Hakim SPA event enhances DO focus
Fun and games planned for 2025 event
The Hakim Group’s flagship Share, Progress, Achieve (SPA) CPD event returns next month with an enhanced focus on dispensing opticians (DOs).
Taking place on Sunday 21 September in Nottingham’s East Midland Conference Centre, the event is designed and led by Erica Hopwood, professional advancement manager at Hakim Group, and Claire Slade, head of professional advancement and governance.
This year’s theme, Play to Progress, will evolve through the use of classic gameshows and party games. Delegates can expect to take part in CPD versions of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, the Traitors and Charades, along with a CPD treasure trail woven throughout the day.
More than 400 delegates are expected to attend, with sessions combining clinical excellence, regulatory insight, and practical applications that can be taken straight back to practice. Clinical content includes foreign body removal with WOPEC certification, low vision care, paediatric eyecare, dry eye management, and specialist dispensing, alongside leadership development and future-focused discussions about the evolving optical landscape.
Crucially, this year sees an enhanced focus on DOs, with a dedicated suite of sessions designed to meet their specific needs and professional development goals.
CPD topics for sessions tailored towards DOs include:
- SpecTASKular Master: mastering spectacle adjustments
- Dealing with non-tolerances: managing complaints, both reactively and preventatively
- AI: daily life to diagnosis: using artificial intelligence in everyday practice
- Facial measurements in paediatrics: measuring and designing frames for children
- Confrontation matters: focusing on communication, behaviour and enhancing practice interactions and understanding why confrontation matters
- Who Wants to Be an Optical Millionaire?: a game-based learning experience
- Simulated Survivor Station: experience real-world challenges and build empathy through engaging hands-on tasks that simulate living with low vision
In recognition of the needs of student DOs, a new SDO Track will run throughout the day, offering focused support for those preparing for their final qualifying examinations. This tailored content aims to provide guidance, confidence and practical advice during a pivotal stage in their careers.
The speaker line-up includes Gillian Twyning, an ABDO board member, ABDO assessor and Hakim Group clinical governance manager, Dr Lizzie Bartlam and Clare Hayes from Aston University, Max Halford and Alex Webster from ABDO, along with Ashley Robinson from City College leading on AI, and Gaynor Whitehouse leading on low vision.
Sector leaders from professional bodies, including ABDO and the College of Optometrists, will also be delivering sessions designed to support development, leadership and the wider advancement of the profession.
Claire Slade said: “SPA CPD is far more than just another training event — it’s a celebration of our profession and a powerful expression of what makes the Hakim Group approach different. This year’s Play to Progress theme showcases our belief that education doesn’t have to be passive or predictable.
“Our goal is to cultivate a space where colleagues from across the optical sector can share, learn and grow together in an environment that reflects both clinical excellence and the vibrancy of our community. We’ve worked hard to craft an agenda that blends inspiration, information, and a whole lot of fun — and I genuinely believe this year’s event will be our best yet.”
Erica Hopwood added: “At Hakim Group, we understand that everyone learns differently – which is why SPA CPD is built with variety, energy and choice at its core. We’ve attentively curated every element of the day to ensure each clinician has access to a wide range of CPD sessions that align with their own development goals. Whether you’re engaging in a peer review, participating in an interactive workshop, or solving clues in a treasure trail, you’ll be learning in ways that spark genuine excitement. This isn’t just CPD – it’s edutainment at its best.”