Comment: Thank you to all who entered

I want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who entered the Optician Awards this year and not just those on a shortlist. The Awards presentation, which took place last weekend, set new standards in the quality and volume of entries and raised the bar even further on the excellence of entertainment on the evening.

Saturday night was a corker of a party and a celebration of optics second to none. Over 500 guests flocked to the ballroom of the Hilton to celebrate achievement in optometry, dispensing and the optical industry. Optician has held the Awards for over a decade but the impact of seeing so many of our readers and supporters enjoying a great party is a powerful one and has not diminished with time. A huge effort goes into organising the Awards, but as I told guests on Saturday night the people who really make them special are you. Inevitably, not everyone can make it to a shortlist, so I wish to extend that message to everyone, not just those who were there on Saturday night.