Princess Royal honour for Specsavers training programme

Princess Royal honour for Specsavers training programme

A training programme helping people build careers in eye care has been recognised with a prestigious Princess Royal Training Award.

The award recognises the impact of the Specsavers Cert 3 training programme, which has seen thousands of people – two in every five being under-25 – enrol since it was relaunched in 2023.

The Level 3 BTEC programme supports career pathways into dispensing, contact lenses, clinical technician and laboratory roles. Many learners are joining from retail backgrounds or relatively soon straight from school.

‘This is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved, from our Cert 3 students and their colleagues in practice to the professional development team who support them,’ says Doug Perkins, founder and chairman of Specsavers.

‘At a time when patients have more choice than ever, expertise is what makes the difference. Programmes like Cert 3 help us build that expertise while creating opportunities for people to develop rewarding careers at Specsavers.

He adds: ‘It’s an investment in our patients, our people and our communities.’

Grant Duncan, director of professional advancement at Specsavers, says the programme – which is accredited by Pearson – is helping colleagues take their next step into clinical careers.

“Many learners start their journey as optical assistants and use Cert 3 as a springboard into further qualifications and more specialist roles,’ he says.

“What stands out is the enthusiasm people bring to the programme. They are investing in themselves, building new skills and discovering opportunities they may never have considered before. It’s incredibly rewarding to see where that journey takes them.’

He adds: ‘This award recognises not only the learners, but also the teams supporting them every step of the way. It reinforces our belief that people from all backgrounds can build long and successful careers in optics.’

The Princess Royal Training Award will be formally presented in London in January.