Celebrating the beginnings of a shining career

EXETER’S Lydia Taylor has set her sights on a bright future after qualifying as a Contact Lens Optician.

The 27-year-old has been a popular figure in the city’s Specsavers store for 12 years, having started there as a teenager doing work experience.

She worked her way up from a part-time job at the store to now being qualified to dispense and give advice to customers on all aspects of contact lenses, as well as being the Exeter team’s contact lens manager.

To mark her achievement, Lydia celebrated with store colleagues, her fellow managers and the store’s directors, Emma Denham, Scott McGowan and Emma Ginger.

Lydia says: ‘I am proud of my achievements because, looking back, it’s not easy studying while working full time, but it’s good to learn. It’s all been very challenging, but it’s worthwhile now it’s all done.

‘Being here so long, the store has become like a second home. I was so young when I started, I grew up with the store, changing from a child to an adult, and so I feel an emotional attachment to it.

‘Everyone at the store has been so supportive. When I called to let them know that I had passed my Contact Lens Optician qualification, they cried. Everyone has been on the journey with me.

‘They’ve said that my qualification is as rewarding to them as it is for me, and that’s because we care about each other – we all want each other to do well.’

Studying to be a qualified Contact Lens Optician takes three years. Lydia was also part of the Urgent and Essential care team that continued to work in the Exeter store throughout the Covid lockdowns.

Emma Pope, store manager, says: ‘It’s a pleasure to have Lydia here in the Exeter store. She loves to have fun and is a fabulous role model to the team, and she always goes above and beyond for any customers.

‘Many of them have seen her develop and grow into the true professional she is now. We’re all really proud of her and know she has a very bright future in this industry.’

Specsavers Exeter is open seven days a week at 247-248 High Street. For further information contact 01392 210604.