Last year’s Swale Business Awards winner for Customer Service and Commitment, William Whitmey Independent Funeral Directors are once again throwing their hat into the ring for the Swale Business Awards. The Sittingbourne-based business has been operating for over two years now and in that time has become incredibly active within the local community. They support local initiatives such a MacMillan events; they sponsor local fetes and the charity Greggsfestival, and sponsored the Sittingbourne & Tunstall Christmas Tree event 2015 along with the Newington Festival 2016.
Under the leadership of Director Alex Whitmey, the family-run business has also entrenched themselves in organisations designed to help both local business and the industry in which they operate. William Whitmey Independent Funeral Directors are members of the Sittingbourne Retail Association and Alex is the Vice Chair of the Kent Area of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) – a self-regulating body that shows that the business has committed to abiding by nationally agreed codes of conduct and standards.
Alex spoke about what William Whitmey Independent Funeral Directors offered as a business “We are able to assist with all funeral requests from the supply of beautiful bespoke coffins to a horse and carriage. We believe that a personal, tailored and dignified service is important and we provide this with our dedicated team because we know and appreciate the local community in which we serve. Unlike other funeral directors we are completely open about our prices and publish everything on our website. We make sure that we are available to families 24/7 to ensure we can help them with whatever they need to put their mind at rest knowing their loved one is being properly and respectfully looked after.”
Breaking into the market was especially difficult as many families will always use the funeral director that their family has traditionally used. However, by providing an excellent service and always asking for feedback, William Whitmey Independent Funeral Directors have established themselves through referrals and word of mouth.
Alex discussed why he felt that his business should be recognised at the Swale Business Awards “We deserve to win an award with the Swale Business Awards because we have continued to strive to improve all that we do for both our customers (families) and suppliers; we have not been complacent or taken our first year’s success in both business and the awards for granted. We continue to ask families for feedback and act immediately on any improvements that can be made. From the time a family makes arrangements with us until well after the service we do everything in our power to take away the burden and worry of everything that comes with arranging the final goodbye. We are always here to advise and support, and sometimes to lend a shoulder to cry on, as we understand what they are going through. The answer is yes, now what is the question”.
William Whitmey Independent Funeral Directors
122a Chalkwell Road
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME10 2LJ
01795351214
www.whitmeyfunerals.co.uk