Central England Co-operative Funeralcare boss takes up new role helping to shape the industry

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 11/07/2017


The head of Funeralcare at Central England Co-operative has taken up a key position with a leading organisation within the industry.

Kevin Crute is now a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) executive following a recent election at its annual general meeting in Brighton.

The new role will allow Kevin, who has worked in his role for two years, to contribute to the work of the NAFD and its members.

He said: “I am passionate about ensuring that the funeral industry is seen at all times as a respected profession and that we promote this professionalism to the wider public. 

“We all carry out life changing work, supporting people in the most difficult of circumstances and this provides us with a privileged opportunity to enhance memories in love in the communities we serve.”

Kevin currently oversees 800 colleagues across 127 Funeral Homes, 10 Florists, a masonry business, a coffin factory and a crematorium in Derbyshire.

The Society operates across 16 counties from the Midlands to East Anglia.

Kevin first decided to enter the funeral industry following his experiences after the passing of his mother.

He said: “My mother had passed away from cancer and I sat in the limousine driving to the crematorium starring at the ripped upholstery of the seat in front of me.

“I said to myself there and then that I think I could make a difference if I worked in funeral. 

“A couple of days later I had a speculative call from a head-hunter telling me they had a brilliant opportunity but it was not ‘everyone’s cup of tea’. 

“I knew before she told me what the role was and that it was in the funeral profession. I think they were most surprised at my enthusiastic response! 

“My overwhelming memory of my mother’s funeral was this ripped upholstery – it is a fundamental belief of mine that we in the funeral profession should do everything possible to ensure that the arrangements and ceremony focus solely on the memories and love families have for those they have lost.”

Established in 1905, the NAFD represents the interests of the entire spectrum of funeral directing businesses – including independent businesses, the Co-operative and major funeral groups – who conduct in excess of 80% of UK funerals every year.
People can find out more about Central England Co-operative Funeralcare by visiting www.centralengland.coop/funeral-services or calling 0800 454 552.

Notes to editors

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with projected gross sales of £927million for 2016/17. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property. The company’s funeral business consists of over 120 funeral homes across 16 counties, 10 florists, masonry production and administration, Bretby Crematorium and Terry Smiths coffin factory.

Central England Co-operative has more than 430 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store and funeral home development programme for 2017. 

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.
Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, @mycooplife and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative
Rob Smyth at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140
Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop