National Apprenticeship Week | From shop floor to solicitor: How Specsavers is building careers through apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are often talked about in the context of school leavers. But for many UK employers, they are increasingly becoming a strategic workforce tool - a way to build specialist capability, strengthen leadership pipelines and retain ambitious talent.

At Specsavers, apprenticeships are embedded into long-term workforce planning rather than treated as a bolt-on early careers initiative.

Dena Wyatt, Head of Apprenticeships at Specsavers, is clear about the role they play: “Apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to build skills and create long-term careers, combining learning with real, hands-on experience. Since 2016, Specsavers’ apprenticeship programme has demonstrated the impact this model can have at scale.”

The programme now supports between 500 and 600 apprentices each year, with around 90% progressing into permanent roles. It has also achieved an outstanding Ofsted rating - a sign of the structure and quality underpinning its delivery.