On the road: The College meets members and employers across the UK

These occasions offer an opportunity for members to meet staff at the College and explore the latest exciting opportunities for professional development.

This coming Sunday, College staff will head to Nottingham for Hakim Group’s SPA event, with further visits planned to Glasgow, Manchester, and Cheltenham for events with Vision Express and Boots.

Last week, our team attended the Specsavers Professional Advancement Conference and had many positive and inspiring conversations with optical professionals, from Pre-registration trainees to Fellows of the College. 

The College delivered two well-received sessions on the day. Lead Assessor Rebekah Stevens ran ‘Common Pitfalls in Assessments – and How to Avoid Them for Success’, offering valuable insights for those navigating the Scheme for Registration.

In ‘Thriving, Not Just Surviving: A Lens on Trainee Mental Wellbeing’, Deputy Lead Assessor Ruth Bennett, supported by Gaynor Kirk and Specsavers’ Neil Retallic, explored the importance of supporting trainees’ mental health through the challenges of pre-registration.

At the recent Boots CPD Conference in London, Clinical Adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney delivered a thought-provoking session on AI in eye care, examining the potential impact of emerging technologies on clinical practice.

We’re grateful to all the employers who have welcomed us so far, and to every optical professional who has taken the time to speak with us. We look forward to seeing many more of you in the weeks ahead.