Funeral Service Crew reference: 1058219

This opportunity within the Funeral Service Crew offers a unique chance to contribute meaningfully to your community while embarking on a fulfilling career path. The role is designed for individuals who possess a compassionate nature and a desire to support families during incredibly sensitive times. If you are seeking a role that offers stability, comprehensive training, and genuine job satisfaction, this position warrants your serious consideration.

Key Advantages for Candidates:

• No Experience Required: A significant advantage is that prior experience is not necessary. The employer provides thorough training and ongoing support, making this an accessible entry point into the funeral service profession. This removes a common barrier for aspiring professionals.
• Meaningful Work: At its core, this role is about helping families navigate loss and honour their loved ones. The ability to make a tangible positive impact on people's lives during their most vulnerable moments is a profound career advantage.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Beyond the competitive hourly rate of £12.79, candidates will benefit from a robust package. This includes:
  • Significant discounts on Co-op branded products (30%) and other brands (10%) in food stores, offering considerable savings.
  • Additional discounts on a range of other Co-op products and services.
  • A pro-rata of 23 days of holiday, increasing with service, promoting work-life balance.
  • A generous pension scheme with up to 10% employer contributions, ensuring long-term financial security.
  • Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and virtual GP services for holistic well-being support.
  • Opportunities for career development, including apprenticeships, fostering professional growth.
  • Access to Wagestream, a flexible pay management app.
• Part-Time Flexibility with On-Call Component: The position offers part-time hours (18.75 per week) with varied shifts between 8 am and 8 pm, Monday to Friday. The inclusion of an on-call rota ensures a degree of flexibility while also providing consistent work.
• Supportive and Inclusive Environment: The Co-op emphasizes building inclusive teams and fostering a supportive atmosphere. They are committed to diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds, offering support and reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities.
• Career Development: The emphasis on "endless career development opportunities" is a significant plus, indicating a pathway for advancement within the organisation.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Driving Licence Requirement: A full manual UK drivers licence is an essential requirement for this role. Candidates without this will not be eligible.
• Physical Demands: The role involves physical aspects, including manual lifting, bearing coffins, and maintaining facilities. Candidates should be comfortable with and capable of performing these tasks.
• Emotional Resilience and Sensitivity: The nature of the work requires a high degree of emotional intelligence, sensitivity, and the ability to react calmly and compassionately in distressing situations. A genuine empathy for grieving families is paramount.
• On-Call Responsibilities: While offering flexibility, the on-call rota means availability outside of standard hours will be necessary. Candidates should consider how this fits with their personal commitments.
• Pre-Employment Screening: Be aware that successful candidates will undergo pre-employment checks, including DBS, adverse media, occupational health, and social media activity reviews.
• Commitment to the Co-op Ethos: The Co-op operates with a strong social purpose and community focus. Candidates who align with these values will likely find the role more fulfilling.

Career Path Guidance:

This Funeral Service Crew role is an excellent starting point for individuals interested in a career in funeral care or broader client-facing roles that require a high degree of empathy and professionalism. The comprehensive training provided can equip you with transferable skills in client support, logistics, and meticulous attention to detail. The Co-op's commitment to career development suggests potential avenues into supervisory or management roles within the funeral service sector, or even across other areas of their diverse operations. For those who excel in this role, the experience gained in handling sensitive situations with grace and efficiency is invaluable for any career focused on service and human interaction.