Specsavers reward for 'best of the best'

Six hundred Specsavers Opticians staff, directors and guests met at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the ICC in Birmingham last weekend to name the multiple's 'best of the best.'

Introducing the event co-founder and chairman Doug Perkins said the night was a celebration of excellence and of 20 years of Specsavers.

'Your passion and your professionalism are setting the standards for others to follow,' he told the audience, adding, 'You are the reason why people tell their friends "should have gone to Specsavers".'

Comedian Lee Hurst was presenter and entertainer for the night along with Japanese drumming troupe Tamashii Daiko.

Ten main awards were presented along with four special presentations to employees who had been with the company since it started 20 years ago. The winners were: Practice of the year - Sutton-in-Ashfield; Corporate eyecare practice - Peterborough; Contact lens practice - Sutton-in-Ashfield; New practice - Mold; Spectacles and Dispensing practice - Wellingborough; Community practice - Stevenage;

Customer service practice Melton Mowbray; Employers of the year were - Aengus Morrin, Newbridge and Ruth Bargate and Stephen Thomas of Northallerton; Laboratory of the year - Reading; Employees of the year - Nadine Hogg, Newbury and Melanie Moore of South Shields.