Press release: ABDO launches strategy for 2022-2026

ABDO launches strategy for 2022-2026

Press release

For immediate release

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has launched a new strategic plan, which will guide its work over the next five years on behalf of members.

The plan, which can be found at www.abdo.org.uk, involves a wide range of activity to enable ABDO to support and represent members, promote awareness of their roles, enable their professional development and advance the profession as a whole. It incorporates a new purpose, vision and values for the organisation.

ABDO president Jo Holmes says, “This plan means we can look forward with confidence and with a positive vision of what we want to achieve for our members. We look forward to working on the actions within the plan over the next five years – for the benefit of dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians, and ultimately, for the benefit of the public across all four nations of the UK. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the plan’s development.”

Alistair Bridge, ABDO’s Head of Strategy, has led the development of the strategic plan which will shape the organisation’s vision and action in the coming years. He says, “Developing the plan has involved looking closely at the factors that are likely to shape the future and considering the implications for our members and for ABDO as an organisation.”

The plan also outlines an updated purpose along with a new vision and values for ABDO.

Alistair Bridge adds, “Each year we will publish an annual plan showing how we are working towards our vision and enabling us to respond to any new developments.”

You can read the Strategic Plan here, and watch a video outlining its key points here.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Media enquiries to Antonia Chitty achitty@abdo.org.uk
2. The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) is the professional body for dispensing opticians – working for dispensing opticians and advancing the profession in the UK and worldwide.
3. ABDO’s Strategic Plan will guide its work for the five years from 2022 to 2026. You can read the Strategic Plan here.
4. ABDO’s purpose, vision and values are as follows:

ABDO’s purpose

ABDO’s purpose is to support and represent its members, to promote awareness of their roles, to enable their professional development and to advance the profession as a whole.

ABDO’s vision

ABDO’s vision is that by 2026 it will have:

• Provided more opportunities for members to develop their roles
• Implemented the GOC’s new education standards and outcomes
• Supported members by providing continuing professional development, including qualifications and accreditations
• Increased the understanding and recognition of members’ roles
• Developed the profession’s evidence base
• Improved member services, products and benefits
• Improved how it communicates and collaborates
• Ensured the organisation is sustainable

ABDO’s values

The following values will support ABDO’s work on behalf of members:

• We are passionately committed to our members, who are at the heart of everything we do.
• We maintain high standards for our members and our own work.
• We are proactive in adapting to changing circumstances.
• We are driven by a sense of common purpose.
• We respect each other and our different areas of expertise.
• We work collaboratively with our colleagues and other organisations.
• We are open and transparent about our work.
• We strive to continuously improve what we do and how we work together.