Specsavers celebrates success with three wins at the 2025 Optician Awards

Three Specsavers teams are celebrating after receiving top industry honours. The wins came amid strong competition at the 2025 Optician Awards, held in London on Saturday 13 December.

Rebecca Troughton, the Ophthalmic Director at Specsavers Northallerton & Thirsk, was named the Optician Award’s Optometrist of the Year for 2025. Rebecca was recognised for her excellence in patient care & clinical expertise across a decade of various clinical roles. Judges also celebrated her commitment to developing the wider optometric profession through her work developing & delivering training both in her clinical practices & at national conferences. Rebecca was also praised for her impact as an industry leader specialising in eye health & contact lenses.

Celebrating her win Ms Troughton says, ‘I’m incredibly grateful and honoured to receive the Optometrist of the Year award. This recognition isn’t mine alone – it reflects the incredible support of the colleagues I’m fortunate to work alongside every day, and the trust our patients place in us. It is a privilege to be part of a team that inspires me keep learning, do better every day, and deliver the highest standards of eye care that makes a real difference in our community.’

Satnam Johal and the team at Specsavers Bicester took home the award for Multiple Practice of the Year whilst Michael O’Kane and the team at Specsavers Morningside, Edinburgh were crowned Optical Assistant Team of the Year. The Bicester practice is owned and run by directors Suresh Mahandru, Mahin Ali, Satnam Johal and Harvey Marshall, were credited for their high standards of customer and patient care and harnessing the power of a national brand while offering great eyecare and service to the local community. The award also recognised the clinical and commercial success of the store and the engagement and development of its staff.

Says Mr Johal: ‘It’s a real honour to win this award because the judges based their decision on a range of criteria including training as well as serving and being part of our community. It is a testament to the incredible Specsavers Bicester team and our amazing support office colleagues who help us deliver great service and care for our patients.’

Edinburgh-based clinical and retail directors Michael O’Kane and Joe Alubaid at Specsavers Morningside are celebrating with their Optical Assistant team after being recognised for working together as a cohesive unit to maintain a friendly feel to a practice delivering large scale eye care. They were shortlisted for demonstrating how the team communicates to make each customer feel special and how new members of the team are integrated and developed within the practice.

Says Mr O’Kane of their win: ‘This is a brilliant award for a brilliant team. Our optical assistants are a vital part of the Specsavers Morningside team, serving our community with pride. They are fantastic examples of what Specsavers does, and I am very proud of them.’

The annual Optician Awards are open to all practices across the UK and Ireland and recognise excellence, innovation and impact within the profession. Specsavers had twelve shortlisted entries spanning six categories in the running this year, including being a finalist for the Eye Health Campaign of the Year alongside their charity partner Vision Care.