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ABDO appoints sector skills development officer

Specsavers’ head of ophthalmic lenses and dispensing for the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Spain, Nick Walsh, will commence the newly created role in November

Newly appointed ABDO skills development officer, Nick Walsh

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has appointed Nick Walsh to the newly created position of sector skills development officer (SSDO).

Nick Walsh, a qualified dispensing optician, is currently Specsavers’ head of ophthalmic lenses and dispensing for the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Spain, and will start his new role at ABDO in November.

In the new SSDO position, Mr Walsh will have responsibility for promoting all qualifications offered by both ABDO and the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (WCSM).

Commenting on the appointment, ABDO general secretary, Tony Garrett, said: “I’m delighted that Nick will be joining the ABDO team. He has extensive experience in delivering learning and development, as well as researching technological advances for dispensing practices.”

He added: “In the new promotional role for ABDO and WCSM qualifications and courses run by ABDO College, Nick will engage directly with employers, promoting the very high standards offered by ABDO College and encouraging more people to train and gain nationally recognised optical qualifications.”

Upon the announcement of his appointment, Mr Walsh said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to help employers discover the options open to them and their teams to build a career in optics, achieving this through the extensive range of courses provided by ABDO College and qualifications from both ABDO and WCSM.”

“I’m looking forward to the new role and working with the college and industry employers in the near future,” he concluded.

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