Trainee Funeral Director in Abingdon

We are looking for a compassionate and motivated individual to join our team at Oliver and James Funeral Directors as a Trainee Funeral Director.

Position: Trainee Funeral Director (Full‑time, permanent, 38.33 hours/week)

Location: Oliver and James Funeral Directors, Abingdon

Salary: £27,000 per annum plus on‑call payments

Why This Role Matters

This position is the first step toward becoming a Funeral Director. It requires a willingness to learn about funeral processes, care of the deceased, and legal and regulatory requirements, while showing deep respect for individuals' cultural and religious beliefs. You will support the team with care and professionalism, taking accountability for your development and contributing to exceptional service delivery.

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, FD teams and care teams
• Support the team in managing the diary, resources and records
• Assist with coffin preparation, handling 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 – building 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 and Knowledge

• 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 or pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme.
• 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.

Next Steps

If this sounds like the next step in your career and you’re ready to support families and lead with professionalism, 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 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.

Equal Opportunity 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.

How to Apply

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.