Central England Co-op funeralcare expands its team at Bretby Crematorium and completes £93k makeover
Posted by james brindle | Published: 16/09/2019
Central England Co-operative Funeralcare has officially opened its refurbished crematorium in Derbyshire as it welcomes three new colleagues to support families.
The improvements at Bretby Crematorium ensure it offers a vastly superior environment for those who have lost a loved one after a total of £93,000 was invested by owners Central England Co-operative.
The work has included an external and internal refurbishment to the crematorium’s room of remembrance.
Other improvements include refreshed external decoration to the main building, new seating is to be installed in the Caernarvon Chapel and a refurbishment of colleague facilities following the recent increase in colleagues at the Geary Lane facility.
Three new full-time Crematorium Assistants have been employed from the local area in response to the increase in popularity of unattended funerals at the crematorium. The funerals offer a dignified cremation without family or friends in attendance for people looking for a simple and cost effective send off.
Two new private ambulances have also been purchased as the service covers all Central England Co-op Funeralcare homes across the country, as well as some private homes.
Crematorium Manager Nick French said: “We are delighted to welcome three new colleagues to help support the unattended funeral service, all of whom have been employed from the local area. We are proud to be part of the community in South Derbyshire.
“Our first priority is to enhance memories and love for all of our families and we are very pleased to offer that at Bretby Crematorium.
“We feel the improvements to the crematorium reflect our commitment to providing excellent standards of care for our families during their time of need and also showcase how we can help people say goodbye to their loved ones in a way that is personal to them.
“Bretby Crematorium provides a peaceful haven for quiet contemplation and remembrance and all of these improvements will ensure that our families can come together to say goodbye in the very best surroundings.”
The crematorium is made up of two chapels, each with a separate area and covered floral tribute area.
The grounds are maintained as natural woodland, with no plaques, memorial stones or rose beds, and are open to families 365 days a year.
More information about Nick and his team at Bretby Crematorium is available by visiting https://www.centralengland.coop/funeralcare/bretby or calling 01283 221505.
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 the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, and property.
The company’s funeral business consists of over 120 funeral homes across 16 counties, nine 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 2019.
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 Dementia UK 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 and James Brindle at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140
Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop