A vocational route into optics — and no plans to stop.

I left grammar school and walked into an opticians as a receptionist. I did not plan to stay for two decades, but here we are — and I would not swap the route in for anything.

I qualified as a Dispensing Optician in 2006, added the Contact Lens qualification in 2009, and then took the long road round to my degree — completing Optometry BSc (Hons), First Class, at Bradford University in 2015via the career progression route.

I remain in practice daily. Since qualifying I have added the MECS service and the Professional Certificate in Glaucoma, and I have significant experience supervising pre-registration students on the College of Optometrists pathway and CLiP programmes.

My focus these last few years has, honestly, been family — but the next chapter has an eye on Independent Prescriber status and a return to academia.