Sandy Close Funeral Services joins Funeral Partners
The business remains family run, with Sandy at the helm and his daughter Catherine and sister-in-law Christine all holding key roles within the team
Family-run Sandy Close Funeral Services on Shankill Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has officially joined the Funeral Partners network.
Founder Sandy set up his own company in 1998, having previously worked in the funeral profession for many years for both Houston and Williamson Funeral Directors and James Brown and Sons Funeral Directors in the city. Both businesses became part of Funeral Partners in 2019.
Sandy said: “I already feel some of the stress and pressure from running your own business lifted, and feel relieved and happier just a few weeks in. Funeral Partners were the only serious option I considered as an acquisition partner. The people I met from the company were very experienced and impressive and I am in touch with some contacts and friends who know and have worked with them for a long time. They were all complimentary and shared their positive experiences.
“In the current climate, it is financially challenging for independent funeral directors, with things like increased regulation, rising costs and tax changes. By joining Funeral Partners I can refocus my energy and actually switch off in the evenings and weekends, knowing we have the support from the wider team.”
The business remains family run, with Sandy at the helm and his daughter Catherine and sister-in-law Christine all holding key roles within the team. His wife Agnes previously worked there too, and having recently retired, continues to be an ambassador within the local community.
Sam Kershaw, chief executive of Funeral Partners, added: “We are delighted to welcome Sandy and the team at Sandy Close Funeral Services. They have built up an enviable reputation for providing a high-quality, personalised service and they maintain close links to community organisations and the church – I am proud to see them become part of our network.
“This acquisition in Northern Ireland strengthens our presence in the region and supports our ambitions for further expansion within the region in the near future.”
