Over 350 Specsavers stores become ‘Platinum Employers’

More than 350 Specsavers stores have been accredited as ‘Platinum Employers’ since the multiple launched the initiative in September 2016, it has confirmed.

Due to the scheme’s success, the multiple has pledged to roll it out nationwide across more than 800 of its stores.

Specsavers’ Platinum Employer initiative was designed by employee engagement specialist Korn Ferry Hay Group and aims to support the recruitment and retention of employees, Specsavers explained.

Stores are assessed in five people management areas, including recruitment and induction, performance management and reward, and learning and development.

HR director for Specsavers in the UK and ROI, Dawn McIntyre said: “The primary focus is to deliver an exceptional employee experience, consistently for all of Specsavers 18,000 people. Platinum Employer is intended to give each Specsavers store owner guidelines and support them in achieving best practice and making Specsavers a truly great place to work.”

As optometry director of the 350th store to become a Platinum Employer, optometrist Stephen Jones, said that the scheme had made “noticeable difference” in teamwork and collaboration, communication and engagement.

“Everybody has realised that their career is taken seriously here and that they are important to the workings of the store,” he explained. “We’re a close team but this really made us even closer too, as everyone began having similar conversations about their own personal development meetings with their colleagues.”