A WEST Somerset business has marked its 15th anniversary by completing a £200,000 refit and bringing in a ‘dream team’ of directors.

The Specsavers Minehead store, locally owned and run, has now assembled ‘the best team it has ever had’.

The store is headed by Paul and Pauline Bradford, who have now drafted in extra experience from another husband-and-wife team Simon and Cassie Simmonds.

Mr Simmonds has worked in the profession for more than two decades, and has been a Specsavers store director in the Westcountry for 18 years.

Mrs Simmonds has more than 20 years’ experience in optics as a manager and dispensing optician, qualifying as an optometrist in 2023.

Mr Simmonds said: “To join this incredible team, alongside Paul and Pauline, is a privilege and I feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity.

“Cassie and I are keen to get to know the community and we look forward to raising the bar in eye care to help the team be the best it can be.”

Mrs Simmonds said: “As husband and wife, Simon and I are keeping with the family values of the store.

“It is a great store, great team, and a real success story for Minehead.”

Mrs Bradford has been a contact lens optician for more than 30 years and a university lecturer, while Mr Bradford’s experience includes as an optometric advisor for NHS England and chairman of Eye Health for Devon, Cornwall, and Isles of Scilly.

Mr Bradford said: “Through continued support and development, we have invested in career progression for the team, a team of which I am very proud.

“This is a dream team.

“We have Abigail Lewis, who will be qualifying as dispensing optician very shortly, along with Fatima Sajid, our pre-reg optometrist, who will be looking to qualify this October and join our professional team.”