
"There's always time; it's never too late"
Sign Up For Post Alerts
There's always time; it's never too late
Heather Settle aspired to be a sports photographer due to her love of sport and photography. However, half-way through University, Heather’s life changed and so did her career direction. Read how an apprenticeship at Specsavers has got Heather back on track for a satisfying and rewarding career.
"At school, I studied photography, PE, and media which I really enjoyed. Once I’d completed my education, I thought I should go to university as my friends were all going to uni too. So, I applied to a university to study photography and was accepted. I moved away from home and lived local to the University. At first it was fine but after a while, I felt unhappy. The subject itself wasn’t what I thought it would be – it was a lot of theory studies and no actual hands-on photography. Not wanting to give up on my education, I requested a subject change to sports (as I’m a rugby player already and really enjoy getting stuck in). For some reason, I still didn’t get on well with it and found study time difficult. I was in a quandary – why were my friends getting on so well at uni and I wasn’t?
Then, my life took a bit of a turn when I suddenly became ill. This caused me to then have to drop out of uni on medical grounds, so that decision was taken away from me. When I started to get better, the thought of going back to uni filled me with dread. I’d already been back home for a while whilst I was recovering, so I thought I’d explore my options. This is when I saw an Apprentice Optical Assistant being advertised at my local Specsavers. I’d never have considered an apprenticeship before as I didn’t know anyone who had done one, so I didn’t really know what to expect. But it sounded really interesting, and the advert alluded to the possibility of having a rewarding clinical or retail career which piqued my interest.
My illness had unfortunately affected my eyesight, which then made me more aware of and interested in eye health. So, when I saw the apprenticeship opportunity where I could learn more about eye care, it really resonated with me. I also love learning and doing things at the same time – I’m quite hands-on like that. I was so excited to be successful for the opportunity – and it’s certainly exceeded my expectations. I get 1-1 coaching with my apprenticeship coach, ample study time, interesting theory work as well as practical experience, and it’s opened the doors so many wonderful career opportunities.
I’ve completed my mock exam and am finishing off the last few subjects before booking in my end point assessment. Specsavers has supported me all the way through my apprenticeship and are happy with me completing it early as I feel ready. Once I’ve completed it, I’ll become an Optical Assistant. What’s next for me? I’ll look to do a qualification to become a Dispensing Optician – that’s my ultimate career goal, for now. Who knows, further down the line I might continue my studies while working at Specsavers to become a qualified optometrist. I know my store partner is fully supportive of my goals and wants to see me succeed.
Even though my career path is very different to what I thought it would look like, I’m excited to see what the future holds for me. I’m grateful for the apprenticeship opportunity to enable me to retrain and learn new skills to lead me down a different path. If you’re in a similar situation, or maybe you want to change your career path later on in life, then an apprenticeship is an excellent way to do it. There’s always time, it’s never too late".
It's not too late for you, either
Apprenticeships are open to everyone at any age with no relevant experience. Find out how an apprenticeship could help guide you on a new career path too.
Read More#FeelsLikeSpecsavers

Teaser
ApprenticeshipsContent Type
BlogPublish date
02/07/2025
Summary
To be an apprentice you don’t need to be fresh out of education. And for Retail Partner, Jason North, he’s living proof that being a Partner isn’t the ceiling of his career journey. Becoming an Appren

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
01/30/2025
Summary
For Lauren Kerr, an optometrist at Specsavers Dundee, the real appeal of her role isn’t just about helping people see clearly- it’s about being part of a team that supports each other. Her journey sta

Teaser
PartnershipContent Type
BlogPublish date
01/28/2025
Summary
For Anoop, becoming an Optometry Partner at Specsavers was a lifelong dream come true. While buying into a business can naturally come with some concerns, her journey highlights how she overcame tho
by
Mike Davidson

Teaser
AudiologyContent Type
BlogPublish date
01/23/2025
Summary
Mia started her journey with Specsavers in an admin role and, after completing the Hearing Aid Dispenser Apprenticeship with the support of her store directors, fast-forward a few years and she is now
by
Mike Davidson

Teaser
ApprenticeshipsContent Type
BlogPublish date
01/10/2025
Summary
Apprenticeships are for all, not just for those fresh out of full-time education. Ian Szymanski, Hearing Care Assistant, started his apprenticeship in the autumn of 2024, despite already working at Sp

Teaser
ApprenticeshipsContent Type
BlogPublish date
01/06/2025
Summary
Being a working parent and striving to be the best for your child can be tough. Alex Coates, Optical Assistant, tells us why he initially chose to take on a Spectacle Technician apprenticeship with Sp

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
12/19/2024
Summary
Why I can’t imagine doing anything elseAnish, a domiciliary optometry partner in Nottingham for over a decade, talks about why he's so passionate about home visits—and tells the unforgettable story of

Teaser
ApprenticeshipsContent Type
BlogPublish date
12/13/2024
Summary
Richard Hodgson, Optical Assistant, is the first Apprentice Domiciliary Optical Assistant to complete his apprenticeship – with distinction, too. He tells us why he had his sights set on the home-vis

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
12/12/2024
Summary
A Passion for Patient Care and Cardiff Meet Molly Feltham, an optometrist at Specsavers in Cardiff. Molly shares how working across a cluster of five stores has shaped her career and deepened her lov

Teaser
PartnershipContent Type
BlogPublish date
12/10/2024
Summary
Before joining Specsavers, Hazreth worked as a locum and at a hospital, gaining valuable insights into different aspects of the field. "I was exploring different avenues and also working at a hospital
by
Mike Davidson
Selected jobs for you
Salary
£8.80 - £11.64 per hour
Location
Plymouth, South West & Channel Islands, United Kingdom
Contract Duration
Permanent
Area of Interest
Trainee Optical Assistant
Locations
Plymouth
Description
Trainee Optical Assistant Specsavers PlymstockSpecsavers, a household name and a Highstreet staple. And you could be part of the team. As a Trainee Optical Assistant at Specsavers, you’ll be the frie
Reference
sf-80034-1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Up to £11.64 per hour
Location
Plymouth, South West & Channel Islands, United Kingdom
Contract Duration
Permanent
Area of Interest
Optical Assistant
Locations
Plymouth
Description
Optical Assistant Specsavers - PlymstockSpecsavers. A household name and a Highstreet staple. And you could be part of the team. So, you’re a proactive people person ready to be the friendly face our
Reference
sf-80033-1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
£8.80 - £11.64 depending on age
Location
Plymouth, South West & Channel Islands, United Kingdom
Contract Duration
Fixed Term
Area of Interest
Optical Assistant Apprenticeship
Locations
Plymouth
Description
Optical Assistant ApprenticeshipSpecsavers PlymstockFull time - 40 hours - will include regular weekend working Salary: £8.80 to £11.64 (based on age)Additional day off for your birthdayHealth and wel
Reference
sf-80032-1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001