The Governance RegisterEdition 2026 · Compiled 12th July 2026

General Optical Council

Registered charity 1150137 Registered since 2012

Operates: Scotland, Northern Ireland, Throughout England And Wales

Connected trustee network

The connection graph needs a free account.

This charity's record is public. The network of who else its trustees govern is compiled from the registers by us, and an account keeps it out of bulk scrapers.

Sign in, free

Find a path from this charity →

Board DNA

How this board is put together, from Charity Commission trustee records and Companies House - deterministic, no AI.

12
trustees on the board
2.7y median 2y
average tenure
6y
longest tenure
1
trustees past 6 years
4.8y
average years in governance
10 vs 1 portfolio
first-time trustees
2
company-linked trustees

Sector coverage

Education/training 12The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives 11Environment/conservation/heritage 1Religious Activities 1The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty 1

Commercial experience

Education 2Health and social care 2Other services 2

Boards that share trustees

🔒 Succession forecast is a Pro feature - the board seats likely to open in the next year and the ideal next trustee. Explore Pro →

Related organisations

Boards that overlap with this one through shared trustees, or govern in the same field. Deterministic, from public records.

Contact

Websitewww.optical.org
Emailgoc@optical.org
Phone020 7580 3898
AddressGeneral Optical Council, Part Floor 29, 1 Canada Square, LONDON, E14 5AA

Finances

£12,176,749 latest income

YearIncomeSpending
2021£11,681,000£8,593,000
2022£10,037,000£9,493,000
2023£10,340,000£10,538,000
2024£11,227,000£11,971,000
2025£12,176,749£13,110,337

What it does

What

Education/trainingThe Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives

Who

Other Defined GroupsThe General Public/mankind

How

Provides ServicesProvides Advocacy/advice/informationSponsors Or Undertakes Research

Charitable objects

TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BY PROMOTING HIGH STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, CONDUCT AND PERFORMANCE AMONG OPTOMETRISTS AND DISPENSING OPTICIANS, AND THOSE TRAINING TO BE OPTOMETRISTS AND DISPENSING OPTICIANS, AND IN PARTICULAR: (A) BY THE MAINTENANCE OF REGISTERS OF THE NAMES OF PERSONS WHO ARE FIT TO PRACTISE AS OPTOMETRISTS OR DISPENSING OPTICIANS, OR TO UNDERTAKE TRAINING TO ENABLE THEM TO BECOME OPTOMETRISTS OR OPTICIANS;(B) BY DEFINING, CREATING AND MAINTAINING AN EFFECTIVE STRUCTURE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING AMONG OPTOMETRISTS AND DISPENSING OPTICIANS AND AMONG PERSONS SEEKING TO QUALIFY AS OPTOMETRISTS OR DISPENSING OPTICIANS, AND SUPERVISING THE PROVISION OF SUCH EDUCATION AND TRAINING;(C) BY ENSURING THAT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE FIT TO PRACTISE AS OPTOMETRISTS OR DISPENSING OPTICIANS, OR TO TRAIN FOR SUCH PRACTICE, IN FACT DO SO;(D) BY THE PROVISION OF APPROPRIATE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE FIT TO PRACTISE AS OPTOMETRISTS OR DISPENSING OPTICIANS, OR TO TRAIN FOR SUCH PRACTICE.

Governing document: OPTICIANS ACT 1989 AS AMENDED BY THE MEDICAL ACT 1983 (AMENDMENT) AND MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS ORDER 2006

Trustees (12)

12trustees
57median age
0aged 70+

Connected charities (3)

For recruiters

Tools for approaching charities and finding candidates. In development - register to get early access.

Report an error in this record - let us know.