The UK‘s funeral industry has had a surge in funeral directors in the last decade due to a ‘lack of regulation’, with one in five people in England and Wales over the age of 65 suggests a growing demand for funeral services.
Nearly one in five people in England and Wales are 65 or over. The number of people aged over 65 has surged by 20% over the past decade. Highlighting the increasing demand for funeral services. The demographic shift is clearly reflected in numbers collected by BoldData: from 4.015 funeral directors in 2014 to 5.125 in 2024. A rise of 28%. The upward trajectory is even reflected on our TV screens with soaps including Coronation Street and Eastenders now featuring funeral directors as prominent characters.
An increase in demand could cause an increase in price, with significant proportions of inheritance being shelled out on funeral costs for the deceased.
The average cost of a funeral in the UK is £4,141, depending on the type of service you choose. Cremation is more popular and cheaper, costing £3,795 on average. At £5,077, burials are more expensive; plus there’s the additional cost of the burial plot to consider according to Over50Choices.
Andrew Judd, CEO of The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), credits the rise in the number of funeral directors to the fact there are ‘no barriers to entry’ – as there’s no statutory regulation.
He said: “At the moment anyone can set up as a funeral director, I think that’s one of the reasons that there are so many, there are no barriers to entry. Generally most funeral directors do a very good job, but at the moment there’s still the opportunity for someone to start a business and operate it outside of scrutiny.”
Funeral directors can voluntarily become members of industry bodies such as the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF). However firms can choose opt not to take part in this voluntary regulation and can operate without scrutiny.
