“Keep at it”: Louise’s 14-year journey from optics to audiology.

When Louise Turton first joined Specsavers in Coventry back in 2011, she wasn’t chasing a dream career - she needed a job. “I’d recently moved to the area and wanted something stable,” she says. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do long-term.”

Fast forward nearly 15 years, and Louise is now a fully qualified audiologist, having continually trained to work in every department in the store. Her career is one example of what’s possible when you’re curious, determined, and supported by the right people.

From fashion to frames

Before Specsavers, Louise worked in fashion retail. “Moving into optics was a bit of a shift,” she laughs. She started as an NHS administrator in the Coventry store, then transferred to Chatham in 2013 and became an optical assistant. That’s where things started to click.

“I loved dispensing,” she says. “People think it’s just about handing over glasses, but there’s so much more to it - understanding prescriptions, solving problems, getting things just right for the customer.”

A big influence was a dispensing optician (DO) who took her under his wing. “He didn’t just take over - he taught me. That made me want to go down the DO route.”

Driven by independence

Louise’s motivation was clear: she wanted to be able to do everything herself. “I didn’t like having to ask someone else to sign things off. I wanted to be able to give patients the full care they needed, without passing them on.”

She didn’t have the GCSEs to go straight into the DO course, so she completed Cert 3 and Cert 4 first. “I wasn’t academic at school, so I didn’t think I’d be able to do it. But Specsavers supported me all the way.”

She qualified as a dispensing optician in 2021 - after juggling her final year with working through COVID and being one of just four team members who kept the store open. “It was intense,” she says. “But we got through it as a team.”

A new challenge: Audiology

Just when things could have settled, Louise decided to take on a new challenge. “We’d become a hub store for audiology, and I started getting more exposure to it. I liked the idea of being able to help with everything- glasses, hearing aids, the lot.”

She completed Specsavers’ internal Audiology Clinical Support (ACS) course, then asked to join the audiology apprenticeship. “It was a bit of a surprise to the team,” she admits. “They thought I’d be involved in management at the new store at Hempstead Valley. But I knew audiology was what I wanted.”

Her directors backed her decision. “They’ve been amazing. They supported me through the training, gave me time for uni, and even supported me when I was chosen by the university to go to India to assist in their hospital clinics. course. That experience was amazing.”

Blending optics and audiology

Now, although Louise works as an audiologist, she finds herself helping out with optics too- sometimes in the same appointment. “If someone’s hearing aids are fine but their glasses aren’t sitting right, I can sort it there and then. Patients love that continuity and total care.”

She’s also noticed how much she’s grown personally. “Audiology has made me more empathetic. You have to handle sensitive conversations. It’s not always easy, but it’s so rewarding.”

The power of a supportive team

Louise lights up when she talks about her team. “They’re like cheerleaders. Always checking in, celebrating each other’s wins. Even if someone’s not where they want to be yet, they still support everyone else.”

That support has kept her motivated for nearly 15 years. “I genuinely enjoy coming to work. It feels like a second home- and I’m really grateful.”

What’s next?

For now, Louise is enjoying having her evenings back. “I’ve been studying for so long - I just want to enjoy my evenings a bit again! But eventually, I’d love to become an audiology partner. Probably in a store, as I like a fixed base!”

Advice for others

To anyone considering a career change or joining Specsavers, Louise says: “Do it. You don’t realise how much goes on behind the scenes until you’re here. There’s so much to learn, and so much support.”

And to her younger self? “Don’t put pressure on yourself to have it all figured out. Try different things. Do what you enjoy. And just keep at it.”