Specsavers
Specsavers has been a family-run optical retail chain for the past 40 years, offering optometry and optician services for eyesight testing and sells glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses, as well as hearing tests and aids.
Years awarded: 2018, 2024
Region: East of England, South West
Size: 1000+ employees
Sector: Retail
Recruiting apprentices to maintain a talent pipeline
Theme: Apprenticeships
Topics: Coaching and mentoring; Customer service / Customer experience; Digital; Mental health and wellbeing; Neurodiversity
Since achieving an Award for its apprenticeship programme in 2018, Specsavers has increased its number of apprentices to over 600 per year. The organisation uses the programme to maintain a talent pipeline and retain employees in a sector where recruitment is challenging. An impressive 98% of apprentices are achieving a distinction and retention of apprentices in the organisation is at 63%.
Placing value in apprentices
Themes: Apprenticeships; Onboarding
This family-owned opticians places value in Apprenticeships as a way of improving capability and increasing retention in a sector renowned for its high levels of staff turnover. The business realised that it needed local buy-in and support and created ‘The Big Apprenticeship Promise’ – a social contract setting out working relationships and level of support offered.
News and case studies featuring Specsavers:
Royal recognition for employers who invest in training and development in the UK and Ireland
On Thursday 21 November, 52 recipients from the UK and Ireland were recognised by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal through the Princess Royal Training Awards held at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. Over the past nine years, The Princess Royal Training...
52 organisations receive royal recognition for tremendous training and incredible impact in 2024
15 August 2024: City & Guilds has today announced the 52 training programmes that will be recognised by the 2024 Princess Royal Training Awards. Now in its ninth year, The Princess Royal Training Awards continue to recognise organisations who demonstrate...
In the press: 2018 recipients’ August news roundup
It has been a busy couple of weeks since we announced the 48 Princess Royal Training Awards recipients on HRH The Princess Royal's birthday. Since then the recipients have been featured in local and national news articles talking about their successful training...
Royal recognition for UK businesses upskilling their employees
We are happy to announce the names of 48 businesses commended by the 2018 Princess Royal Training Awards. The prestigious Awards honour UK companies including River Island, John Lewis, RBS, the Royal Air Force and GSK for their outstanding training and development...
