Shortlists for the 2013 Optician Awards have now been drawn up following a frantic day of judging at the Optician offices.
Fifty judges have made their deliberations on the close-to 200 entries, producing a list of finalists that includes a number of new names to the Awards.
This year we have new sponsors, and some new categories designed to seek out the best business brains in the profession. The first wave of finalists include all of the practice and people-based awards. Shortlists for the products of the year and Optical Supplier of the Year Award will be revealed next week.
The names of the winners will be announced at a black tie dinner which includes a drinks reception, stunning audio visual show plus an A-list celebrity host. After the hand-made, art deco trophies have been awarded there will be dancing and a charity casino. Around 500 of the profession and industry's great and good are expected to attend.
For the first time all finalists will receive a specially commissioned lapel badge based on the trophy design to remind them, and others, of their achievement in being shortlisted for an Optician Award.
The presentation will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole which is next to the National Exhibition Centre. The event will take place on April 13, the Saturday night of the Optrafair weekend.
Tickets to the Awards are not limited to finalists so if you are attending Optrafair why not come along to experience the atmosphere at the biggest night of the optical calendar. For more details visit www.opticianawards.com.
Optician would like to take this opportunity thank everyone who entered the Optician Awards.
2013 Shortlists:
? Business Excellence Award, sponsored by AEL
Turners Optometrists, Bridgwater
The Valli Group, Huddersfield
Andrea Lee Optometrist, Ashtead
Boots Opticians, Hamilton
Buchanan Optometrists, Snodland
? Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year, sponsored by Alcon
Ros Mussa, Boots Opticians, London
David Gould, David Gould Opticians
Agnes Ali, Keith Holland & Associates
Keith Tempany, Tempany's Boutique Opticians Michael Killpartrick, Ellis and Killpartrick Opticians
? Dry Eye Award, sponsored by Spectrum Thea
Boots Opticians, Nuneaton
Ivan Cammack (Optometrist), Thame
Turners Optometrists, Bridgwater
GT Harvey and Partners, Newcastle upon Tyne
Lynne Fernandes Optometrists, Nailsea
? Independent Practice of the Year, sponsored by Hoya
Curtis Opticians, Londonderry
Judith Roberts Opticians, Mumbles
Turners Optometrists, Bridgwater
GT Harvey and Partners, Newcastle upon Tyne
Keith Holland & Associates, Cheltenham Buchanan Optometrists, Snodland
? Dispensing Optician of the Year
James Dawson, Keith Murphy Opticians Alistair Barrett, Keith Holland & AssociatesLesley Oglethorpe, GT Harvey and Partners Neil Vedmore, Ellis and Killpartrick
Paul Gallivan, Williams Opticians
? Start Up Practice of the Year, Sponsored by Birmingham Optical
Planit Opticians, Colne
Mellis Eyecare, Thornaby
Tempany's Boutique Opticians, Broadstone
? Multiple Practice of the Year, sponsored by Macuvision
Specsavers, Sutton-in-Ashfield
Boots Opticians, Wolverhampton
Boots Opticians, Canterbury
Specsavers Opticians, Hartlepool
Specsavers Opticians, Sevenoaks
? Optical Assistant Team of the Year
Specsavers, Sutton-in-Ashfield
Boots Opticians, Bath Southgate
Keith Holland & Associates, Cheltenham
Keith Murphy Opticians, Kenilworth
Eye Contact Opticians, London
? Vision for Life Award, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson IJ Brown Partnership, Dorchester
Keith Holland & Associates, Cheltenham Buchanan Optometrists, Snodland
? Optometrist of the Year, sponsored by CooperVision
Reshma Patel, Templeman Opticians
Austin Roberts, Judith Roberts Opticians
Rohit Narayan, Boots Opticians, Nuneaton Andrew Millington, Millington Dawson Optometrists
Geoff Shayler, Shaylers Vision Centre
? Luxury Eyewear Retailer of the Year
Eyediology Opticians, Spitalfields
Keith Murphy Opticians, Kenilworth
Eyesite Opticians, Beverley
Hammond and Dummer Opticians, Milton Keynes
Buchanan Optometrists, Snodland
? Premium Lens Practice of the Year, sponsored by Transitions
Keith Murphy Opticians, Kenilworth
Kate Hattersley Opticians, Coventry
Hammond and Dummer Opticians, Milton Keynes
Buchanan Optometrists, Snodland
? Technology Practice of the Year, sponsored by Grafton Optical and its technology partner Optovue
Specsavers, Sutton-in-Ashfield
Parley Optometrists, Ferndown
Keith Holland & Associates, Cheltenham Buchanan Optometrists, Snodland
GT Harvey and Partners, Newcastle upon Tyne