Norville is one of the most prominent names in the UK optical sector and over the years has evolved into a group of companies in manufacturing eyewear.
October 1975 saw its silver jubilee anniversary, which was celebrated in style with a 20-page supplement profiling the history of the company and where it was heading.
‘One cannot look at business in the short term, as a five-year wonder. The test is time,’ said managing director Frank Norville in his introduction.
Fellow optical industry luminaries were quick to offer their congratulations. ‘Only a few men have been able to give a new dimension to our profession. Frank Norville ranked among the best talented who found the needs of his customers and the right way to communicate this to others,’ said René Grandperret, director of Essilor International.
The supplement also featured advertisements from firms that congratulated Norville on its achievement.
Norville’s expansion around the UK was detailed in a series of regional spotlights. Gloucester was the firm’s nucleus at the time and claimed to be the UK’s busiest Rx lab. Bolton’s location meant it was a hub for other branches in England and Scotland, but the rate at which the business was growing meant it was already looking for bigger space, while the same was true in the London and Cardiff locations.
Giving an insight into the company’s management structure, R J Bird, Norville general manager, outlined how it developed staff. Managers were given six resources, known as the ‘six Ms,’ to enable them to achieve their targets: Manpower, Materials, Machines, Methods, Minutes and Money.
Staff recruitment was built on understanding whether individuals had sound basic attributes, based on problem solving, positivity and communication, before adding technical training through university and college courses.