A top business guru has praised the role of optics in the path to economic recovery in UK.
'This industry is a great example of Britain's strengths in advanced manufacturing, and with a UK optical retail market worth nearly £3bn, there are clearly major opportunities across the sector,' said Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors.
He was making a keynote address at last week's Federation of Manufacturing Opticians (FMO) meeting.
Walker, speaking hours before the government announced its 2012 budget, warned of a 'bi-polar' economy whereby GDP growth could potentially be a lot better or a lot worse than forecast.
While the Iranian crisis and euro break-up threat remained risk factors to the economy, a recovery in business confidence could swing the pendulum the other way, Walker said.
'But if business is to have confidence in Britain, Britain needs to have confidence in business,' he added.
The FMO meeting was held at the new headquarters of the Association of Optometrists in Clerkenwell, London, with top brass from the optical profession in attendance.
Walker also spoke about the banks, executive bonuses, globalisation and business leadership.
He agreed that small and medium sized enterprises were the lifeblood of recovery and encouraged the emergence of young start-ups.
'It is terrific that people who are 26 years old think starting up their own business is the sexiest thing they can be doing, rather than going to work in a bank,' Walker added.
Following his address there was also an update on Optrafair 2013, which is being organised by the FMO. Sign-ups were reported to be ahead of 2011 levels at the same stage, with 24 of the event's key exhibitors on board.
FMO past chairman Barry Dibble said: 'A lot of companies had a successful Optrafair last year and we hope it is going to be even better in 2013.'