Specsavers stores in Northern Ireland are showing that the traditional Saturday job is far from dead by giving young people the chance to learn new skills and kick-start their careers.
Figures show that almost one in eight of those aged 16-24 are not in education, employment or training[1] and the decline of the traditional Saturday job has been identified as a reason that young people aren’t ready for work.
However, the 24 locally owned and run Specsavers stores in NI are committed to encouraging more young people into the world of work, with many 16-24 year olds currently working weekends alongside their studies. The roles offer hands-on experience, helping to develop skills in customer service and retail, while providing an introduction to the wide range of further career and training opportunities available.
Evie Thair is 16 and started working Saturdays, 08:30 – 17:00 at Specsavers Newtownards in October 2025. Evie commented, ‘I found out about the job on social media, and I was interested in gaining work experience within a healthcare environment, so I applied. I live locally and therefore this was of great interest to me and I hope to continue to work with Specsavers Newtownards as I progress my studies. There are fantastic career opportunities within Specsavers, which the team actively encourage us to pursue, including one of our owners, Nikki Gardiner, who also started her career with Specsavers in-store at 16.’
Weekend roles for young people at Specsavers often involve greeting customers, supporting the team with appointments, and learning about the technology and processes involved in an eye examination. For many young people, it’s their first experience of the workplace, helping them to build confidence and learn valuable skills.
Nikki Gardiner, retail director at Specsavers Newtownards says applying for a Saturday job at Specsavers Bangor when she was 16 defined her career; ‘My entire career has been with Specsavers as I was so inspired by Andrea Ridgway who is one of the owners of Specsavers Bangor in Bloomfield Shopping Centre. I stayed in that store until I started the Specsavers Graduate Scheme, moved to Guernsey for two years and undertook various placements across Guernsey, the UK and Ireland, and fell in love with the retail side of the business. After 10 years working with stores across Northern Ireland, I completed my Pathway to Partnership programme and bought the Newtownards store in 2022. I’ve gone from travelling 20,000 miles a year for my job to walking seven minutes to work each day!
‘Alongside my fellow store owners across Northern Ireland, I am passionate about encouraging the younger generation to consider optics as a potential career. A Saturday job is a fantastic way to dip your toe in the water and gain real-world work experience in a supportive environment.
‘It’s not just about earning extra money, it’s about learning to work as part of a team, and developing communication and customer service skills that will stay with you for life.’
Alice Mitchell is 26 and began working weekends after meeting some of the team from the Lisburn store at a careers event at University when she was 21, studying Optometry. Alice now works five days per week in-store as an Optometrist and says, ‘I had been advised to get a Saturday job at an opticians to get experience in the field and build my confidence before working full time. Specsavers has a great training programme, and I had also heard positive reports from classmates who had worked at Specsavers stores.
‘Now I am now full-time at the Lisburn store, progressing my career and working as Optometrist with plans to continue to grow my career with the business, another reason that I applied for the weekend role, as well as providing some pocket money which was much-needed as a University student!’
Specsavers offers a wide range of career paths, from retail and customer service to clinical roles in optics. With ongoing training and development opportunities, the stores are committed to investing in their teams and helping people progress.
Image: Alice Mitchell, Specsavers Lisburn: Alice (26) began her career with Specsavers Lisburn after meeting the team at a careers event at University. Starting her weekend job at 21 has led to her full-time role as an Optometrist at the store.
