National campaign ‘First Job. Future Career’, encourages Funeral Service Employers to ‘Commit to Youth’ and create meaningful career opportunities through training, apprenticeships and professional development.

Funeral service employers are being encouraged to play a greater role in tackling Britain’s youth employment crisis by creating opportunities for young people to enter the profession, develop valuable skills and build rewarding careers.

The call comes from Connect2FuneralServices as part of The Opportunity Provider (TOP) as it extends its national ‘First Job. Future Career.’ campaign into the funeral services sector.

Central to the campaign is Commit to Youth, an initiative encouraging employers to make measurable commitments to creating opportunities for young people, supported by appropriate training and clear pathways for progression.

The campaign comes as the Government prepares to publish the next stage of Alan Milburn’s Independent Review into Young People and Work, following his interim findings earlier this year.

With an estimated 981,000 young people aged 16–24 not in education, employment or training, Connect2FuneralServices believes the funeral profession has an important opportunity to demonstrate the rewarding career pathways available to young people, while helping develop the skills and expertise needed for its future workforce.

For those entering the profession, funeral services can provide an invaluable grounding in communication, empathy, organisation, professionalism, discretion and personal responsibility. These highly transferable skills can provide the foundation for careers both within the industry and across the wider economy.

Importantly, the campaign also highlights the significant financial incentives available to employers taking on young apprentices.

Under current Government arrangements in England, eligible apprentices aged 16–24 can have 100% of their training and assessment costs funded, up to the relevant funding limit. Employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy may also qualify for a £2,000 hiring payment for eligible new apprentices in this age group. Employers can also benefit from relief on National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25, subject to earnings thresholds. There is also a 16-18 bonus of £1,000 for all employers of apprentices aged 16-18.

Connect2FuneralServices believes greater awareness and take-up of this support could help more employers overcome some of the financial barriers to investing in the next generation.

Mike Worley, Managing Director of Connect2FuneralServices, says:

“The funeral profession offers something very special – the opportunity to build a career around compassion, professionalism and supporting people at some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“Yet it may not be an industry that immediately comes to mind when young people are considering their first career opportunity.

“We need to do more to demonstrate the breadth of roles available and the valuable skills and experience that can be gained through working in the profession.

“Whether someone goes on to become a funeral director, develop specialist skills or take their experience into another area of employment, the confidence, compassion, communication and organisational abilities they acquire can stay with them throughout their working lives.

“But a first chance must also be a good first chance. In a profession built on trust, sensitivity and responsibility, it is particularly important that young people receive appropriate training, mentoring and support as they develop their confidence and professional skills.”

The ‘First Job. Future Career’ campaign recognises that funeral service businesses face their own operational and workforce challenges, including the need to maintain high professional standards while developing and retaining skilled employees.

It also highlights the important role that apprenticeships and structured development can play in supporting both new recruits and existing employees, helping employers plan for the future.

Mike continued:

“Every industry needs to think about where its next generation of skilled professionals will come from, and the funeral profession is no exception.

“That means not only creating opportunities for new entrants but investing in those already working within the business, helping them develop into more experienced, specialist and senior positions.

“When existing employees progress, they can create opportunities for younger people to join the profession, while ensuring valuable knowledge, experience and professional standards are passed on to the next generation.”

Through Commit to Youth, funeral service employers are encouraged to consider how they can make entry opportunities more accessible, review recruitment requirements, explore relevant apprenticeship pathways and provide appropriate support and career development.

Connect2FuneralServices believes that greater awareness of the opportunities available within funeral services, alongside structured training and progression, could help attract new talent and support the long-term sustainability of the profession.

The company is inviting funeral service businesses to consider what practical commitment they could make to helping more young people take their first steps into meaningful employment.