Empowering the Profession

OSA members and their guests come together every December following the AGM, to enjoy networking opportunities, and a catch up with friends within the OSA and across the optical sector. These have been even more welcome post Covid and over the past couple of years we have held the event in the beautiful Bloomsbury Hotel. Members will be joining us there again at the 2024 event on 6th December.

As members of Eurom 1 and JOCEU we report regularly on European developments such as the Medical Devices Regulation and UDI. We followed the Medical Devices Bill through UK parliament and the OSA responded to the government consultation on the future regulation of medical devices in the UK.

This is a pressing issue in the optical sector and OSA members will be leading this debate. We have created a focus group for members who deal with software and technology to keep updated and informed with the latest news in this evolving sector.

We are in dialogue with ABDO, ACLM, AOP, BCLA, College of Optometrists, FODO, GOC, Optic UK and others in order to gain market knowledge, anticipate problems and work together as a cohesive industry.

The OSA created the Sustainability Committee in the Summer of 2021 and has proved hugely successful with much progress made. A sustainability glossary was created and is available on the OSA website. An OSA members Green Charter will be released in 2024. All members are invited to join the committee and participate in regular meetings.

Management and Leadership Course – This Level 5 course is offered at a discounted rate and provides a diploma from the Chartered Management Institute.

Please contact mmacritchie@osa-uk.co.uk for details.

Health Assured’s Employee Assistance Programme is designed to relieve personal and professional problems with online counselling, legal advice, bereavement support, medical guidance, and cognitive behavioural therapy.

In conjunction with ABDO, OSA can offer a variety of services at a reduced rate.

OSA members will be able to access the online version of Dispensing Optics every month.

(1^st – 3^rd March 2025) OSA members can use the meeting rooms on the OSA stand for FREE (subject to availability). Our members can also use our stand for presentations or lectures. We are in constant dialogue with Media 10 to ensure that OSA members can get the best out of the exhibition, and we look forward to seeing you and supporting you there.

All OSA member companies can make significant savings in marketing their products & services to over 8000, mainly independent practitioners who read Opchat News every week. OSA members get a 50% discount on every entry into the Optical Suppliers directory (just £12/yr.) and further discounts on e-blasts to over 5000 opticians. Become a Opchat Banner sponsor or Headline sponsor for greater discounts. full details here Take a look on www.opchatnews.com to see how you might benefit from sponsorship and keep up to date with Independent Optical and Hearing News

Influencing the future, we are at the forefront of the latest UK Healthcare regulatory process to provide excellent competitive advantage.

Members will be able to acquire their CPD points through the OSA. We are also currently working on building an educational platform and portfolio from which our members can work content into various events.

Our Focus Group meetings provide sector specific updates and information for members.

OSA members are regularly featured in the Optical Press, and online, as part of industry features about different aspects of the optical supply chain & new developments in AI, and the drive for sustainability.

OSA members benefit from a 35% discount on BSI optical standards.

For information on how to get your 35% discount please contact mmacritchie@osa-uk.co.uk

OSA Standards Panel meets regularly, sometimes with standards representatives from the other optical bodies. This ensures that new standards that affect our members have expert UK input and are worded clearly and appropriately.

The Panel is chaired by OSA Director Andy Sanders

Standards contact: a.sanders@hoya.co.uk

OSA General Meetings have had leading industry figures giving presentations and insights into current trends and news. OSA constantly contact members with any news updates affecting the optical industry. We helped keep members updated during the Covid pandemic and we want to ensure our members are fully aware of legislation and regulation from the UK and Europe, as well as buying trends in Europe.

The OSA Spring and Autumn Members’ Meetings are a great way for members to connect and discuss topics affecting them as suppliers to UK optics. 2023 meetings will take place on 3 April (Friends House, London) and 17 October respectively. We have been delighted to hold summer members meetings in June in the last couple of years which have proved hugely successful and a great way for members to connect. 2023’s summer event took place on 19-20 June at the Belfry Hotel.

OSA members can register to get access to the HR Knowledge Base, created by HR Solutions. Your membership benefit also includes 3 free calls to the HR Advice Line as well as access to HR Updates, Risk Audits and Webinars.

Find out more

OSA members and their guests come together every December following the AGM, to enjoy networking opportunities, and a catch up with friends within the OSA and across the optical sector. These have been even more welcome post Covid and over the past couple of years we have held the event in the beautiful Bloomsbury Hotel. Members will be joining us there again at the 2024 event on 6th December.

As members of Eurom 1 and JOCEU we report regularly on European developments such as the Medical Devices Regulation and UDI. We followed the Medical Devices Bill through UK parliament and the OSA responded to the government consultation on the future regulation of medical devices in the UK.

This is a pressing issue in the optical sector and OSA members will be leading this debate. We have created a focus group for members who deal with software and technology to keep updated and informed with the latest news in this evolving sector.

We are in dialogue with ABDO, ACLM, AOP, BCLA, College of Optometrists, FODO, GOC, Optic UK and others in order to gain market knowledge, anticipate problems and work together as a cohesive industry.

The OSA created the Sustainability Committee in the Summer of 2021 and has proved hugely successful with much progress made. A sustainability glossary was created and is available on the OSA website. An OSA members Green Charter will be released in 2024. All members are invited to join the committee and participate in regular meetings.