Position: Funeral Service Operative Apprenticeship Location: S Wellens & Sons Funerals Directors Job Type: 12 Months Fixed Term Contract Apprenticeship - 38.33 hours per week Salary: National minimum wage for age We’re looking for a compassionate and reliable individual to join our team at S Wellens & Sons Funeral Directors as an Apprentice Funeral Service Operative. This role offers the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification while supporting families during one of life’s most sensitive moments, playing a key part in delivering respectful and meaningful services that genuinely make a difference. Why This Role Matters… At Dignity, we believe that every farewell should be handled with compassion, dignity, and care. Your role will ensure that families feel supported, respected, and reassured throughout the entire way. Apprenticeship Details Level 2 apprenticeship associated with the role Full training and support provided by Connect2Care and is delivered remotely Adequate time will be provided to the successful candidate for them to complete the apprenticeship during their working ours Contract will be reviewed after successful completion of the apprenticeship and out aim is to transition completers onto a full time, permanent contract where appropriate No prior experience is required — just the right attitude, values, and commitment to learning. Your Impact and Responsibilities… Being a Funeral Service Operative means playing a central part in one of life’s most significant moments. You’re often the first person a grieving family meets, and your presence can shape how they remember the most difficult of days. You are entrusted with the care of the deceased and with ensuring families’ wishes are met. You conduct yourself with respect and dignity, understanding the privilege it is to undertake this work. As an Apprentice Funeral Service Operative, you will learn to: Provide dignified and professional care for the deceased Support Funeral Directors in delivering seamless service and ceremonial work Drive and operate specialist vehicles (including hearses, limousines and private ambulances) Maintaining high standards of presentation for vehicles and facilities, and ensuring they are well-maintained Participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota (including nights/weekends) to support families - providing out-of-hours support, including dignified collection and transfer of the deceased into care. Bring the deceased into our care from the place of death — including private homes, hospitals, hospices, or public spaces — under varying circumstances Prepare the deceased (washing, dressing, presentation) in accordance with family, religious, or cultural wishes Support with chapel visits and interactions with families in a calm and respectful manner Carry out all duties involving the deceased with the utmost care and professionalism Skills and Knowledge… We’re looking for someone with/is: Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and composure under pressure Has a respectful, caring approach when supporting both colleagues and families Is physically capable of manual handling tasks, including lifting and carrying Is comfortable working in direct contact with the deceased in a variety of conditions Is reliable, flexible, and able to work outside standard hours when needed Takes pride in presenting themselves in a professional and dignified manner Holds a Full UK Driving Licence (essential) What We Offer… Professional development: A comprehensive induction and the opportunity to gain a recognised Level 2 qualification alongside hands-on experience Bonus Potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses, rewarding your hard work and achievements. Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with our life assurance cover, securing your family’s future. Health & Wellbeing Programme: Benefit from an employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing. Holiday Allowance: Start with a generous leave entitlement of 30-33 days per year, inclusive of Bank Holidays. Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our contributory pension scheme, helping you save for a secure retirement. What are the next steps? To join us in this role, hit the 'apply' button to submit your application, and a member of our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch! 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 helping shape modern regulation, we have led the way in supporting families with care, compassion, and professionalism. We are now 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 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. Here to help, whenever you need. 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 and better place to work. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your life looks like, we’d love to hear from you. And 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.