ABDO partners with the University of Plymouth to launch new DO apprenticeship

The collaboration supports the expansion of dispensing optician training in the South West

2 min read

Claire Gorman, Claire Wright, Debbie Chatten-Smith, Dean Dunning, Leanne Smewing at the University of Plymouth in hard hats and high vis coats

ABDO

01 July 2026

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has partnered with the University of Plymouth to establish a Level 6 dispensing optician apprenticeship which will launch this September.

The collaboration marks an expansion of the body’s approved training providers, increasing access to education for trainee dispensing opticians in the South West.

The apprenticeship will be supported by the university’s School of Health Professions, which include facilities at the Heart of Plymouth Centre and the new Centre for Eyecare Excellence.

ABDO’s head of professional qualifications, Dean Dunning, and lead ophthalmic dispensing assessor, Debbie Chatten-Smith, recently visited the new facilities that will support the training.

Following the visit, Dunning said he was “really excited” to be partnering with the University of Plymouth.

“They are an extremely well-established optometry university with ideal resources to offer the apprenticeship in ophthalmic dispensing, complementing their existing provision,” he added.

Dunning highlighted: “[The University of Plymouth’s] strong experience in blended learning delivery will suit the apprenticeship model exceptionally well, and I am very confident that this will be a successful partnership.”

Chatten-Smith said that the new South West training location “is very welcome,” in particular “considering the geographical distribution of current providers.”

She added: “The facilities and planned delivery offer an exciting insight into how the programme will run, and I look forward to working with the university as part of ABDO’s examinations team.”

The apprenticeship programme has been created in collaboration with ABDO and is designed to reflect the evolving needs of employers and learners, supporting the development of a highly skilled optical workforce, ABDO said.

Academic lead for vision sciences at the University of Plymouth, Claire Gorman, said: “We are excited to be working in partnership with ABDO. Their guidance throughout the development of this course has been greatly valued, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration as the programme begins.”