Specsavers has just aced the ultimate test – their apprenticeship programme has been given an ‘outstanding’ rating by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).
For prospective apprentices seeking insight into which employers offer the best opportunities, Specsavers has emerged as a prime choice. Specsavers is the only company in the optical and retail sectors to earn this top-tier rating in England.
Only eight employers in the whole country have achieved this remarkable status according to the Education Inspection Framework, which kicked off in 2019.
Ofsted noted that apprentices at Specsavers get well-planned training, both on and off the job. At the heart of the programme is the support and mentorship that apprentices receive: the company pairs apprentices with seasoned professionals who offer guidance and wisdom, ensuring a nurturing and encouraging environment.
Specsavers offers three apprenticeships – optical assistant, spectacle maker, and customer service. Over 500 apprentices are on board for these programmes, making Specsavers one of the biggest names in apprenticeships in England.
John Perkins, Specsavers Group CEO, says: ‘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.’
And Dena Wyatt, the head of apprenticeships, is all about the team effort. She said, “The incredible apprenticeships team work closely with our amazing apprentices, practice colleagues and business owners to coach, guide and develop our apprentices to be the best they can be. They are our pipeline of brilliant talent and part of what makes us so successful.
“We are very proud to have achieved an outstanding grade, but it does not stop here. We still have so much in the pipeline to make our programmes even better.”
