Professional bodies to share one head office

The bodies - the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians, the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians and the Association of British Dispensing Opticians - will, from next year, be based at Gloucester Terrace, Paddington, central London. It will mean that the representative groups for optical employers, manufacturers and dispensers will have easy access to influential organisations situated in the centre of the capital. However, the three have been quick to point out that today's announcement is not a process of merger, and that their responsibilities overlap only in certain areas (see panel). In a joint statement, a spokesman for the organisations said: 'This move will have enormous significance for optics as a whole. 'It is seven years since the Economists Advisory Group recommended that the various optical bodies should seek a joint headquarters, and this is the first move that has been made to bring that about.' He said that the three bodies had differing strengths, experiences and talents. 'We are going into this venture as separate organisations, and we intend to retain our identities,' he said. 'However, in an atmosphere of co-operation, each will become an even more effective and efficient lobby on behalf of members and deliver an enhanced range of benefits.' A joint working party of the three organisations was given the task of finding suitable premises a year ago. The freehold and refurbishment of the Victorian building, previously the London offices of a shipping company, will cost more that &\#163;1.5m. It will provide modern office facilities as well as a range of meeting rooms.