Apprenticeship plans need practice support

Practices have been urged to put apprentices forward for a newly developed course in retail optics to be run at London's City and Islington College.

The National Apprenticeship Scheme in retail optics has already been adopted as in-house schemes by large employers such as Boots Opticians (News 22.04.11), but Andrew Harman, from the Eye Studio in Chiswick, is hoping independent practices will take the opportunity to put young people forward using a new course in London.

Harman's contact with apprenticeships was sparked by his own requirement for new staff at two practices in London. He said optical practices with small teams often found it tricky to provide quality training to new recruits. He enquired about apprenticeships, discovered a scheme was being developed and helped provide an employer's perspective for the course.