BBGR celebrates 30 years
Lens manufacturer BBGR recently marked its 30th anniversary with a series of events for its 2,300 employees.
An exchange programme called BBGR Explorer was set up by subsidiaries of the company from May to October and participants were selected via a competition on the history of BBGR and its products. Over two days the UK winners visited sites in France (pictured above at Moet & Chandon) and Germany, while French and German employees visited BBGR in Manchester.
Further parties and open days for employees and their families took place in the manufacturing sites of Provins and Sezanne. Over 100 people volunteered to demonstrate the manufacturing process to the 1,500 open-day visitors.
BBGR was born from the fusion between Benoist Berthiot (BB) and Gilbert Routit (GR) in 1974. The company has employees in seven countries, sold 28 million lenses last year and is the inventor of the Evolis progressive lens, which it described as 'the second most successful progressive lens worldwide'.
Brown receives SMC certificate
Pictured above left is Arron Brown collecting his Level 2 Certificate in Optical Practice Support from SMC master Nigel Wingate at the recent Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers awards ceremony.
Brown has worked for Robert Stanley Opticians for three years in the Abingdon, Oxfordshire branch.
He said: 'I really enjoyed the course. It has given me a great deal of knowledge and I hope it will help me go on to achieve the dispensing opticians course in the future.'
Student boat party raises £120
The Optometry Society at City University organised a boat party for Fight for Sight raising £120 for the charity. The party, organised by Saqib Parkar and Priya Pattani (pictured), took place last month and was attended by around 300 people.
Optometry student Saqib said: 'The event was a great success. It was a lot of fun and we've also raised awareness of the charity through selling pin badges. We are hoping to organise another even bigger party.'
Oxford optom celebrates 25 years
Oxford optometrist Charles Gregory recently celebrated 25 years with Batemans opticians at a lunch with his wife Lesley, Batemans' chairman Nicholas Bateman (pictured l-r above), directors Dominic Bateman, Colin Franklin and area manager Philip Thompson. Gregory attributed his loyalty to the staff and the company, pointing out many changes in eye care in the past 25 years.
'The choice of frames and lenses has exploded. We used to have just a drawer of frames and another of lenses - now there are thousands of options and with technical advances in eye examinations the job has become much more interesting and rewarding.'
Who's on the move
Medi-Optics has appointed Jon Hunter as dispensing optician and practice manager at the Cardiff Gate Business Park. Hunter has nearly 10 years' experience as a dispensing optician in Edinburgh. He will work alongside optometrists James McNabb and David Woolf as well as several ophthalmologists who will be providing on-site specialist consultations from a new suite of rooms at Medi-Optics.
McNabb said: 'Jon was well known to us for his high quality work and experience in the eye care industry in Scotland. We welcome him to Medi-Optics and are sure he will add to the unique flavour of our eye care centre.'
Contamac, t
he developer of contact and intraocular lens materials, has announced the appointment of Derek Wilson as business development manager. Wilson will act as a key link between worldwide lens manufacturers and Contamac's research and development department. He will build on the success of the company's Optimum GP contact lens materials and the Ci26 hydrophilic acrylic material. He has over 10 years' experience and worked previously as the sales and marketing director for Human-Optics AG and also head of international sales at Contamac in the late 1990s.
Managing director John McGregor said: 'We are delighted that Derek is returning to Contamac. His extensive industry knowledge will be a valuable asset to the company, especially at a time when the Contamac team are working on some exciting new projects.'