Crematorium Assistant & Gardener

You will typically be working from 11.30am – 8pm Monday – Friday with weekend availability on a rota basis.

However, our core operating hours are between 6am – 10pm so the ability to work flexibly across 5 days of the week will be required. Variations in working hours will always be discussed in advance.

From £25,799 per annum + £500 salary uplift after qualification + Site performance bonus + Benefits

Permanent

Howe Bridge Crematorium

Have you always wanted to use your transferable skills in a role where what you do can truly make a difference every day?

Would you enjoy working as a part of a close-knit team with a sense of camaraderie not found in a generic job?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are the largest independent operator of crematoria in the UK, employing more than 500 empathetic and dedicated individuals and we are growing.

Like many of our colleagues, you might not have considered this line of work before, however with industry training provided and on-going career development, you will find it one of the most varied and rewarding opportunities you could ever imagine.

The role

As part of our busy team, you will ensure that families are given the best experience possible.

No two days will be the same as each family and service are uniquely personal.

The focus of this role will be on Grounds and Cremation duties and you will typically work 20 hours in each role:

• Grounds / Gardening – Basic grounds and site maintenance e.g. Gardening, grounds maintenance including lawn cutting, strimming, leaf clearance, hedge cutting, litter picking, watering, weeding, pruning, spraying, preparing the ground and assisting with interment of ashes.
• Cremation – You’ll be fully trained and work towards an accredited FBCA qualification under supervision and guidance from experienced colleagues. You will be involved in the end to end cremation process and ashes management. You will need to be able bodied as there will be manual handling involved in this process. PPE will be provided for your safety. Some of our sites also have burial grounds so you could also be involved in these services if applicable.

  Although the focus of this role is on Grounds and Cremation duties you will also be required to assist with wider site operations including:

• Chapel - Preparation of the chapel hall before each service and welcoming the families and Funeral Directors attending and directing them to their seats. Ensuring the correct music / visual tributes are played, orders of service are in place and offering support as required.
• Office - Answering the telephone with great customer service skills, helping families with queries / collection of ashes / planning a service to showing a family around the grounds to view memorial options.
• Ad hoc work – for example getting involved in a Christmas service or making sure the site is tidy and presentable.

This role requires flexibility and pulling together as one team to support each other and provide the exceptional care and service that we are known for.

About you

• Previous Gardening / Grounds experience.
• Any previous bereavement / funeral industry or grounds maintenance experience would be beneficial (e.g. Crematorium Assistant / Crematorium Technician / Funeral Operative / Funeral Arranger etc) however not essential as full training is provided on crematory duties.
• You will need to be able bodied as manual handling will be part of this role. PPE will be provided for your safety.
• Happy to work outside come rain or shine.
• Emotionally resilient and organised with excellent attention to detail.
• A real team player with natural compassion and the desire to make a difference every day.
• Flexible in approach to working hours.
• Comfortable communicator able to speak to people in a caring and understanding manner.
• Good level of IT skills and comfortable with Word / Excel and emails.

What We Offer

If you would like to join the Westerleigh team, you can be sure of a warm welcome, ongoing training and development and a sense of pride by truly making a difference every day to the families we serve.

No two days are the same and many of our Managers have developed their careers within the business. 

The values we champion are Safety First, Exceptional Care, Uniquely Personal and One Team.

In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for the following benefits:

• Site performance bonus up to 5%
• 32 days holiday (Includes 8 days bank holiday)
• £500 salary increase (pro rata) after completing FBCA Accredited cremator training
• Life Assurance
• Access to a wide range of retail discounts and wellbeing support
• Ongoing learning & development
• Pension scheme
• Employee Assistance / Occupational health support Program
• Mindfulness App
• Mental Health Ambassadors
• The benefit we hope you’ll never need: Free Cremation benefit for Immediate family
• Bereavement Leave
• Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
• Recognition scheme
• Free Flu jab
• Smart uniform and PPE provided
• Free parking