In a sector that’s had its fair share of scandals, and during a generation when funeral directors now provide a much broader service than ever before, supporting our regulatory bodies as they shape the delivery and set the standards for funerals in the UK has never been more important.
William Purves Funeral Directors is committed to leading from the front in our industry. So how does funeral regulation in the UK work? And how is William Purves Involved at the frontline?
Who regulates funerals in the UK?
SAIF (Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors) and NAFD (National Association of Funeral Directors) are responsible for setting standards of care in service delivery, facilities, education and training for funeral directors throughout the UK.
For many years, William Purves employees have donated their time and expertise to serve in these organisations. It’s long been our view that to influence positive change and to ensure high standards of service, we should make the investment in shaping these from within.
As of March 2025, the funeral sector in Scotland is now fully regulated by the Scottish Government. Former health secretary Wes Streeting put regulation high on the agenda, and just this month, a Law Commission report recommended tighter regulation including frameworks to offer modern funeral options.
Prepaid funeral plans are also now subject to FCA regulation, a change they introduced in 2021. Membership of SAIF and NAFD is voluntary, and over 5,000 funeral firms in the UK have joined either or both associations.
SAIF
Gary Staker is our Northeast of England team leader and earlier this year, became National President of SAIF. As the Membership Chairman, Gary oversees a team that examines prospective members during their application and vets their qualifications, premises, experience and compliance track record.
Most recently, Gary has been championing SAIF’s Handled with Care campaign, encouraging UK families to speak to local funeral directors for informed, caring and professional guidance when choosing the best way to say goodbye to a loved one.
He started his career as a funeral director in a large UK firm. When he left to start up his own business, he joined SAIF. He did so to: “Demonstrate to the families I cared for, that my code of conduct and practice were following a strict set of guidelines that reflected the independent status of my business.”
Gary continues: “For years, I attended local regional meetings taking the view that it was right to contribute my time to the organisation that existed to support me, but more importantly, the families I would be helping. On a personal level, I believe you get more out of something the more you put it in.”
In 2018, William Purves acquired Gary’s company as he sought out another family business to take on his legacy. With Gary’s experience of managing a larger team and region, he had something to offer to future funeral directors through education and training.
He says: “To this day, I feel education is hugely important and I encourage members, as well as my own team in William Purves, to use the wide range of training to perform at their best.”
As well as his responsibility for Membership, Gary serves on the Standards Committee, dealing with public complaints. He also plays a part in the Products & Services Team. This involves exploring private healthcare, credit card terminals, bulk buying, etc. to provide a full range of benefits to SAIF members.
NAFD
Tim Purves, CEO and Chairman of William Purves, is the Scottish President of the NAFD. In essence, he is a public representative of funeral directors in Scotland to the Government. He handles issues and recommendations that association members submit. In doing so, he engages with current industry issues and promotes compliance with Scotland’s funeral regulation mandate.
As fifth-generation owner of William Purves, Tim has been involved in the funeral industry for nearly 40 years. He spent time in the business during his school holidays in his youth and in 2014, he took over the company from his father, John.
Bringing this wealth of insider knowledge and experience to the role, Tim discussed the value of NAFD memberships:
“The NAFD’s exists to be the voice of the profession – that’s one of the main reasons we want to be an engaged member but also to take an active role in it. The NAFD is respected by politicians and the Government. We are invited to attend meetings and sit on cross party groups to give an insight and perspective on certain things such as the recent Scottish covid enquiry and the update to burial and cremation forms. So, from that, it’s far better to be involved in it than to try and be a solo voice.”
Tim further highlights the benefits of networking that come with membership:
“I think networking is important as well. You’re keeping your ear to the ground, meeting other funeral directors and finding out about the challenges they have. When you go to a NAFD conference for the weekend, you’ll sit down with another funeral director and have a proper chat with them, sharing the highs and lows of working in our industry.”
Serving a two-year tenure as Scottish President, Tim’s role is mutually beneficial both for the business and the NAFD.
His involvement in Government discussions offers him first-hand insight into industry issues – namely, matters concerning Scottish regulation – which keep the business standards and operations up to date.
Having acquired several businesses during our history, William Purves fully understands how different firms and departments run, and the challenges they face.
Our committed staff
Both Gary, Tim and many of our staff (Chief Operations Officer Andrew Purves is part of the Scottish Government’s hydrolyis Working Group) donate their time and knowledge to influencing positive change.
This adds up to a significant level of contribution during a long period. Staff will also attend meetings that are out of work time and require travel across the country.
As a company, we’re prepared to support their time out of the office knowing their contribution is positively influencing the sector for the better. It’s our responsibility to drive the high standards we practice daily and we’re grateful to Gary, Tim and many others for their ongoing commitment to best practice today, and for future generations.