Look local: Birkenhead

Felicity Roberts, director and DO at Specsavers, says ‘while central Birkenhead undoubtedly has had social and economic challenges, it is surrounded by leafy suburbs where household income is above the regional average.’

The practice opened in 1992 with a staff of six. It now employs nearly 70 people either full or part time, has eight optometrists, two CLOs, five DOs and three audiologists. ‘We are open seven days a week and have colleagues fluent in seven different languages,’ she says.

Roberts (pictured below), who has worked at Specsavers for her entire 14 years in optics, says ‘good times may be coming back as plans have been approved for a £4.5bn redevelopment of the docks and waterfront which it is hoped will provide 20,000 new jobs’.