Early career membership scheme launched by the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers

A new membership option for early career professionals has been launched by the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (WCSM.)

The Journeyman scheme is open to people of all ages who are within the first few years of their career in any area of optics or the sight loss sector, and is designed to introduce new professionals to the WCSM before they move up to full membership.

The scheme costs £30 to join, and the membership fee is valid for up to five years. Members can sign up via the WCSM website. 

The WCSM’s master, Huntly Taylor FBDO, pictured above with Journeyman Matthew Spiers, a trainee dispensing optician from Dunfermline in Scotland, said he would encourage early years professionals in any optical discipline to consider joining: “This scheme makes it easier for people in the first few years of their career to get involved and explore their part in supporting better vision for all,” he said.

“In the past two years half of our new members have been under 40, and our online events have attracted people living and working far from our home base in London.”

He added: “We are looking forward to expanding our reach and welcoming an even more diverse group of people into the Spectacle Makers’ family.”

A free online launch event for the Journeyman scheme will take place at 6.30pm on Tuesday 21 September. Attendees will include Tom Broughton, founder of Cubitts, and Reena Chopra, optometrist and award-winning artificial intelligence researcher.

A City of London Livery Company, the WCSM was founded by Royal Charter in 1629, and currently has over 900 members, in 35 different professions, across 12 countries. Its aim is to support better vision for all.

The WCSM gives over £70,000 annually to organisations helping people with vision problems both in the UK and abroad, and also facilitates bursaries and ophthalmology awards to support young optical professionals across the UK.

Find out more about WCSM Journeymen here, or read more about full membership of the organisation.