Entry Deadline: Friday 30th August 2024
2024 Categories
Contact Lens Practice of the Year
2023 Winner - Park Vision
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
Exciting, vibrant practices employing innovative ideas that enthuse and engage patients in contact lens wear are the focus of this award. Our panel of judges will be looking for evidence of the strategies involved in promoting contact lens wear to a wide range of patients. The panel will want to see how lens selection is made to maximise comfort and vision, strategies for reducing dropouts should also be explained. This award is looking for new approaches, new talent and, potentially, younger practices who are growing their contact lenses from a modest base. The winner may be operating in the independent or corporate sector.
Technology Practice of the Year
2023 Winner - Buchanan Optometrists
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
This award seeks to reward a practice that can demonstrate an ability to use technology effectively both for the direct clinical needs of the patient and the efficient operation of the practice. The judges will be looking for evidence in detection of ocular conditions and the subsequent provision of excellent eye care. Entries should demonstrate the use of a range of technologies along with relevant links beyond the practice. This award seeks to reward a team offering innovative, effective and inclusive use of technology for the benefit of the patient and the promotion of the practice.
Fashion Practice of the Year
2023 Winner - Rachel Murray Eyecare
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
Fashion and eyewear are inextricably linked and Optician wants to reward a practice that understands how that is translated into retail optics. The winning practice will understand the importance of colour, style and trends while demonstrating proactivity in sourcing product that makes the practice stand out. Our judges want to see the active encouragement of eyewear as a fashion accessory and the engagement of converts to eye fashion. The panel will be particularly interested in hearing from entrants how their practice is promoted and positioned within the community, how and where new brands are sourced and about links with other fashion-focused businesses.
Social Media Practice of the Year
2023 Winner - Pearce & Blackmore Opticians
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
Engagement with customers is increasingly carried out online and this Award seeks to reward a practice that has excelled in using social media to do that. The judges will be keen to hear about the reach of the entrant’s social media platforms the frequency of posting and success in achieving comments, shares and likes. This award isn’t about the amount of money spent on IT, it’s about innovation, human involvement and getting the practice’s heart across through social media.
Entrants are invited to showcase a posting used during the last twelve months and describe how it came about and the traction it created.
The Sustainability Award **NEW CATEGORY**
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
How sustainable is your business and what actions are you taking to reduce your environmental load on the planet? The winner of this award is an individual, business or practice which has thought about the long-term impact of the actions they take whilst continuing to meet the needs of their clients. The judges will want to see evidence of the entrant’s actions in reducing waste, improving efficiency and keeping consumption of non-sustainable products and services to a minimum. This could be through the provision of recycling, energy saving or through education to eliminate unnecessary consumption. Entrants should provide the judges with an example of a sustainability problem and the solution implemented.
The Myopia Management Award
2023 Winner - Craig McArthur, Peter Ivins Eye Care
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
Managing childhood myopia is the most exciting development in optometry for many years. This award seeks to recognise a practice that has enabled its patients to fully enjoy the benefits of the licensed products now on offer. The judges will be looking for evidence of proactivity in communicating myopia management to their patients and parents, the success rates for take up and the techniques employed. Entrants should provide a brief story of their journey into myopia management and offer techniques and tips for successful fitting and continuation of wear.
Enhanced Optical Service Award
2022 Winner - The NHS Wales University Eye Care Centre
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
The optical profession plays a critical role as a primary care provider. The panel of judges in this category will be looking for a practice that is offering enhanced services and primary eye care in its community. This may be through schemes for those with diabetes, glaucoma and AMD or offering triage, refractive surgery or dry eye management previously provided through GPs and the Hospital Eye Service. The judges will want to know how these schemes have emerged be they through Clinical Commissioning Groups and the HES or with private providers.
The Lens Award
2023 Winner - Carl Zeiss Vision
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
Entries in this category are open to products and suppliers in the field of lenses, surfacing and treatments relevant to the market during the last year.
Entries on our shortlist may lead on the service offered by an organisation or showcase a particular product. Our shortlist will include lens products or companies our judges feel have given patients and practitioners added value. Emphasis will be placed on innovation, communication to the market and the wow factor. Entries highlighting the supplier should demonstrate the strength of relationship between supplier and customer, how the entrant exceeds customer expectations and excellence in communication.
The Frame Award
2023 Winner - Eyespace Eyewear
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
This category is open to frame suppliers and individual frame models significant and widely available in British practices over the last 12 months. The panel of judges is looking for an entry that shows significance to UK optical practices and is capable of broad market appeal not uber expensive haute couture frames. This may highlight a supplier or a significant piece it has placed on the market in the last year. For a frame it may be its style, value to the wearer or technical excellence. If the entry is for a supplier the judges will be looking for strength of relationship between supplier and customer, how the entrant exceeds customer expectations and excellence in communication.
The Contact Lens Award
2023 Winner - mark'ennovy
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
Entries in this category are open to both companies and products in the field of contact lenses relevant to the market in the last 12 month. Entries may major on the supplier or a particular product. Factors taken into consideration for entries highlighting a product will be its significance to practice and its ability to grow the contact lens market. The judges will be looking for evidence of the lens’s success in practice, the level of innovation the product employs and the way in which it has been presented to the market. Entries highlighting the supplier should provide evidence of how the entrant exceeds customer expectations, engagement and excellence in communication.
The Technology Award
2023 Winner - Blueworks OIMS
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
This award will be presented to a company that not only offers the best kit to the profession but fully supports its customers too. This will be dedicated eyecare equipment for use in everyday optical practice. Entries should not only showcase excellence of product, commissioning and training but more importantly patient care. Entrants may wish to showcase a particular product launch or market initiative but should also focus on how they exceed customer expectations. The judges will want to see feedback from practices on kit and aftercare.
Optical Supplier Award
2023 Winner - Practice Building
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
If you are an optical supplier of services outside the core of lenses, frames, contact lenses and technology covered by our other categories then this Award is for you. This Award will be won by an entrant delivering services such as, recruitment, software, finance, consumables, training, shop fittings or accessories. Our judging panel will be looking for evidence of how the provision of goods or services has helped boost business and differentiate practices. Entrants should demonstrate product innovation, excellent service and an understanding of their customers’ needs. This should be backed up by successful case studies and testimonials from satisfied customers.
Dispensing Optician of the Year
2023 Winner - Gill Thorp, Airedale Opticians
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
How high profile is dispensing in your practice and who drives it? The winner of this award will be an excellent dispensing optician with great communication skills who champions all aspects of dispensing. Entries are welcome from DOs working in practices of all types and sizes and evidence of patient satisfaction should be demonstrated. The judges will also want to see evidence of the DO’s expertise in eyewear styling and feedback from patients to that effect. Emphasis will be placed on everyday eyecare solutions, patient communication as well as clinical excellence and all-round practice skills. Whether your specialism as a DO is clinical or fashion this is the category for you.
Optometrist of the Year
2023 Winner - Dr Martin Smith, Martin Smith Opticians
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
This category is designed to reward an optometrist who uses their optometric skills to enhance the lives of patients, colleagues and the community. Entries should show excellence in clinical techniques, interaction with other practice staff and, most importantly, patients. The judges will also want to see how the optometrist has made an effort to further the eye care of their patients and enhance their practice’s reputation. This category is for the practice-based optometrist who goes the extra mile for patients day after day and makes delivering eyecare in practice their focus. It may also be an optometrist who works hard to forward the profession and the adoption of new ideas.
Optical Assistant Team of the Year
2023 Winner - Rach Optometrists
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
Front of house staff are the public face of any practice and that becomes more challenging as practices grow. In this category the judges will be looking for a large reception team that works as a unit to maintain a friendly feel to a practice delivering large scale eye care. Our panel will want to see how the team communicates to make each customer feel special and understood and how new members of the team are integrated and developed. The judges will want to hear about some of the things done to raise the practice’s profile in the community and what it does to maintain a team spirit within the practice.
Multiple Practice of the Year
2023 Winner - Specsavers, Northampton
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
Multiple practices come is all shapes and sizes and this award seeks to reward variety and excellence within a corporate setting. The panel of judges will want to see what makes the entrant’s practice appealing and its take on eye care and customer service. Entries should show how they both harnesses the power of a national brand while offering great eyecare and service to the local community. The judges will want to see evidence of the clinical and commercial success of the branch and the engagement and development of its staff.
Independent Practice of the Year
2023 Winner - Buchanan Optometrists
UK AND IRELAND ENTRIES ONLY
Independent retailing continues to enjoy a resurgence and Optician is looking to recognise the best of the optical bunch. The panel of judges will be looking for a truly practitioner-owned independent practice that offers real product choice, an outstanding customer experience and clinical excellence. The judges will want to see evidence of how the business has created its personality in its local area, links with other businesses and its profile within the community. The judges will be looking for evidence of service, individualised eyecare and a practice that adds something a little different to its competitors. The panel of judges will want to see the quality and diversity of optical products offered and positive feedback on that from the practice’s clients.
The Outstanding Achievement Award
Please note: This category is not open for nominations.
The optical profession is blessed with members who dedicate their working lives to advancing the sector. This Award will reward someone who has not only striven to raise the status and effectiveness of optics but has achieved success in doing so. Our panel of judges will consider the ideas and goals of the nominee, how they have gone about achieving these goals and the impact on optics. This may be through single actions that have made a huge difference to colleagues and the delivery of eyecare or a lifetime of dedicated service to the profession. This award isn’t about time served but about effectiveness during a full and active career serving the optical profession and industry. And it isn’t just for the high-profile achievers but also for those backroom heroes so often overlooked.
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