A British optician and hearing care chain offering eye tests, glasses and hearing aids from high street stores, with optical apprenticeships and optometrist training.
Specsavers is a large UK optician. Its stores offer eye tests, glasses and contact lenses, and it also provides hearing care. Staff in a store include optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians and optical assistants.
We did not find a formal mission statement or values list on the pages we could read. A student-review site shows a 4.5 out of 5 rating from 227 reviews, but it does not describe the company's values.
Specsavers was founded in 1984. A student careers profile says it holds the largest single share of the UK optical market (42%) and lists 1,648 branches across the UK and other countries, with around 30,000 employees. These numbers come from the profile and the years were not clear, so treat them as approximate. Most stores are run as joint venture partnerships, so you may work for the store's local partners. Apprenticeship and pre-registration adverts appear in places such as Brighton, Frome, Putney and Grays.
Specsavers hires through individual stores, so the culture you meet depends on the team. A profile gives it a "Top Apprenticeship Employer" badge. Ask about training time and support when you apply.
The Optical Assistant apprenticeship is open to over 16s, needs no optical experience and is about one year, leading to a Level 2 diploma in optical retail (article undated, probably 2010s). A degree-level dispensing optician apprenticeship in England had 210 students in September 2025, mainly for existing staff, with one study day a week. Graduates can apply for pre-registration optometrist placements, such as Frome in Somerset (closing date 31 July 2026).
Website: www.specsavers.co.uk
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