Conference Programme

January 29, 2023 January 29, 2024
1:00 pm

Registration & Lunch

Gallery

Welcome and Registration for Members Only Workshop

2:00 pm

Perfecting the Patient Journey

Atcham Suite

Creating the perfect patient journey is the ultimate goal of any independent practice. Giving patients an enhanced experience, ensures that they feel valued and engaged and encourages loyalty and referrals. In this session, we will be looking at each step of the patient journey – from the first point of contact to ongoing care and beyond. By incorporating outstanding customer service, seamless coordination, and empathetic communication, the perfect patient journey not only addresses clinical needs but also fosters a sense of trust and comfort in your services. Join fellow members to discuss perfecting the patient journey in your practice from three key viewpoints:

1. Before the practice visit
How did your patients find out about you? What are your core marketing activities? How do you generate new patients? What do you do to make your practice more visible? Do you know what your patients’ first impression of your practice is?

2. During the practice visit
How well do you look after your patients before during and after the eye exam? How seamless is their transition to the different areas of the patient journey whilst at the practice?

3. After the practice visit.
How can you achieve the perfect collection process? How do you follow up on a patient’s appointment and provide the best after-care service?

Join us for facilitated discussion around building the perfect patient journey

Sukie Woodhouse
Director - Woodhouse Opticians

7:00 pm

Evening Social & SightCare Awards

Ironbridge Suite

Join us for our popular informal evening buffet and drinks event, followed by our SightCare Awards. Starting at 7pm, delegates can socialise with colleagues from the SightCare community in a relaxed environment and finally put some names to faces! There will be a cash bar and FREE entertainment on the night, followed by our much anticipated SightCare Awards. 

8:30 am

Registration, Coffee & Exhibition

Foyer & Ludlow Suite

Register at entrance E1 and move to the Ludlow Suite for morning coffee, pastries and exhibition.

9:30 am

Welcome and Keynote 1

AI
Ironbridge Suite
Imran Hakim
Owner - The Hakim Group
10:30 am

Exhibition and Coffee

Ludlow Suite

Browse the exhibition and enjoy coffee and biscuits before the next session

11:10 am

Pricing for Success

A1 - Wenlock 1&2
Breakout Session 1

Price is often left until last when determining the profitability of a small business. However many practice owners spend much of their “working on the business” time focussing on increasing volume or trying to decrease their costs. In this workshop we will share and examine different pricing strategies and methods of pricing to improve your financial performance.

Who is this workshop for ? Owners and managers responsible for setting the prices of goods and services.

What will you learn? How patients make purchasing decisions and why this matters.

What will be my takeaway? An action plan to go back to practice and make some positive changes to your business by implementing what you have learned.

David Samuel
SightCare Business Coach

Myopia Management - Myth or Magic?

A3 - Wenlock 3
Breakout session 1

This interactive workshop will cover the ins and outs of starting up myopia management within your practice. It will give handy hints and tips about the pitfalls and benefits for both your business and your patients.

1 CPD point

Alex Davis
Head of Brands and Marketing - Stepper Eyewear

Spectacle Repair Workshop

A4 - Wenlock 4
Breakout session 1
Anthony Blackman
SightCare Trainer

Social Media

A5- Coalport Suite
Breakout session 1

 

 

Sukie Woodhouse
Director - Woodhouse Opticians
10:40 am

Challenging times – Mastermind your way to private practice – Hear from an expert

A6 - Atcham Suite
Breakout session 1

Owning and running an independent practice is challenging enough without thinking about competing with the multiples. Over the last couple of years, there has been much talk about a private model as the NHS is no longer viable. Professional fee-charging may seem like a daunting task. In this breakout session, industry expert and marketing guru Alisdair Buchanan will be helping you with your sticking points, questions and challenges you may be facing in practice to moving into the new world of Optometry. In this mastermind session, you will all be involved in overcoming the obstacles you may feel are in the way. The session is ideal for those practice owners who want to learn how Alisdair did it in his practice, how to make it easy for the transition, and how to work smarter and not harder. Practices that feel it is a challenge in their marketplace due to area and demographics and practices who want to charge higher professional fees will find this an invaluable session.

Alisdair Buchanan
Owner Optometrist - Buchanan Optometrists

How to Find and Hire Great People and Grow your Business

A7 - Ironbridge 1
Breakout session 1
Peter Greedy
SightCare Business Coach
12:10 pm

Lunch & Exhibition

Ludlow Suite

Browse the exhibition and enjoy a hot two-course lunch!

1:50 pm

Effective Patient Recall

B1 - Wenlock 1&2
Breakout session 2

For established practices, the system and effectiveness of the recall system is the lifeblood of the business. We will share ideas and experiences of what recall systems are available, how they work for you and what you might be able to do to improve.

Who is this workshop for ? Owners and managers responsible for setting p and executing the recall system within the practice.

What will you learn? What other options are available to help you make your recall more effective.

What will be my takeaway? An action plan to go back to practice and make some positive changes to your business by implementing what you have learned.

David Samuel
SightCare Business Coach

One Size does not fit all

B3 - Wenlock 3
Breakout session 2

3 interactive CPD points targeted for Dispensing Opticians and Optometrists. Learning domains = Communication and Clinical practice

Sharon MacArthur
Founder - Miss Menopause

Spectacle Repair Workshop

B4 - Wenlock 4
Breakout session 2
Anthony Blackman
SightCare Trainer

AI

B5 - Coalport Suite
Breakout session 2
Gavin Rebello
Director - Hollands Opticians
1:50 pm

Glasses Styling – The Easy Way To Do It

B5
Breakout session 2

This session will focus on selling without selling! You will get tips on how to:

  • advise your client on their perfect glasses wardrobe
  • add a free sunglasses styling session onto their appointment
  • advise and get extra sales the easy way
  • increase your sales by changing your clients view of only having one pair of glasses.
  • take the selling out of selling

This session is ideal for anyone that would like to increase the average dispense value and increase revenue by making the most of your existing customers.

Deven Lakhani
Owner Optometrist - Hammond Opticians

High Performing Practice Teams - The Secret Sauce of Success

B6
Breakout session 2

What factors make a high performing team? Is it the people, the combination of skills, the goal the team is striving for, the team vision or what? In this dynamic workshop Peter will introduce the 5 key elements required to make a high performing teams.

  1. It all starts with Trust – what is trust and how to build it.
  2. Belonging to the team – rather than just fitting in.
  3. Communication within the team.
  4. Accountability – how we hold each other responsible.
  5. Prioritising Team Goals – over Personal Success.

This workshop is for the WHOLE Team. Everyone will get something out of it and you’ll benefit most if the team all attends together. It will start you on a journey to more effectively working together and being a high performing team!

Peter Greedy
SightCare Business Coach
2:50 pm

Coffee & Exhibition

Ludlow Suite

Last chance to browse the exhibition and grab a coffee

3:30 pm

The Secret Keynote

Ironbridge Suite

 

 

Kriss Akabusi MBE
Olympian, Motivational Speaker, Businessman
4:15 pm

Conference Close

Ironbridge Suite