We’re thrilled to announce that Welham Jones has made it through to the finals of the Family Business of the Year Awards. Shortlisted in the South East category, the family values that run through every aspect of our business have been key in helping us reach the finals.
The importance of family
Family values underpin everything we do. As a third-generation, family-run business, we’ve built a team that embodies our ethos of care, empathy, and dedication, extending the sense of family to every client we work with.
For us, these values aren’t just words; they’re a promise to the families we serve, the community we’re part of, and the world we’ll leave behind.
We’re therefore delighted to have been chosen as regional finalists in the Family Business of the Year Awards, and in contention for the ultimate prize, Supreme Champion Family Business of the Year 2025.
Getting through to the finals is no mean feat – we’re up against illustrious company, such as Shepherd Neame and Brewers Decorators Centres.
Award-winning values
The values that underpin Welham Jones are key to us making the shortlist for the South East title. Among these are:
Compassion and personalisation: We understand that planning a funeral is one of the most emotionally challenging times in a family’s life, so we take the time to provide personalised, practical, and emotional support every step of the way.
Transparency and fairness: In an industry that has been scrutinised for a lack of clarity in pricing, we’ve always been open, transparent, and fair in our fees, ensuring they remain accessible and affordable for the families we serve.
Community: As a family business embedded in our local area, we believe in giving back. We actively support local churches and sports teams, collect Easter eggs and Christmas presents for children in need, and provide warm clothing to homeless charities during the winter.
Sustainability and responsibility: We strive to reduce our environmental footprint, offering eco-friendly options such as green funerals and sourcing sustainable products like renewable timbers.
Feedback to support our commitment to family values
Our strong values have led to feedback that supports our claim that family values are the DNA of Welham Jones, such as:
“Welham Jones epitomises family values, both to its staff and clients alike.”
“This feels like ‘Home’, and I could not imagine doing anything else.”
“The best thing about Welham Jones is that I work with a great team who all have our families’ best interests at heart.”
We’re delighted that the family values that we hold so dear mean we are in the running to take home the title of South East Family Business of the Year at the gala award evening on June 18 in London.
If you’re looking for an award-winning team to help you arrange a funeral, get in touch
Related
15 Oct 2025
How can I best support someone who has recently been bereaved?
by Simon Welham
Losing a loved one is hard. But when a loved one loses a loved one, the hard part is knowing how to act. Do they want to talk? Or fondly reminisce in silence? Do you say, “I’m so sorry,” when you both know all the apologies in the world cannot bring them back? Should you bring them a casserole? And is it even possible to bake a heartful of love and support into a freezer meal?
Everyone grieves differently, but recent data from Theos Think Tank (2023) gives us helpful insights into the most common ways people seek support during bereavement. If you are supporting someone in West Kent or Southeast London, this research – and our guidance – may help you feel more confident in your compassion.
You save into their university fund, put money aside for their wedding, their first house, their first car. But the idea of having to fund your own child’s funeral? It is a thought that no parent ever thinks will cross their mind, and one that no one should ever have to. However, in our 30 years of helping families throughout West Kent and Southeast London, it would be duplicitous to say that this is a situation we have never come across, however much we would like to.
In July 2019, the government launched the Children’s Funeral Fund, aiming to help cover the costs for grieving families. We know that no sum can account for the loss of a child, but we would like to give you information about the fund to ensure families are aware of all resources available to them.
Hollywood and prime-time TV love to show the drama of death: the paramedic calls the time, the eyelids are gently shut, and the melancholy band strikes up before we fade to the funeral scene. However, in reality, there is a lot more that goes on between a passing and a funeral, most crucially, registering a death in the UK – without which no further action can occur. So, how do you register a death, and who is qualified to do it?