Meet Leanne | Audiology Director
I’m Leanne, an Audiologist Director for Specsavers Audiology in Otley and Ilkley – Leeds. Before starting my career at Specsavers, I was a Customer Service Assistant in a well-known catalogue retail store. I was 21 and was due to go back to work after a year’s maternity leave. 
After walking past the window and seeing the advert, I started at Specsavers in March 2014 as an Optical Assistant. I had no previous knowledge of Optics or Audiology, but I settled in well and became Assistant Manager within 18 months. I then went onto complete my Hearcare Assistant Training in late 2015 and gained entry to the Audiology degree in 2016.
Specsavers have been with me every step of the way. The training and development put in place for the Hearcare Assistant course was excellent. It gave me the knowledge I needed to start my degree at De Montfort University. My course, travel and accommodation was funded by Specsavers. My Audiology supervisors were fantastic too.
As a single parent at the time, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without Specsavers’ support. I’m so thankful to them for seeing the potential and believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.
I love helping people! My biggest pride and joy is when patients come back for a review of their initial hearing aid fitting, and they use phrases like “they’ve changed my life” or “I wish I’d done this sooner”. Being there with people on their journey to better hearing can be challenging. It’s greatly rewarding though. I also really appreciate the partnership and fellow Audiologists that I work with.
The biggest learning curve for me was what goes on behind the scenes in terms of running a business. I have a small, close-knit team. The support that I get from them is invaluable.
I’m always recommending people to come and work at Specsavers! The opportunity for career growth is astronomical. The support is there for you every step of the way, whichever trajectory you’re on. No two days are the same. I get to meet so many interesting people. Being able to listen to their stories fills my heart with that fuzzy feeling.
If I could describe Specsavers in one word, it’d be ‘Home’. My colleagues are my extended family. I look forward to going to work and catching up with them as well as my patients. We’re part of our local community and having grown up and lived in Otley for 26 years, I love being able to take part in the activities that are happening in the town. Although I don’t live in Otley anymore, I still get to “come home” when I go to work. The culture promotes fairness, respect and trust and I’m glad that I get to be a part of it.
Outside of being an Audiologist, I love to draw and paint as well other crafty-type activities! I’m an advocate for wellness and mindfulness too. I’ve spent time on wellness retreats as well as taking cold dips whilst wild-swimming… which I’ll start again when it gets warmer!