Spectacle Technician Apprenticeship
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Are you a caring individual looking to start your career in an Optics environment? You've come to the right place.
As well as being passionate and motivated in everything you do, it's important that you're also a great listener and communicator - as that's what excellent service is all about. In addition to having great communication skills, you'll also be a team player and have a real passion for making a difference, both in your development and within the business.
Our Apprenticeship scheme gives people of all ages the chance to boost their existing skillset and kickstart an exciting new career as part of a forward-thinking business, all whilst earning a full-time wage.
Our store
The Uckfield Specsavers store is a large, well-established practice with excellent facilities, including four fully equipped test rooms and a dedicated audiology room, supporting a busy and varied clinic. The store benefits from free parking available in nearby car parks, and also is accessible by train, with the train station located a short walk from the town centre (approximately 5-10 minutes on foot). The practice is also well served by local bus routes, with bus stops situated close to the store, providing convenient public transport links for commuting and local travel.
Our team
The team at the Uckfield Specsavers store is friendly, experienced, and highly supportive, creating a positive and welcoming environment for both colleagues and customers. The store is home to a strong mix of skilled optometrists, dispensing opticians, audiology professionals, and dedicated retail colleagues who work closely together to deliver excellent patient care. Teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of the practice, with a supportive leadership team that encourages development, ongoing training, and knowledge sharing. This creates a motivating workplace where colleagues feel valued, supported, and proud to be part of a community-focused store.
What's on offer?
Our apprenticeship scheme gives you the chance to really set yourself up for a great career in a fantastic company, and earn a full-time wage at the same time.
You'll not only spend 15-18 months in a paid job, but also learn your trade while surrounded by our friendly, passionate and highly experienced team who'll support you every step of the way.
- £8.50 per hour
- Full time - 40 hours per week, to include weekend working
- We will auto-enroll you into the pension scheme with an employer contribution when you contribute too
- Specsavers Perks - a portal to a world of great everyday discounts and savings
- WeCare - our employee support service to help you and your immediate family when you need it most
- Complimentary subscription to the Headspace app
- Eyecare and hearcare discounts for you and your family
- Enjoy an additional paid day off on your birthday to celebrate you!
- Enhanced family leave and company sick pay
Your on-the-job training will sit alongside structured learning and at the end of the 15-18 months as an apprentice, you'll be a fully-fledged Level 3 Spectacle Technician.
Who is this Apprenticeship for?
If this is still sounding like a bit of you, we do need you to have a few skills to get started as a Spectacle Apprentice.
- You'll need a grade 9-4 (A*-C) GCSEs in Maths (or equivalent/predicted result).
- Individuals who have lived in the EU for 3 years or more, with the right to work in the UK
What does the role involve?
Day-to-day, you'll help us out by producing customer orders from scratch, interpreting optical prescriptions and drawings, correcting faults and re-assembling of glasses, carrying out testing and adjustments, prepare and maintain materials and equipment. You'll also make sure that you are producing the highest quality assured product.
Find out more
For more detailed information about the Specsavers Apprenticeship programme, please click the link below.
Apprenticeships at Specsavers | Specsavers UK Careers
It's essential that you haven't previously worked in the Optical Sector. Before applying, please check that you are able to travel to the store location on a daily basis.
Got what we're looking for? This job will closed when it's filled, so don't delay, apply today!
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your communication and listening skills prominently in your CV's Personal Statement, as the advert emphasises these twice as core to excellent service in optics.
📊 Quantify any customer service experience: "Served 40+ customers weekly in retail environment, maintaining 95% satisfaction ratings."
🌐 Emphasise your willingness to learn and develop: mention any previous training you've undertaken or courses completed, as the apprenticeship centres on structured learning alongside paid work.
🎯 Stress your reliability for weekend working and full-time commitment (40 hours/week) — explicitly state availability in your cover letter and CV.
🤝 Showcase evidence of teamwork: reference any group projects, collaborative roles, or team-based achievements, as the Uckfield store prioritises collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Delivered customer service in fast-paced retail environment, managing 30+ customer interactions daily with 92% positive feedback and zero complaints escalated.
- •Demonstrated strong communication skills by explaining complex information to diverse customer groups, resulting in 15+ repeat customers requesting personal assistance.
- •Worked collaboratively within 8-person retail team to achieve weekly targets, contributing to 98% stock accuracy and supporting colleagues during peak trading periods.
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
Your cover letter is ready
We've drafted a cover letter for Specsavers. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.
Letter preview — tailored to Specsavers
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to apply for the Spectacle Technician Apprenticeship at Specsavers Uckfield. Your advert emphasises the importance of excellent communication skills and a genuine passion for patient care in an optics environment—both qualities I am committed to developing throughout this 15-18 month apprenticeship. I am drawn to the structured on-the-job training you offer alongside a full-time wage, which will allow me to build a solid foundation in spectacle dispensing and optical knowledge.
My background in customer-facing roles has taught me the value of listening carefully to understand what people need, and I am eager to apply these skills in the healthcare setting of your Uckfield practice. I am a reliable, motivated individual who thrives in team environments and is keen to learn from your experienced optometrists, dispensing opticians, and audiology professionals.
Free signup, no card needed. Export to PDF/Word requires a £1.99 trial (14 days).
Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›Can you describe what you understand by spectacle dispensing and why accurate measurements are important?
- ›How would you handle a customer who is unhappy with the fit of their new glasses?
- ›What do you know about the different types of lens materials and coatings used in eyecare?
- ›Tell us about your understanding of health and safety in a busy optical practice with multiple test rooms.
- ›How would you approach learning new optical equipment and procedures during your apprenticeship?
Behavioural
- ›Describe a time when you had to communicate complex information to someone who didn't understand it initially.
- ›Tell us about a situation where you worked as part of a team to solve a problem or achieve a goal.
- ›Give an example of when you went the extra mile to provide excellent customer service.
- ›Describe a time when you had to adapt to change or learn something new quickly.
- ›Tell us about an occasion when you felt genuinely motivated to help someone or make a difference.
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Describe a time when you had to communicate complex information to someone who didn't understand it initially.
Tell us about a situation where you worked as part of a team to achieve a goal.