The gold standard

How can optics attract the technicians, laboratory supervisors and managers of the future? Here, the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (SMC) explains the benefits of its SMC Tech qualifications

Attracting technicians into the ophthalmic industry is becoming increasingly difficult. Manufacturers and laboratories compete with every other employer in a labour market which is seeing an increasing number of new graduates who want to move immediately into well-paid junior and trainee management positions.

Rodenstock's testing laboratory: professional training is essential for both the development of individuals and for the maintenance of the highest manufacturing standards

AWARDS AND TRAINING
This is why the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (SMC) has set up and is developing its awards and training sections, with a remit to review, overhaul and restructure the training and qualifications available from its stable.

A number of courses have been upgraded, including the Level 2 Certificate in Optical Practice Support which has created an immense amount of interest in those who want to be successful in pursuing a career within a practice rather than as an assistant in a retail environment.

The optical technician training situation has also been looked at and a revitalised correspondence course developed - the Level 3 Certificate for Optical Technicians. However, the qualification at the end of the two-year course will be familiar to those already in the business. Holders of the certificate will be granted SMC Tech status as of right and will join the many who have gone before them and who have achieved what is rightly considered the 'gold standard' in achievement for optical technicians.

The SMC's head of training, David Walker from Vista Optics, said: 'The Level 3 Certificate results in SMC Tech status being granted, but the course has been redesigned from the old SMC Tech Part 1 and 2 courses which were difficult to comprehend and involved students covering some ground not appropriate to aspects of a modern lab. We have taken the syllabus and made it much more applicable to the skills and knowledge needed in today's manufacturing sector.'

Walker acknowledges that a reasonable grasp of mathematics (GCSE standard) is useful for course starters; but he wouldn't want to let that put anyone off who hasn't got GCSE. 'There are thousands of us who would be surprised how much maths we know, even if we didn't quite manage the grade. It's more a case of aptitude and interest and if you can see that the maths you use is really useful in the job you do, it's that much easier to assimilate.'

The two-year course has a written exam at the end of the first year and a written and practical exam at the end of the second. Students need to commit some six to eight hours a week to study, working at their own pace. Resits are allowed if certain elements of the course have not quite been understood to the required standard.