Jon Levett steps down from NAFD

the funeral sector, particularly in light of this rapidly evolving policy environment. They have established a strong foundation which Natalie, Nigel and the team will build upon.”

Added Natalie: “I would like to thank David, John and the team for setting up an organisation with such strong foundations and I am very much looking forward to getting started.

“Significant work has already been undertaken, not only through the creation of IFSO but more broadly in the sector, to embrace regulation and I look forward to bringing both my experience of the sector, but also over 20 years working in regulation, to lead IFSO into a proportionate and meaningful regulatory future.

“It is critical that we understand how the regulatory agendas of the Ministry of Justice, Scottish Government and CMA will intersect, and ensure IFSO is able to adapt its’ regulatory framework to response - as that will be key to maintaining consumer confidence in funeral directors and ensuring high standards of quality that consumers rightly expect when they arrange a funeral.”

The NAFD remains committed to strong independent regulation of the funeral profession, in the public interest, including a statutory requirement for all UK firms providing funeral services to be subject to independent oversight of their standards of care, whether in a trade association or not. The NAFD will seek to make this case strongly to the Fuller Inquiry when evidence sessions commence in 2023 and will demonstrate that IFSO’s independent operational model and high expectation of registrants provides the ideal high water mark that all funeral firms in the UK should be required to meet.

NAFD Chief Executive Jon Levett to step down

NAFD Chief Executive Jon Levett intends to step down from his role in the Autumn, after four extremely challenging years. Reflecting on the past few years working with Jon, NAFD independent chair Jonathan Rees said: “Jon has seen the NAFD through some of the toughest years in recent memory, having arrived in 2018 - shortly after the announcement that the Competition & Markets Authority would be investigating the sector. “Under his leadership, the NAFD provided a robust and detailed challenge to the CMA’s assumptions about the sector, fought successfully to remove price regulation from the Funerals Market Order and the team at National Office continues to support members in ensuring they are compliant with the requirements of the Order. “He provided the NAFD and wider funeral sector with strong, steady and tireless leadership through the pandemic, making sure the NAFD built a trusted relationship with Government, collaborating with other trade bodies to create the Deceased Management Advisory Group and tackling both national and local issues on behalf of members. “The Association also now has its first-ever five year strategy, launched in October 2021 and he has seen the NAFD through complex and long overdue governance changes, as well as being the driving force behind the design and creation of IFSO, which is already being

recognised by stakeholders as a bold and positive step towards independent oversight of standards in the funeral sector.

“On a personal level, in my role as independent chair, Jon has been a huge support to me and we have built a productive and open working relationship that I value highly. He has also built a strong and capable senior management team to deliver the NAFD strategy, a team in which I know members and our key partners have confidence and who they will support as we find and welcome Jon’s replacement as CEO. “I know from speaking to Jon that this has been an incredibly tough decision and he will miss the funeral sector, NAFD members and his colleagues in Solihull. We will be working closely with Jon and the team, across the Summer, to maintain momentum through the transition period and ensure there is a seamless handover.” Speaking on behalf of the NAFD Governing Board, President John Adams added: “Jon leaves the NAFD in a very strong position, well-equipped to anticipate and respond to the changes happening within and around the sector and to build new opportunities and partnerships that will both secure and support the growth of member firms. “On behalf of all members of the Association, I would like to thank him for all he has done for us and the bereaved families that we care for. We all wish him the very best in his new role.” The process to find a successor for Jon has begun. Commercial Director Elaine Walder will assume the role of interim Chief Executive of the NAFD during the transition period and Director of Policy and Public Affairs Rachel Bradburne will also step up to become Acting Deputy CEO and Senior Director, assuming responsibility for representing the NAFD on sector-wide bodies and external groups, such as the Deceased Management Advisory Group.

NAFD Summer School enthrals participants

Across three sunny days in Durham, in July, the second NAFD Summer School brought together leaders from across the funeral profession for sessions on the future of funeral service that were rich in ideas, discussion and both personal and professional experience.

“The seminars and subject matter this year were enthralling,” said Natalya Mclackland, of Regent Funeral Services, who was attending her second summer school. “The learning and development is compelling. The Summer School forms an important part of Continuous Professional Development and can help anyone to learn and inspire themselves in their current roles and beyond. Like any course, the more you put into it, the more you get out and with the Summer School I truly believe that you must be able to give a part of yourself in this three-day course to get back something really meaningful,” she added.

Summer school was led once again by Professor Douglas Davies, one of the countries most respected theologians. Professor Davies leads the Centre for Death and Life Studies (CDALS) at Durham University, which exists to foster and conduct research into life-values, beliefs, and practices that relate to living and dying. This year, Professor Davies brought CDALS colleagues and students along to contribute to the sessions on topics ranging from funeral poetry, to funerals and death online from the perspective of Jonathan Lethaby, a 21-year-old undergraduate student.”

NAFD Member Benefits

Category A England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands Category B

* Category A members only

Business Advice & Support

• Client Will search facility * • Repatriation Helpline * • * • Stationery solutions • NAFD Energy Club • NAFD Telecoms • NAFD Legal Advisory Service • Counselling helpline for staff/family • Property Planning Advice • Health & Safety advice • PR Handbook and PR Helpline • Merchant card services • NAFD Fast Track Debt Recovery Service

Knowledge Sharing

• Networking opportunities through Area

Federation and Local Association meetings • Conference and Autumn General Meeting • Member website • Attendance at National Funeral Exhibition (discount on stand space if exhibiting)

Professional Credibility

• Code of Practice and client dispute resolution service, NAFD Resolve * • Listing on funeral-directory.co.uk * • Listing on supplier member search on

NAFD website • Use of logos and marketing collateral

Category C Benefits

Category C Overseas • Discount on stand space if exhibiting at the biennial National Funeral Exhibition • A listing in the overseas member search on the

Association’s website • Monthly copy of Funeral Director Monthly • Free editorial in Funeral Director Monthly • Discounted advertising in Funeral

Director Monthly • Use of NAFD overseas member logo • Invitation to attend the NAFD Conference and

Annual General Meeting.

Financial

• Fleet breakdown cover * • Fleet insurance * • Perfect Choice Funeral Plans * • £5m professional indemnity insurance * • £150k employment claims insurance • £150k H&S prosecution insurance • £150k HMRC & VAT investigation insurance • Personal/commercial insurance discounts • Royal Mail Same Day Service

Communication/Representation

• Parliamentary campaigning • Monthly copy of Funeral

Director Monthly • Discounted advertising in Funeral

Director Monthly • Free editorial in Funeral Director Monthly • Monthly e-newsletter • NAFD social media • Regular e-communication updates on important issues affecting your business

Professional Development

• • Election to NAFD boards/committees

General

• Volvo schemes offering preferential rates *

For more information on any of these benefits you receive as a member of the NAFD, please call: 0121 711 1343 or email: su@nafd.org.uk

Summer School participants

Also during the summer school, PHD student Georgina Robinson, who is studying Resomation (alkaline-hydrolysis), explored its introduction in other countries, her field trip to the USA and the progress towards it being introduced into the UK. Each evening, guests were invited to enjoy a relaxed dinner and conversation, enabling the group to build a very strong bond across the three days.

Shirley Deighan, of Deighans Funeral Parlour, said she thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. “I found all of the seminars very interesting and feel I have taken a lot away with me - I will never look at a poem in quite the same way! I also thought that it was also good to meet so many like-minded people, I will look out for a few faces next time I attend an NAFD event and I am sure will have a catch up with them. It was nice to do something for me! Unfortunately in our profession we seem to not prioritise ourselves.”

Newly elected President of the Yorkshire Area Federation Leanne Rookledge was also attracted to the blend of learning and networking: “I’m a sucker for academics, so being at Durham University for a few days certainly attracted me, but I was also interested in the topics which were due to be discussed, particularly resomation and the impact of Covid on direct cremation; the discussions which arose within the group in relation to these matters were very insightful and it was great to hear perspectives from funeral directors working within different regions and across various company types.

“I was also attracted due to the networking and social opportunities available as a result of the intimate size of the group. Although attending other NAFD events is also great for networking, the small size of the summer school encouraged deeper conversations between members who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet.”

Dates are already being discussed for the 2023 Summer School and, with only a maximum of thirty attendees, the places are likely to be snapped up quickly. If you’re interested in finding out more about NAFD Summer School, email Karen Burton on education@nafd.org.uk and she will put you on the mailing list for updates.