Specsavers trainees in Ashington develop important careers skills
Three aspiring optical professionals are taking important steps towards their future careers at Specsavers in Ashington.
Rimsha Faheen and Faria Mukhtar are both completing their pre-reg years in optometry, while Niamh Cummings is working towards becoming a qualified dispensing optician.
The trio are gaining valuable hands-on experience at the store, supporting customers while developing the skills and knowledge needed for their future careers in optics.
Rimsha, 22, graduated from the University of Huddersfield in 2025 and is now working full-time as a pre-registration optometrist at the Ashington store.
Primarily based in the test room, she is developing her clinical skills through in-depth sight tests and contact lens fittings, while also supporting the wider team with dispensing, spectacle repairs and frame adjustments.
Faria, 21, is also completing her pre-registration year in optometry at the store.
As part of her postgraduate training, she is developing her clinical skills, completing assessments and gaining practical experience ahead of qualifying.
Meanwhile, trainee dispensing optician Niamh is preparing to start the second year of her apprenticeship, studying for a diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing through Bradford College.
Alongside her studies, she supports customers in finding glasses that best suit their vision needs, lifestyle and personal style.
Denise Porter, retail director at Specsavers Ashington, said: “We’re incredibly proud of Rimsha, Faria and Niamh and the progress they are all making as part of team Ashington.
“It’s fantastic to be able to support people at different stages of their careers, whether that’s developing clinical skills during pre-registration training or combining study with hands-on experience through an apprenticeship.”