A week of news - job cuts in the digital age

This week Essilor confirmed 50 jobs could be lost as part of plans to implement digital surfacing at its site in Thornbury (see news).

The redundancies are indicative of an age where processes, and people, are making way for digital systems and machinery.

Staff cuts of this nature are, however, unfortunate for the workers involved, optics, and the wider economy at a time of widespread unemployment.

Indeed, last week's coverage of apprenticeships at optical practices was much more comfortable reading for those of us hoping for some light at the end of the tunnel. It told how City and Islington will launch a part-time apprenticeship course for optical advisors this summer.