Rozie’s journey to running an audiology business

Hi, I’m Rozie 👋

I’m the Audiology Partner at Specsavers Folkestone

My journey with Specsavers started when I was looking to move back home from Gloucestershire. I was working for another high-street optician at the time and luckily, I was literally walking past the Specsavers store here in Folkestone when they were advertising for an optical assistant, so I had a phone call with my now business partner, David, then had an interview and was offered a role – 10 years later here I am.

From optics to audiology

When I joined, I made it clear to David that I was keen on developing and progressing, so I started on the path to become a dispensing optician (DO), completing Cert 3 and Cert 4. I then had a slight change of tack and focused on becoming an In-store trainer so put my DO qualifications on hold.

It was then a bit of a chance encounter where I was on the phone to ABDO (Association of British Dispensing Opticians) finding out some more information when Alistair came in and had a chat with me about pursuing audiology. That was it – it was the lightbulb moment. I was like, - “Oh my goodness, that's exactly what I want to do!”

Day to day life as a partner

I’ve been able to grow the business from just myself and an administrator to now having three hearing aid dispensers and our fourth is just about to begin their qualification. I’m in clinic sometimes when we need some cover and then I’m working on the business and my role as a regional chair, where I help arrange training and support with sharing communications amongst other audiology partners in my region.

Supporting the community

One of the things I love about being a partner with Specsavers, is the ability I have to support local community causes and give back to the people who come into our store every day, because what matters to them, matters to us too. For example, we’ve sponsored a local pride event and also revived quite a sad looking local plant pot. I saw it online and reached out to the council offering to sponsor it.

To someone who is considering becoming a partner

So one of my hearing aid dispensers is on their journey to become a partner at the moment, so I’ve had conversations about support recently – there’s just so much. I've never felt like there's nowhere I can turn to, and if I don't know where I can turn, then I've got my Audiology Relationship Manager (ARM) or community of local partners too.

Of course, there are challenges and issues to resolve. But approaching them and finding a solution is achievable when there’s always someone to help you or at least point you in the right direction.

I would say that I truly believe that if you have any kind of passion in running your own business – you can get there. You can be taught about finance; you can learn so much. The only thing you can’t be taught is passion.