Marcolin kicks off the “Leadership Academy”, a training project dedicated to the Company’s talents and future leaders that this year, at its third run, features a session dedicated to women’s leadership.

Launched in 2021, Marcolin’s Leadership Academy is designed to boost the convergence of individual and corporate goals. It is composed by ten meetings, each focused on the skills and values on which Marcolin’s Leadership model is based, such as openness to change, practicality, responsibility and sense of belonging.

A new entry for this year is the integration of soft skills enhancement modules dedicated to women’s leadership aiming to train leaders of tomorrow who can guide and inspire others based on the principles of equity and inclusiveness.

The future managers will work along company executives and external experts, who will provide them with the tools needed to improve the skills required to lead a team and promote innovation, culture, and change.

Sabrina Paulon, Marcolin Group HR Director, points out: “The Leadership Academy, and specifically this year’s run, is an integral part of a vision launched many years ago, whereby Marcolin is committed to promoting a culture of respecting differences. Diversity is a value for us and a driver of economic growth and development not only to the advantage of women, but of all the people involved. This is why we want our future leaders to be able to implement a model that embraces values rather than gender-related features.”

Marcolin’s vision in terms of diversity and inclusion is one of the key pillars on which its ESG corporate strategy is built. Today, 57% of the company’s employees are women, 43% of whom are senior managers. In 2022, Marcolin received the recognition “Best Employers for Women” in the eyewear industry from the German ITQF Institute, which rewarded the top 360 companies in Italy.

Click HERE for the full press release.

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Specsavers announced its plan to expand into Manitoba in the summer of 2024. The expansion, following the successful launch in Ontario, Alberta and B.C., will provide opportunities for Manitoban eye care professionals to own and run their own business.

With over 90 locations open, Specsavers is now the fastest growing network of eye care professionals in Canada. The Company cited its strong business performance, consumer demand and interest from optometrists and opticians seeking ownership opportunities outside of its existing Canadian markets for its decision to begin opening stores in Manitoba.

“We are pleased to see Specsavers is being embraced by Canadians. Our expansion into Manitoba means more Canadians will have access to comprehensive eye care and quality, affordable eyewear, as well as more opportunities for independent optometrists and opticians to start their own practice,” said Bill Moir, Managing Director, Specsavers Canada. “We are proud to already have a network of more than 200 optometrists and 250 fully licensed opticians operating across Specsavers stores since launching in November 2021. The average location is caring for over 100 Canadians each week.”  

Specsavers stores are locally co-owned by an Optometry Partner, who is a practicing optometrist, and a Retail Partner, who is an optician or an experienced retail professional. 

Specsavers provides comprehensive business support from experts in areas like administration, marketing, accounting, payroll and supply chain. With multi-million-dollar marketing campaigns driving brand and eye health awareness, Specsavers locations are averaging over $1.5 million in revenue during their first twelve months of trading.

Independent clinics located within Specsavers are wholly owned and operated by the local Optometry Partner, who receives comprehensive clinical support allowing them to focus on patient care.  

“Through an optometrist-led steering group coupled with independently owned clinics with new, advanced clinical equipment, including optical coherence tomography, Specsavers gives optometrists the tools they need to be successful in delivering patient care and to excel as a business owner,” said Naomi Barber, Clinical Services Director, Specsavers Canada.

Since launching, Specsavers has covered 100 per cent of location start-up costs for optometrists and opticians to start their own Specsavers store in communities across Canada. This investment, which averages $500,000 per location, aims to boost business ownership by independent optometrists and opticians, and help them achieve success while remaining autonomous and patient care focused.

Moir added that while the immediate focus of the expansion is Manitoba, the Company has received interest from optometrists and opticians from across Canada, and openings in other Canadian provinces may be considered in the future.

Optometrists and opticians across Canada who are interested in partnership opportunities with Specsavers can register for an upcoming online information session – Register here: join.specsavers.com/ca/info-sessions.

Click HERE for the full press release.

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