Family-run funeral directors take home prestigious business award

What are the Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine Awards? 

Celebrating the organisations that add heart, imagination and tireless effort to the local area, the Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine Awards recognise businesses who go beyond the everyday. Run by Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine, the awards highlight excellence across sustainability, community work, leadership, team culture and business achievement. 

For a family-run funeral director such as Welham Jones, with branches in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Chislehurst and Bromley, Orpington and Chelsfield, Borough Green and Swanley, being acknowledged in this way is especially meaningful. Much of our work happens quietly, behind the scenes, at the most delicate moments in a family’s life. These awards shine a light on the values that guide us: compassion, integrity and service to the communities of West Kent and Southeast London. 

What does the Community and Sustainability Award mean? 

This particular accolade honours businesses who actively strengthen their local community while working with genuine commitment to environmental responsibility. For us, it feels like a gentle yet powerful affirmation: that the things we have been steadily doing for years — supporting local suppliers, reducing our footprint, and offering greener funeral options — truly matter. 

Our funeral directors in Tunbridge Wells, Borough Green, Orpington and Chelsfield, Chislehurst and Bromley, Sevenoaks, Swanley and Tonbridge have long believed that sustainability isn’t a slogan. It’s the accumulation of thoughtful decisions: choosing eco-friendly coffins and caskets, minimising waste, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring families have access to environmentally conscious funeral planning options. 

This award recognises not just what we do, but why we do it: to protect the future for the families we serve today. 

Our sustainability and community-led practices 

Across all our branches, we continue to refine, rethink and renew our approach to sustainability — much of which formed our formal award submission. 

Environmentally responsible choices 

• We source coffins made from sustainably grown timbers, recycled materials or natural options such as willow and bamboo.  

• Use only sustainably sourced paper   

• Work with local tradespeople and suppliers wherever possible  

• Reduce printing and energy use across all offices  

• Provide biodegradable urns, shrouds and memorial items  

• Offer greener funeral packages and support woodland burials 

Supporting the community around us 

• As a third-generation, independent business, community involvement isn’t an initiative — it’s a way of living and working. Our teams regularly support local charities, sponsor community groups and work closely with vicars, priests, funeral celebrants, care homes and home care companies to ensure families receive the compassionate support they need. 

• Families in Tunbridge Wells and across our network tell us that these small acts — the extra phone call, the unhurried conversation, the meticulous care — help steady the world at a time when it feels off balance. 

How we became shortlisted for Employer of the Year 

Being shortlisted for Employer of the Year was a moment of deep pride for us. Funeral work is emotionally demanding, and our team carry people’s stories during some of their hardest days. Supporting our teams, therefore, is not optional; it is essential. 

Our submission highlighted: 

• A strong ethos of treating staff as extended family 

• Comprehensive induction and on-the-job training 

• Opportunities for formal qualifications, including the National Association of Funeral Directors Diploma 

• Flexible employment terms and long-service leave 

• An Employee Assistance Programme for emotional support 

• Regular team-building days and shared training that keeps all seven branches connected 

• Clear pathways for progression — with team members rising from mortuary assistant to funeral director 

The testimonials from our team spoke of belonging, purpose and care. One colleague described Welham Jones as “a place that feels like home,” while another said they wake each morning looking forward to the work they do for families. These messages were included within our award documents and meant as much to us as any trophy.  

Winning this award reminds us that community, care and responsibility will always guide the work we do for the families who place their trust in us. 

If you’re looking from award-winning funeral directors, please contact us