Norville Opticians, the Gloucester-based retail division of The Norville Group, has been saved from administration following the acquisition and fresh investment by the Hakim Group.
Practices will retain the Norville Opticians name and shared ownership opportunities will be made available for some of the existing employees. The Hakim Group said the recent impact of Covid-19 meant that the business needed significant investment, which had been provided through the sale and almost all jobs would be secured. The manufacturing laboratory is not included in the sale and will continue to be operated by the Norville Group.
Luke Wren, head of business development at the Hakim Group, said: ‘Frank Norville, Adrian Street and their teams have built up a dedicated patient base through a commitment to delivering a first-class service putting the customer at the heart of their proposition. With jobs secured, the practice teams can continue to do what they do best.’
Adrian Street, director at Norville Opticians added: ‘With so many jobs at risk in the current climate, our number-one priority throughout this period has been to make sure the livelihoods of our people were safeguarded.
‘We are delighted that our patients can continue to receive the same level of care that our teams are proud to deliver every day. All of us at Norville Opticians are excited for the journey ahead in the next chapter of our history which is already over a century old.’