I moved north for a new role and found a better quality of life

When Lydia started exploring relocation opportunities, she was thinking about the life she wanted in the long term. After building her career in London, she made the move to Barrow-in-Furness in search of a slower pace of life, a close-knit community and somewhere she could see a future. Four months on, she describes it as one of the best decisions she's made.

Moving to the UK from Nigeria

I started my journey with Specsavers in London after moving to the UK from Nigeria as an international optometrist. I completed my pre-registration year there in February 2025, and because it was such a busy store, I learned a huge amount in a short space of time. I gained lots of valuable experience, worked with a great team and really enjoyed my time there.

But while I was enjoying my career, I started thinking about the life I wanted outside of work too. London was exciting, but I knew long term I wanted something different. I wanted a slower pace of life, a close-knit community and somewhere I could see myself settling down and raising a family one day.

Thinking about relocating

I reached out to Specsavers recruiter Leah to explore relocation opportunities and was particularly interested in moving further north, as it felt like more of a change from London. I wasn't just looking for any role. I wanted a supportive team, a place I could build a life, and ideally somewhere with an African community too.

I'll be honest, I had a few concerns before making the move. I wondered what it would be like working in a smaller town and knew I'd probably need to learn to drive. Moving somewhere completely new can feel daunting. But the store arranged for me to visit Barrow-in-Furness before making my decision.

The store visit was really the moment I knew I could see myself here. I spent time with the directors and the wider team, and everyone was so welcoming. I remember thinking that these were people I could genuinely see myself working with. I stayed in the area overnight, explored the town and loved how calm it felt compared to London.

What made the move easier

The relocation support from Specsavers made a huge difference too. Moving from a fully furnished place in London to an unfurnished home meant there were lots of costs to think about. The relocation allowance helped me get settled and took away a lot of the stress that comes with moving. I stayed in an Airbnb initially while furnishing the new house, then moved into my new home the following week.

Four months on, I can say it's one of the best decisions I've made for myself. The lower cost of living in the north has improved my quality of life, I have more time for myself, and people are incredibly friendly..

One of the things I was hoping for before relocating was to find an African community, and I’m so glad I did. I also found an African church, which has really helped me settle into life here. Having that sense of community and belonging has made the transition much easier and has truly made Barrow feel like home.

Professionally, the move has opened doors for me too. I now have more opportunities to focus on professional development and higher qualifications, and because life feels less hectic, I can dedicate more time to it. I've also found a wonderful team who have made me feel supported from day one.

If another optometrist was thinking about relocating, I would say keep an open mind and go and visit the store and local area first. Change can feel like a big step, but it can also be rewarding. For me, relocating has opened doors both personally and professionally, and it's given me a better quality of life than I ever expected.