27 August 2026
A Specsavers training programme supporting careers into eye care has been recognised with a Princess Royal Training Award.
The Level 3 BTEC programme, which is accredited by Pearson, supports career pathways into dispensing, contact lenses, and clinical technician and laboratory roles.
The award recognises the impact of the training programme, which was relaunched in 2023.
Doug Perkins, founder and chairman of Specsavers, commented: “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.”
The programme creates opportunities for people to develop careers at Specsavers, Perkins said: “It’s an investment in our patients, our people and our communities.”
Specsavers reports that two in every five people who enrol in its Specsavers Cert 3 training programme are under the age of 25.
Grant Duncan, director of professional advancement at Specsavers, said: “Many learners start their journey as optical assistants and use Cert 3 as a springboard into further qualifications and more specialist roles.”
“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 continued.
The Princess Royal Training Award will be formally presented in London in January.
Duncan said: “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.”
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