Ambitious Directors invest in new Specsavers at Five Valleys

14 August 2023

Optical and audiology specialists, Specsavers, are relocating their King Street store in Stroud to a brand new store at Five Valleys shopping centre.

The 3,300 sq. ft. store, located right next door to the centre’s new Medical Practice, has benefitted from a £650k investment and has created an additional five new jobs already for the local area with more expected to come.

The team, who bring a combined 60 years’ optical experience between them, will be headed by the store’s Directors Cobi Williams, Jo Bryan and Riz Choonara. As well as experience, they hope to help the town’s residents with all their sight and hearing issues by investing in new technology which includes a second OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) machine and Gloucestershire’s only ultra-wide field camera.

Cobi who is the Director and Dispensing Optician for the store started his career at Specsavers in 2010 as an Optical Assistant. He progressed through the company carrying out his dispensing and optician degree moving to the Stroud store in 2015 as General Manager. Cobi then continued with the pathway course to become a director in 2020.

The Stroud store has grown every year, doubling its workforce to a current team of 25 people.

Cobi said: “We’re extremely excited about our new space and becoming part of Five Valleys. Our team are incredibly passionate about optics and audiology and I am keen to help build the careers of our new starters. Specsavers offers lots of career progression, and it is amazing to help members of staff develop and grow.”

As well as eye tests and hearing checks, the new store will provide a wide range of optical and audiology services, equipped with seven consulting rooms as well as a sound-proofed audiology booth to support the demand within Stroud with eye and hearing care.

The new store will boast two £50k OCT machines ensuring the team are as efficient as possible with appointments. Usually found in hospitals, the technology allows optometrists to look deeper into the eyes than ever before and can help detect treatable eye conditions sooner.

The store has also invested £60k in an ultra-wide field camera which will help the team further with making assessments of the health of the eyes.

Fit out works have already begun and the store is expected to be open to the public next month.

Five Valleys is owned and managed by the retail property specialist Dransfield Properties who are carrying out an extensive programme of works to remodel the shopping centre.

Managing Director at Dransfield Properties, James Shepherd, said: “We are delighted to welcome Specsavers to Five Valleys. The new store looks great and we’d like to wish Cobi, Jo, Riz and the whole team all the very best in their new venture.”

To keep updated or to find out more about Five Valleys visit www.fivevalleysstroud.co.uk.

ENDS

Picture shows: Coby Williams

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk