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CMA launches funeral market investigation

Today, the Competition and Markets Authority has made the announcement our profession has been patiently waiting for. It is to proceed with a market investigation. The decision comes as no surprise, given the concerns outlined in the CMA’s interim report on the funeral market last November. Many family-run funeral firms across the UK will welcome […]

Death of Michael Nodes

It is with sadness that we have been asked by Mrs Ann Nodes to inform you of the death of her husband Mr Michael Nodes on 8th March 2019 aged 90 years. Mr Nodes was for many years chairman of the General Cemetery Company at Kensal Green, as well as a Past President and Past […]

SAIFInsure temporary contact number

SAIFInsure’s main office telephone number is temporarily unavailable. Until the problem is fixed, SAIF can supply a mobile number to use. Please call SAIF on 01279 726777.

New SAIF staff member

SAIF welcomes Maria Sherlock to the team in March 2019. Maria will be working on Thursdays and Fridays providing administration support across a wide range of activities.

Prospective new members in Norfolk and County Down

SAIF has received applications from 2 prospective funeral directors based in Norfolk and 1 from County Down, Northern Ireland. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

SAIF AGM activity & meal bookings due by Wednesday 27th March

If you’ve not yet done so, we need bookings for meals and activities by 5 pm on Wednesday 27th March. The itinerary for the weekend is: Thursday 28th March 2019 – SAIF Open Golf Championship for the President’s Cup for ladies and gentlemen Friday 29th March 2019 – 12.30 Associates’ Lunch (Invitation) 15.00 Keynote address […]

SAIF Regional Meetings 2019

SAIF will be holding a series of regional meetings again in 2019 with Chief Executive Terry Tennens accompanied by National President 2019/20 Jim Auld. The tour commences in Washington, Tyne and Wear on 30th April with a visit to JC Atkinson coffin makers. This is a first for SAIF and we thank Nigel Green-Smith and […]

Pace4life update

SAIF thanks Balasundaram Lavan, founder of Pace4life for this update: In 2019, Pace4life looks to build on the support of SAIF and wider supporters by building on its donations of pacemakers with another mission to Ghana currently being scheduled. The funding of this and future trips has been made possible through the kind work SAIF […]

SAIF Executive Committee Election

Don’t forget that votes must be received at SAIF Business Centre by 5.00 pm on Monday 25th March. This year there are seven nominees for three vacant seats on the National Executive Committee. You should have received a nomination booklet along with the AGM Notice of Meeting in the post. The nomination booklet also includes […]

Minimum Wage Increases from April 2019

Here are the revised minimum wages from April 2019. For more information, visit the government’s website. Year 25 and over 21 to 24 18 to 20 Under 18 Apprentice April 2018 £7.83 £7.38 £5.90 £4.20 £3.70 April 2019 £8.21 £7.70 £6.15 £4.35 £3.90

New Prospective Member in Aberdare

SAIF has received an application from a prospective funeral director based in Aberdare, Wales.. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Last chance to book activities at SAIF AGM Weekend

What does SAIF’s AGM Weekend offer? Thursday 28th March 2019 – SAIF Open Golf Championship for the President’s Cup for ladies and gentlemen Presentation by ex-footballer and campaigner for people suffering with Dual Diagnosis. Clarke Carlisle will be the keynote speaker on Friday 29th March. Talk by Angela Kidd of DWP Social Fund Policy Lead […]

DWP Speaker will discuss Funeral Expenses Payments at SAIF’s AGM Weekend.

Not booked your places yet? Our fantastic AGM Banquet Weekend will take place from 29th to 31st March at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Essex. SAIF is delighted that Angela Kidd, DWP Social Fund Policy Lead, will be speaking on the afternoon of Friday 29th March, as part of our AGM weekend. Angela’s current role […]

Notice of SAIF’s Annual General Meeting

SAIF’s Annual General Meeting will take place at 9.30 am Saturday 30th March 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Resort – Five Lakes, Colchester, Essex. Reports for the year ended 31st December 2018 will be presented. We would be thrilled if your company was represented at our AGM where important updates for your business occurs. One […]

Prospective new members in London & West Yorkshire

SAIF has received an application from a prospective funeral director based in West Yorkshire and from another with 3 premises based in London. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

End of year payroll and payments

With the reporting deadline approaching, you’ll be thinking about your end of year payroll tasks. HMRC have produced webinars, a video and an online forum which may be able to help. Payroll – annual reporting and tasks: This live webinar covers end of year tasks, form P60, your final Full Payment Submission (FPS) of the tax […]

Coffin Accreditation Scheme endorsed by SAIF

There are two coffin accreditation schemes which the SAIF National Executive Committee have endorsed, with which members should comply at crematoria who are members of the ICCM, FBCA, CSGB and APCC. These are the CCSA and FFMA accreditation schemes. SAIF Members can read the CCSA Coffin and Casket Testing Protocol here. Please read details of […]

SAIF’s Communication Toolkit helps members to stand out from the crowd.

If you’ve not had a look at our Communications Toolkit, why not take a look? The first section considers the importance of brand values and gives example of a brand identity. There are great ideas for developing your brand and practical suggestions of how to get started, implement a strategy and and then next steps. […]

SAIF Members’ webinar on 13th March: Supporting those bereaved by suicide.

In January the government announced its ‘Long Term Plan’ for the NHS. Within this 10 year plan, they stated their commitment to providing mental health support through NHS 111 and support for families and staff affected by suicide. Sarah Bates of the Support After Suicide Partnership will explain what the NHS Long Term Plan means for […]

Help with Universal Credit

For information on changes to Universal Credit and how it helps workers and employees – use this link to the government’s website.

Clarke Carlisle will be keynote speaker at SAIF AGM Weekend

SAIF is delighted to announce that Clarke Carlisle will be the keynote speaker on Friday 29th March as part of the AGM Weekend. Clarke was a professional footballer for 17 years, the last 13 of those whilst suffering with Complex Depressive Disorder. He will be outlining the many social and personal difficulties he encountered. The […]

Birmingham SAIF Member takes on key role at global trade association

A leading independent funeral director from the West Midlands has been appointed to a key position at a global trade association which promotes high standards and learning among family-run firms. Derek Case, owner of Mortons Funeral Directors in Birmingham, has taken on the role of European Chairman of Selected Independent Funeral Homes for 2019. The […]

Prospective new member in St Helens, Merseyside

SAIF has received an application from a prospective funeral director based in St Helens, Merseyside Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Change to workplace pensions

As an employer it is your responsibility to ensure that from 6th April 2019 (if your employee is subject to auto enrolment) that the minimum total pension contribution rises from 5% to 8% of employees’ earnings. This means that you must pay 3% with your workers paying the difference between your contribution and the 8% […]

How many children experience the death of their mother?

Article sourced from Office of National Statistics (ONS) The death of a parent can have a profound impact on children which may be felt throughout their life.  However, there are currently no official estimates of the number of children who are affected by bereavement.  Nick Stripe explains how the ONS is starting to fill the […]

I wish I had known …

SAIF thanks Compassion in Dying for allowing us to re-use this article written by Barbara Monroe: Reflections from supporting 25,000 people plan for the end of life At Compassion in Dying we recognise the need for a large-scale culture change around death and dying. We’re working towards end of life care being truly person centred — not […]

Registering the death of a transgender person

SAIF Bsuiness Centre has received this information from the Essex coroner. “As we and the Registration Service have received no notification or request to amend any of our Forms to include Transgender the assumption here is that if someone has transitioned from female to male by the time they pass on that they are deemed […]

Only 4 weeks until SAIF’s AGM Banquet Weekend

Not booked your places yet? Our fantastic AGM Banquet Weekend will take place from 29th to 31st March at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Essex. The agenda includes: Thursday 28th March 2019 – SAIF Open Golf Championship for the President’s Cup for ladies and gentlemen Friday 29th March 2019 – Keynote speaker in the afternoon […]

HMRC Updates for 2019-20

Her Majesty’s Revenue Collection (HRMC) is running live webinars to provide an overview of ‘what’s new’. The session will include: New rates for National Insurance National Living Wage/National Minimum Wage and Statutory Payments Changes to expenses and benefits and Student Loan deductions. Click here for session times, which are running between 26th February and 25th March.

Prospective new member in Grantham, Lincolnshire

SAIF has received an application from a prospective funeral director based in Grantham, Lincolnshire Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Communications Toolkit Webinar recording now available

Did you miss our webinar last week? SAIF’s PR Consultant Mark Binnersley outlined the Communications Toolkit and how you can use it to promote your funeral business. A recording of the webinar is now available to SAIF Members. Login to the Members’ Area of the website and then use this link to access the webinar […]

SAIF Members’ Webinar on 13th March: Supporting those bereaved by suicide.

In January the government announced its ‘Long Term Plan’ for the NHS. Within this 10 year plan, they stated their commitment to providing 24/7 mental health crisis phone line and support for families and staff affected by suicide. In our webinar, Sarah Bates of the Support After Suicide Partnership will explain what the NHS Long Term […]

Need professional training in funeral related skills?

The Independent Funeral Directors (IFD) College runs a full range of courses around the country: Health & Safety for Funeral Staff Foundation Funeral Practitioner Funeral Operative Funeral Administrator Learners can work towards a Certificate in Funeral Practice (Cert.FP) (awarded by external moderator One Awards) and will be eligible to use the letters Cert FP after […]

Why are funeral prices increasing?

In this month’s blog, SAIF Government Liaison Rep Paul Allcock, considers alternative reasons behind funeral cost increases rather than simply pointing the finger at the funeral director. This week the fee for a death certificate from the Registrar has significantly increased from £4 to £11. This increase almost trebles the cost of a death certificate […]

New resource to help children with bereavement

The Lions Club has launched its latest child help support book, Life Changes 2, which it believes is an invaluable resource for funeral directors and those working with children in the wider community. Life Changes 2 was launched by the Countess of Wessex, who is the Lions’ Patron, at Portcullis House in London. SAIF Member […]

Prospective New Member in Gosforth

SAIF has received an application from a prospective funeral director based in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Diary date: SAIF’s AGM is 30th March

SAIF’s Annual General Meeting will be held at 9.30 am on Saturday 30th March. The venue will be the Crowne Plaza Resort in Colchester. More information here.

SAIF Webinar: 13th February

Funeral directors are having to compete like never before for their share of the funeral market. In response, SAIF has developed a ‘communications toolkit’ to help you better promote your business and secure your future. SAIF Members may access the toolkit here. You’ll need to login in first. To get you started with the toolkit, […]

Prospective new member in St Ives.

SAIF has received an application from a prospective funeral director based in St Ives, Cornwall.. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

SAIF Members: be aware of Push Payment fraud

SAIF Business Centre has recently heard from a member about a scam which they wanted to warn other members about. This is what happened: the funeral director company email account was hacked the scammer sent emails to the funeral director clients, supposedly from the funeral director asking that money is transferred to a different account […]

SAIF’s Probation Membership Grade

SAIF now has a new category ‘Probation Membership’, which is open for funeral directors who have less than the requisite 12 months trading or funeral directing experience.  A company is able to hold the Probationary Membership grade for 12 months.  The purpose of the grade is to allow a new funeral director to benefit from guidance from […]

Free online training on marketing communications for SAIF Members

Funeral directors are having to compete like never before for their share of the funeral market. In response, SAIF has developed a ‘communications toolkit’ to help you better promote your business and secure your future. We explain the fundamental requirements of marketing: getting your brand right and how to talk about your brand to potential […]

SAIF Members – do you need first aid skills?

SAIF Business Centre is considering arranging Basic First Aid Courses for our members, with the first being held at our office in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. We could then potentially also offer the course around the country. If you’re interested in registering to attend one of the courses, or you are able to offer your premises as […]

Post-Cremation Ashes: What’s The Legal Position?

SAIF thanks Dr Heather Conway, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast, and author of The Law and the Dead (Routledge, 2016), for this blog. SAIF Members may click here to read the unabridged version in the Members’ area. When someone is buried, interment of the remains in the chosen gravesite is usually the end of […]

Prospective New Associate in Sheffield

SAIF has received an application from a prospective associate based in Sheffield. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Prospective New Associate in London

SAIF has received an application from a prospective associate based in London. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Cremation research results

With the number of cremations at an all time high, new research has revealed 80% of the public are ‘happy’ or ‘very happy’ with the service they attended. The research was conducted by Scattering Ashes, a family business that specialises in helping people options a deal with cremated remains. The survey also found out that […]

Prospective New Asscociate in London

SAIF has received an application from a prospective associate based in London. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

World Cancer Day is 4th February

World Cancer Day is led by the UICC, the Union for International Cancer Control. Cancer Research UK is one of its thousand members from across 162 countries and they on the board of UICC. World Cancer Day is the one singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the […]

Increase in death certificate cost

In November 2018, the government announced amendments to fees regulations for the registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships. These regulations make the following changes to certificate fees and are due to come into force on 16 February 2019: The three-tier certificate fees will be removed and replaced by one single (standard) fee of £11 regardless […]

Book now for SAIF’s AGM Banquet Weekend 29th-31st March

Plans are well underway for a fantastic weekend on 29th to 31st March at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Essex. The agenda includes: Thursday 28th March 2019 – SAIF Open Golf Championship for the President’s Cup for ladies and gentlemen Friday 29th March 2019 – Keynote speaker in the afternoon Saturday 30th March 2019 – […]

Do you need help to promote your business? Use SAIF’s Communications Toolkit.

Funeral directors are having to compete like never before for their share of the funeral market. In response, SAIF has developed a ‘communications toolkit’ to help you better promote your business and secure your future. The toolkit begins with building your brand image and how to make your company stand out from the crowd. There […]

Need training in professional funeral skills?

The Independent Funeral Directors’ College has announced the new schedule for training from February to June 2019. The courses include Health & Safety for Funeral Professionals, Foundation Funeral Practitioner, Funeral Operative and Funeral Administrator. They are being held around the country from Glasgow to Taunton, including Shiremoor (near Newcastle upon Tyne), Hull, Anstey (Leicestershire) and […]

Preparing for change

SAIF thanks Paul Allcock, Past President, for this month’s blog. Brexit, the CMA investigation and Medical Examiners.  All subjects very much on the tongues of all involved in delivering funeral services. Probably the first two questions this heading raises are: How are things going to change? And if we don’t know, how can we prepare?  […]

Prospective new member in Fakenham

SAIF has received an application from a prospective member in Fakenham, Norfolk. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

SAIF Members: are you Brexit-ready?

We can’t escape talk of Brexit right now: will we, won’t we and is the country prepared for whatever happens? You may have thought that everything Brexit related was the concern of the government, but how will your company cope in the uncertainty surrounding Brexit? SAIF has prepared a quick checklist you can use as […]

PABBS training to help those bereaved by suicide

Suicide Bereavement UK have developed PABBS evidence-based suicide bereavement training. This was informed by a three year study, conducted at the University of Manchester. PABBS stands for Postvention: Assisting those bereaved by suicide. Learn about the training here. The organisation recognises that there will be a huge need for trained people to meet the NHS’s […]

SAIF Webinar: 16th January

Many of us will be joining a gym or starting a new fitness regime this month, but how many of us will consider a plan for our mental health? Mental health support is important in all work environments, but it’s even more pertinent for staff working in the funeral profession. The emotional stress of supporting […]