Guernseyman Matt Thoume had initially qualified as an optometrist at a local Specsavers store in 2013 before spending a decade living in Cornwall, building his experience whilst working at more of the companies stores in Redruth and Truro.
In May 2023, he and his wife Stacey, who is also an optometrist, moved their young family to Guernsey so they could take up positions back at his original store.
On the move, Mr Thoume says “Moving back was a great decision for us as a family. The ability for our children to attend school and grow up on the island as I did is fantastic. Becoming a Specsavers partner has always been my ambition so when a partnership opportunity presented itself at my local store late last year I was determined to go for it.
“I believe the expertise of the whole team in Guernsey, along with our focus on care and customer service, will see us continuing to deliver the best quality eye care and audiology services to our customers in the community.”
Mr Thoume, a former Elizabeth College student, gained extensive experience in the field during his time in the Uk, including serving on the Local Optical Committee in Cornwall. He holds advanced certifications in glaucoma and medical retina and has completed leadership training programs.
Pictured: From left to right, Matt Thoume, Stephen Watson, Michael Todd, outside the Specsavers’ branch in town.
The partnership aligns with Specsavers’ joint venture model, which aims to empower optometrists to own shares in their practice while receiving support from the larger company. Specsavers, founded in Guernsey in 1984, has a global presence with over 2,600 stores across 11 countries, with almost 5,000 partners now also owning shares.
As part of a statement announcing the move, Founder Doug Perkins said “I wish congratulate Matt on his commitment to becoming a Specsavers partner. He is very qualified optometrist who is very popular with his patients and he joins a great team in running our flagship Guernsey store.”
Specsavers Market Street partners Michael Todd and Stephen Watson joined Mr Perkins in welcoming the Thoume family back to Guernsey.
Mr Todd said “Matt’s desire to return to his roots with his wife and young family has been a fortunate turn of events – he is able to raise his children in a wonderful environment, and his return to the practice, where his career began, has allowed us to secure professional optometric services for years to come.
“Following a period of significant investment in infrastructure and colleagues, the sole focus is providing the best possible professional service for the island for many years to come.”