BBR Optometry is delighted to announce it has retained the Investors in People Gold Standard for 2017 following a comprehensive assessment.

Hereford’s only independently-owned optometry practice first achieved the Gold Standard in 2015 after holding IIP accreditation since 2002 and has now received a certificate to mark this continuing success.

BBR’s Practice Owner, Nick Rumney says: “Receiving the Investors in People’s Gold Standard for the second time is an outstanding achievement and one we are very proud of here at BBR.

“We are one of only 13 optometry practices in the country and 128 companies in Herefordshire to be certified to this level showing how very difficult it is to attain in the first place.

“So to retain Gold is an even greater achievement especially as the Generation 6 standard requires heightened performance to achieve accreditation and represents significant development on the last assessment,” he added.

The assessment was held in March and BBR has now received the full report from Investors in People which says: “This outcome provides an excellent platform for the move to the ultimate Investors In People award of Platinum.”

The report adds: “The practice has an enviable national and international reputation and profile due to the Director’s significant experience and expertise, through involvement and commitment to both innovation and research. Recent examples include invitations to address Optical Coherence Tomography conferences in Madrid in February and Cyprus in March.”  

BBR’s continuing commitment to excellence in clinical practice and patient care, clear purpose and direction and the approach to learning and development are also highlighted by the Investors In People report.

Nick adds: “BBR’s highly inclusive and open style of leadership was also singled out for praise which I am particularly pleased with as myself and Co-Directors Nick Black & Suzanne Wadsworth very much want to ensure all staff here feel truly empowered. 

“We are proud of our long-standing focus on staff development in all roles as we firmly believe that happy and fulfilled staff are key to providing the best possible care for all of our patients and that sets us apart from other practices. 

“BBR Optometry has no desire to grow further in terms of size or premises but instead continues to grow in the quality of experience it offers to patients, further enhancing its reputation and gaining even more referrals as a result of its high standards.

“This Gold Award shows BBR’s dedication to both its employees and patients, who remain at the heart of our practice and help us maintain our position as the leading optometry practice in the region and we will certainly be aiming for the ultimate Platinum standard at our next review,” he added.

Daniel Read, BBR practice manager, adds: “The report also praises Nick Rumney, Nick Black and Suzanne Wadsworth for providing genuinely inspirational leadership and ensuring the practice is highly respected. This is a sentiment I am sure our patients, staff and the wider community would certainly agree with.”

For further information about Investors in People please visit the website.