Welsh funeral director upgrades premises

From left Claire Vokes Caerphilly County Borough Council, Martin Palmer UK Steel Enterprise and Glen Brown. Picture by Nick Treharne.

The personal touch is proving the key to success for an independent funeral director in Oakdale.

The firm of G Brown & N Prosser is investing in the developing business and refurbishing their premises in the town.

That investment has been supported with a Business Start-up Grant administered jointly by Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise and Caerphilly County Borough Council.

Proprietors Glen Brown and Nathan Prosser, pride themselves on being at the heart of the community. “We offer the personal touch to customers, and we work very hard to give them the service they deserve,” said Mr Brown.

“Bereaved families are able to get in touch with us around the clock if there is anything they need, and we understand that this is very important,” said Mr Brown. “We deal with queries as quickly as possible and pride ourselves on the service we offer.”

An extensive building and refurbishment is planned for the Funeral Home, formerly a Roman Catholic Church. “We will be spending a substantial amount on improving the building and its facilities,” he added.

Mr Brown and his business partner are both from Oakdale and are very much part of the local community. They each have many years experience in the funeral business working with larger, national organisations.

As well as top quality service, G Brown and N Prosser strives to offer good value. “We provide a first class service with very reasonable costs, and we also have a pre-payment plan, Golden Charter,” he added.

The firm says it can organise virtually any style of send-off, be that a horse drawn procession, or even burial at sea. These days secular ceremonies are increasingly popular. “Humanist funerals and natural burials are more and more in demand, and we can cater for all these requirements,” added Mr Brown.

He said the Business Start-up Grant had been very helpful. “We put the money towards creating an attractive reception area, and we are very grateful for the help from UK Steel Enterprise and Caerphilly County Borough Council.”

Martin Palmer of UK Steel Enterprise said he was very pleased to have been able to help the firm develop. “Community support is an important aspect of our ethos, and we are delighted to help the firm consolidate their business in this way.”

Claire Vokes of Caerphilly County Borough Council said the Business Start-up programme continued to play an important role in launching new businesses.

The flexible scheme is designed to help residents of Caerphilly county borough set up a full-time business for the first time, if they are not able to access any other source of funding. The funding is a discretionary grant and can provide up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of £500.

Business start-ups from all business sectors are considered, provided the business is based in Caerphilly county borough. Eligible costs can include; capital equipment, ICT equipment, development of websites, marketing and building works within the business premises.

“We are very pleased to have been able to help this business develop and grow,” said Claire Vokes. “The Business Start-Up programme continues to be very useful in creating long-lasting jobs in the area.”