Read more about Specsavers

Overview

From humble beginnings to the £1.5 billion global business that it is today, Specsavers Optical Group has achieved an impressive amount in its 27 years.

Husband and wife Doug and Mary Perkins, both optometrists, had moved to Guernsey where Mary’s parents lived, after selling a small chain of opticians in the West Country of England. They opened the first Specsavers Opticians on Bond Street in Bristol on 14 February 1984.

Today Specsavers is the clear market leader in the UK,and is either market leader or close to that position in eight other countries: the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Australia and New Zealand. Specsavers also has a foot hold in Spain, with five stores. Specsavers also sell a wide range of Hearing Aids and are now the largest private dispenser of Hearing Aids in the UK. Specsavers Hearing Aids are supplied by the worlds top manufacturers so our customers benefit from top quality product and the latest technology.

It is the third largest optical group in the world, with almost 1500 stores, and the largest in private ownership. There are 700 stores in the UK and Ireland, over 100 in the Netherlands, 350 stores in the Nordics and over 300 in Australia and New Zealand. It is also the largest provider of home-delivery contact lenses in Europe, with over one million customers.

Since 2002 it has been voted Most Trusted Optical Brand every year by Readers’ Digest.

Client Feedback

"Becky placed me into my role at Specsavers. After much consideration around what my next role would be Becky successfully identified my transferable skills. I was at a turning point in my career and had been extremely lucky in my jobs to date which had been in Leadership and Management Consultancy, I wanted a move into HR, but without CIPD I was not qualified to work in HR 'per se' so Becky had a difficult task!

She is extremely personable and really engaged in the process. When the Specsavers role spec came in I was unsure that a move into Admin was really the right move - especially as it was in a Finance department. However after much discussion and Becky giving insights into the organisation I went for first and second interview and secured the role.

Since being in post now for 6 weeks it has been the right move - it was Becky's guidance and support that encouraged me to go for interview. Her skill at reading people, and to role match is second to none. Since working at Specsavers I can see what a great asset Becky is to Macildowie. She is a skilled and credible member of your team and I have already recommended her to several colleagues both externally and within Specsavers.

Again after being both sides of the recruitment fence Becky is a real pleasure to deal with and gives the industry, and Macildowie a great name."

Alex Carr

PA to Commercial Finance Director