The Challenge
Barracloughs The Opticians, an independent group based in East Sussex, faced significant challenges in recruiting optometrists. Their rural location and distance from major city centres made it difficult to attract clinicians, while their independent status limited visibility among potential candidates from central locations. To maintain their commitment to community care, they often had to rely on costly locum cover and recruitment agencies. The group urgently needed a sustainable solution to build a reliable talent pipeline and seure their future workforce.
By working with Into Optics, we’re not only helping to raise awareness about careers in optics but also ensuring that local students see the incredible opportunities available right on their doorstep. The feedback we have received has been fantastic, and we’re proud to be part of a program that could shape the future of independent optometry.”
Dave Cleworth, Marketing Director
The Solution
Barracloughs turned to Into Optics, a specialist team and supporting platform that helps independent practices build talent pipelines by connecting them with local students interested in science and healthcare careers. With tailored resources and guidance, the programme is designed to help showcase the exciting opportunities available within optics and more specifically, the independent sector, to younger audiences and educators.
Barracloughs were seamlessly onboarded with access to professional tools, including editable slide decks, video tutorials, and peer support. The Into Optics team assisted with college visits and workshops to raise awareness of optometry as a career - this forms part of a long-term recruitment plan designed to guide students from the classroom into practice.
The Impact
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with one student initially interested in dentistry, now exploring optometry as a career. These sessions have not only raised Barracloughs' profile locally (achieving some impressive regional press coverage for the business) they’ve also laid the foundations for building a strong future talent pipeline, with multiple local students now keen to explore a career in optometry with Barracloughs.
