Apprentice Optical Assistant

Vision Express; Hull and East Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured apprenticeship training

Career progression opportunities

On-the-job training

Job summary

Vision Express (UK) Limited is offering an Optical Assistant apprenticeship with strong training and clear progression in a busy optical practice. You will learn frame selection, lens knowledge, NHS processes, and pre-screening tests while delivering excellent customer service.

The role combines healthcare and retail, supporting customers from greeting to checkout, and may lead to higher optical qualifications and career advancement within the company.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and customer service skills required.
• Good numeracy and eye for detail; comfortable in a retail/healthcare setting.
• Ability to work as part of a team and use initiative.

Responsibilities

• Greeting customers in a professional and friendly manner.
• Interpreting prescriptions and explaining frame options in customer-friendly language.
• Measuring and adjusting spectacles for proper fit.
• Basic frame repairs and knowledge of lenses and coatings.
• Taking payments and processing NHS paperwork.
• Carrying out pre-screening tests and explaining products and offers.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Organisation skills

Customer care skills

Team working

Initiative

Education

GCSE English (grade 4/C or above)

GCSE Maths (grade 4/C or above)

Job description

This is a fantastic and unique opportunity to embark on a journey towards a great career.

Starting as an Optical Assistant apprentice with future opportunities for career progression, you will be supported with loads of great, fun, and interactive training. You will use these exciting new skills in your day-to-day job, where you will gain customer service skills, knowledge in optical support, and develop behaviour suitable for working in an optical practice.

Those with a flair for fashion will love the new frames coming in, and if it's your forte, you may even get involved in meeting frame reps and helping choose the new ranges. If you are more technical, you will get to learn lots of information about lenses and measurements, then transform that information into jargon-free, easy-to-understand, customer-friendly language.

It's all about teamwork in an optician's practice. There are many roles, but you support each other to ensure your customers get the best experience possible. Optical assistants are a very important part of any optical practice and crucial to the customer journey. Individuals with a real passion for both healthcare and retail thrive in this role, as it's perfect for those who love to make a real difference in other people's lives.

The duties within this role include:

• Greeting customers in a professional and friendly manner as they enter the practice.
• Interpreting and understanding a clinically issued prescription, its effects on the eye, and the customer's vision.
• Helping customer's select spectacle frame(s) that are suitable in terms of comfort, looks good and fits lifestyle requirements.
• Be able to explain the features and benefits of particular frames, using non-technical customer friendly language.
• Measuring the frames and ensure they are a suitable size for a customer and can accommodate their lenses.
• Adjusting customers spectacle frames using the correct tools to ensure stability and comfort.
• Basic frame repairs.
• Have a good knowledge of Ophthalmic lenses, tints and coatings to be able to meet visual / lifestyle requirements.
• Ordering prescription glasses and contact lenses in for the customer.
• Correct completion of NHS paperwork and written records in-line with company procedures.
• Making follow up appointments for customers.
• Use a focimeter to find the prescription from spectacles.
• Communicate contact lenses suitability, features and benefits.
• Carrying out pre-screening tests such as retinal imaging and pressure and visual field testing.
• Explaining offers and products to customers.
• Taking payments from customers.
• Being able to problem solve with basic optical concerns.
• Understanding business KPI's and how they affect the practices profitability.

What happens at the end

The successful candidate will work towards achieving a Level 3 qualification in optical and gain experience in a busy optical practice.

Upon completion of the Level 3 qualification, you will be an experienced and qualified optical assistant, and as such, you can continue building up skills that will always be in demand. Career breaks and part time working are often possible.

You could go on to acquire higher level optical qualifications such as:

• Ophthalmic Dispensing- Become a qualified Dispensing Optician.
• Contact lens Optician - fit Contact lenses.
• Low vision specialist - help people where traditional spectacles will not suffice. Supply low vision aids, magnifiers, advice on improving contrast and on other non-Optical aids such as bump-ons.
• Optometry courses - carry out full eye examinations and issue prescriptions.
• Clinical representative- visiting practices introducing new frame ranges and Ophthalmic lenses.
• In-practice trainer - You could use your knowledge to train others.

Other non-clinical roles:

• Practice Management you could complete a management course.
• Practice ownership you could go into business yourself, partnership or franchise.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Team working
• Initiative

Qualifications

• GCSE English (grade Grade 4/C or above) - essential
• GCSE Maths (grade Grade 4/C or above) - essential

Key details

• Wage: £17,228 a year
• Working week: Learners will work 9:30am - 5.00pm, 5 out of 7 days. This will be discussed and agreed between candidate and store manager upon interview. They will be required to carry out a weekend shift.
• Hours: 38.75 hours per week
• Duration: 1 Year 6 Months
• Start date: 2026-11-09
• Closing date: 2026-10-30
• Apprenticeship standard: Optical assistant 2022 (level 3)
• Training provider: TRAINING 2000 LIMITED

About the employer

Vision Express opened their first opticians over thirty years ago in Gateshead. Today they have over 550 stores across the UK and Ireland.
At Vision Express, you'll thrive in a dynamic environment where everyone works together toward shared goals, rooted in their culture and values. They provide ample opportunities for growth and development, supporting your career ambitions every step of the way.