The NRC’s strong start to 2026
It has been all systems go since the start of the year at the National Resource Centre!
What’s been happening?
We started 2026 with a full venue set up on floors four and five for exams. This also meant a visit from the lovely Association of British Dispensing Opticians examinations team. Over the course of two weeks, we hosted hundreds of candidates for their preliminary qualifying exams (PQE), final qualifying exams (FQE) and contact lens exams. Despite all our examination kit in use and dozens of examiners, the venue remained a calm environment for any nervous candidates.
For all those waiting for their results, we wish you the very best during this significant time, and hope to host you once you’re officially qualified.” – The NRC team
Following a full reset of the venue, we’ve hosted our Aqueous II neighbours from ATS Euromaster. This was for their second instalment of training for their colleagues from Tructyre, who travelled to us from around the West Midlands. It’s always a treat hosting visitors on multiple occasions and to welcome them back to the venue.
Specsavers have hosted multiple events with us over the last few weeks. This included their pre-reg and Cert 4 courses. In addition, the Specsavers team used our fifth floor and clinical bays as a place to trail their new CLiP course, which was very exciting for the NRC team! This course will provide a fresh way for experienced Specsavers staff to share their knowledge and skills with the company’s newest staff members and training dispensing opticians (DOs).
Finally, we had a second visit from ASDA Opticians for the second instalment of their pre-reg course in association with Optom Academy. We’re looking forward to hosting them with a new cohort of students later in the year.
What’s next?
Coming up in the rest of February, we will be having visits from both Specsavers and Stepper. Both companies are sponsors of the NRC, with Specsavers supporting one of our clinical bays, and Stepper as a digital sponsor.
We look forward to welcoming all those attending an event at the NRC over the coming weeks and sharing more of what is happening at #NRCBirmingham. For the latest updates, make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
