optical assistants qualifying as audiologists in the past year. Its community work includes providing free out-of-hours optical and audiology health clinics with local homeless charities Porchlight and the Rainbow Centre, alongside support for the NHS-linked Rise project in Thanet, helping people who are homeless or vulnerably housed to access care.

Rozie Phelan-Beadle, Audiology Director at Specsavers Folkestone, said: “Being shortlisted is a wonderful recognition of a team that genuinely sees eye and ear health as a shared responsibility. No one says, ‘that’s not my job’. By working together, developing colleagues and taking care into the community, we can reach people earlier and help them remain connected to their families, their communities and the things that matter most.”

Both practices are shortlisted in the Hearing Care Practice of the Year category at the Optician Awards 2026 and are up against three other finalists. The awards will be presented on 11 December at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.