Meet an apprenticeship coach: Alex Vincett FBDO CL

Self-confessed “optics nerd” Alex Vincett discovered the field by chance – she worked as an optical assistant while applying for graduate roles and “ended up falling in love with it”. Alex  is a contact lens optician (CLO) and apprenticeship coach. 

What attracted you to becoming an educator?

I’ve always really enjoyed teaching and mentoring, and I’m a bit of an optics nerd so they go hand in hand. I sort of fell into the field, as I took a job as an optical assistant after uni just as a stop-gap whilst I was applying for graduate roles and ended up falling in love with it! 

I qualified as a dispensing optician (DO) in February 2020 and as a CLO in May 2025.

How do you see the role of apprenticeship coach? 

I see it as another level of support for the learners. It gives them another person to guide them through the course, providing feedback and help along the way. 

Have you had any other jobs at the College? 

I’ve been a distance learning tutor for three years now before transitioning to this role as an apprenticeship coach.

What do you do outside the College?

I work in practice two days a week at a Specsavers store as a DO and CLO (a mixture of shop floor days and days in clinic)

How would you describe your career?

Interesting, varied, unexpected.

Why did you become a tutor? What drives you? 

I love mentoring others in this career path. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t had people encouraging me and teaching me, so I want to be able to provide the same for others.

Why should people choose apprenticeships? What can they go on to do? 

The apprenticeship route provides that additional level of support, and also time, for the dispensing optician (DO) course. The final qualification is exactly the same as the traditional route, but throughout you get the additional help from your coach, you get your allocated study day and you also focus on some additional skills such as an understanding of British values that makes you a really well rounded employee.

What do you hope to achieve as an educator?

Provide a safe, supportive space for my learners, alongside helping develop their knowledge.

How can they make the most of their time at college? 

Make friends, as you’ll be able to bounce ideas off each other, or help each other out, which makes all the difference. Do the additional textbook reading outside the assignment work as it gives you a much deeper, broader understanding. 

Is there anything they should avoid?

Leaving things to the last minute and rushing them!

Do you remember any particular learners?

I had a student that was having a challenging year, but we worked together to get her through and she worked so hard to do so. 

What was your best day at work as an educator?

One of my first year students, who had been in practice for quite a few years but only just started the DO course, passed all her first year exams with flying colours. 

What have you learned as an educator? 

It’s shown me how varied the industry and profession can be. I’ve had students who have only been in the industry for a few months all the way through to those that have been in practice for 20+ years, and it’s nice that you can do the course at any time. 

What’s your message to students?

Work through the tough bits! Sometimes the course might feel a bit overwhelming and hard, but push through and you’ll come out the other side and have learnt a lot from it.

Good luck! Keep your sights focused on the end goal and beyond.

Alex’s advice to learners is to make friends as you’ll be able to bounce ideas off each other