Specsavers apprenticeship programme graded “outstanding”

Specsavers’ apprenticeship programme has received an ‘outstanding’ grading from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), making it one of only eight employer providers to be graded this highly against the inspection framework.

The multiple provides three apprenticeship schemes – optical assistant, spectacle maker and customer service – and has over 500 apprentices employed across the programme, making it one of the largest apprenticeship employer providers to have achieved an outstanding grading in England.

Inspected in the summer, the Ofsted report highlighted: “Leaders and managers have very carefully considered and designed exceptional apprenticeship training to meet the skills needs of the optical sector.”

“Apprentices receive extremely well-planned and monitored on- and off-the-job training. They benefit from excellent resources to develop new and existing knowledge, skills and behaviours and to support their practical learning at work, for example mathematics for optics," it added.

Commenting on the rating, Specsavers Group CEO, John Perkins, said: “An apprenticeship will be the first step for many people starting a career in optics and we want to make sure that people joining Specsavers are given access to the best training and development from day one so they can realise their full potential. This report is a fantastic endorsement of the work of our apprenticeships team who have worked so hard to develop this industry-leading programme.”