Apprentice Funeral Service Operative
DIGNITY FUNERALS LIMITED
Abingdon (OX14 5AG)
Closes in 15 days (Thursday 30 April 2026)
Posted on 14 April 2026
Contents
Summary
We’re looking for a compassionate and reliable individual to join our team as an Apprentice Funeral Service Operative. This role offers the opportunity to support families during one of life’s most sensitive moments, playing a key part in delivering respectful and meaningful services that genuinely make a difference.
- Wage
-
£25,333.06 a year
- Training course
- Funeral team member (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
38 hours 20 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 11 May 2026
- Duration
-
1 year
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
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.
Your Impact and Responsibilities:
Being a Apprentice 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. This role calls for empathy, confidence, and attention to detail. You are entrusted with the role of taking care of our deceased and ensuring our families' wishes can be met. You conduct yourself with respect & dignity, understanding the privilege it is to undertake the work you do.
As an Apprentice Funeral Services Operative, you will:
- 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
Where you'll work
81 Ock Street
Abingdon
OX14 5AG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER LTD
Training course
Funeral team member (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
Training schedule
As part of this role, you will work towards achieving the Funeral Team Member - Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship, a nationally recognised qualification designed to build the skills, knowledge, and professional behaviours required to support families and care for the deceased.
Key details about your apprenticeship:
- Duration: 12 months
- Training Provider: Connect2Care - our trusted partner who will deliver the formal learning element of your apprenticeship
- Learning Time: You will receive dedicated, protected time during your working week to complete your apprenticeship tasks, learning modules, and assessments
- Delivery: A blend of online learning, workplace development, practical skills, and one‑to‑one support from your assigned tutor
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade C/4 or above)
- Maths (grade Grade C/4 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Empathy
Other requirements
- Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- Comfortable barring a coffing during a funeral service
About this employer
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.
https://www.oliverandjamesfunerals.co.uk/locations/abingdon (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
On successful completion of the Level 2 Funeral Team Member Apprenticeship, we would look to retain the right person within the business in a permanent role. We are committed to investing in people for the long term and supporting their development.
With experience, there are opportunities to progress into roles such as Funeral Arranger or Funeral Director, and to undertake further training or higher-level apprenticeships. Career progression will be supported through continued learning, on-the-job development, and increased responsibility.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DIGNITY FUNERALS LIMITED
Kate Brown
apprenticeships@dignityuk.co.uk
07356 154849
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000025646.
Apply now
Closes in 15 days (Thursday 30 April 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.