Trainee Funeral Director
Position: Trainee Funeral Director
Location: J. Gorringe & Son, Godalming
Job Type: Full‑time, permanent – 38.33 hours per week
Salary: £27,000 per annum plus on‑call payments
We're looking for a compassionate and motivated individual to join our team as a Trainee Funeral Director at J.Gorringe & Son Funeral Directors. In this role you will learn how to oversee funeral operations and support families through one of life’s most challenging moments. Working closely with experienced colleagues, you will gain hands‑on experience and develop the skills needed to deliver every service to the highest standard.
As a representative of both the local brand and the wider Dignity Group, you will also play an important part in engaging with the local community and building trusted relationships.
Responsibilities
* Shadow and support Funeral Directors in leading funeral services with professionalism and attention to detail
* Assist with pre‑funeral briefings and coordination
* Offer a consultative approach – helping families explore available options and understand what is possible
* Collaborate with arrangers, specialists, FDs and care teams
* Support the team in managing the diary, resources and records
* Assist with coffin preparation, handling of the deceased, and chapel duties where required
* Provide leadership and mentoring to less experienced team members, sharing learning and taking part in training and development
* Support local community engagement and promotion of the brand you represent – build relationships with care homes, celebrants and local religious and ethnic groups
* Act as a liaison with service and client delivery to ensure seamless scheduling and service coordination
Skills & Knowledge (We’re Looking for)
* Compassionate, respectful, and eager to learn
* Excellent communication, leadership, and organisational skills
* Calm under pressure with a respectful, compassionate approach to service
* Physically capable of manual handling tasks, including coffin bearing
* Able to work flexibly, including weekends and on‑call
* A Full UK Driving Licence (essential)
What We Offer
* Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in‑house development programmes to set you up for success or to pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme
* Bonus potential: Unlock additional bonuses, rewarding hard work and achievements
* Life assurance cover: Peace of mind for you and your family
* Health & wellbeing programme: Employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing
* Holiday allowance: Generous leave entitlement of 30–33 days per year, inclusive of bank holidays
* Pension scheme: Contributory pension scheme to help you save for a secure retirement
If this sounds like the next step in your career, hit the ‘apply’ button. A member of our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch to guide you through the next steps.
About Us
We are Dignity, one of the UK's oldest and most trusted funeral providers, with over 200 years of history, 570 branches, and 46 crematoria across the country. From launching the UK’s first funeral plan to shaping modern regulation, we lead the way in supporting families with care, compassion, and professionalism.
We are building the UK's leading end‑of‑life company. As part of the Dignity Group, we also operate Farewill, the country’s most prominent will writer and one of the UK’s top probate providers, giving families support not just at the funeral but before and after as well.
Today, we are a team of over 4,000 people across the UK, all driven by the same goal: to care for families with compassion and make the UK a world leader in end‑of‑life care.
FCA Statement
The FCA regulates us so that some roles may be subject to background checks.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We know that diverse teams make better decisions, build better products, and create a more inclusive, better workplace. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your life looks like, we’d love to hear from you. If there’s anything you need to make the process more accessible, please let us know.
Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate, and no fees will be payable.
We reserve the right, depending on the number of applications received, to close or extend the closing dates for positions; therefore, we recommend submitting your application early.
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