Knox & Son Funeral Directors Story
Background
Knox and Son Funeral Directors, based in Warrington, was previously run by long-time owners Liz & Andy Greenwood and Rachel Aitken, who became a shareholder in 2019, having initially run the financial side of the business since 2010.
Through the Knox’s, Mercer’s, Greenwood’s and now Funeral Partners, we are proud to be the longest established Funeral Directors in Warrington, still operating from the same premises.
Considerations
Rachel Aitken said the decision to join Funeral Partners came at a time when increasing regulation and administrative demands are impacting the industry. She was looking forward to receiving support in areas including HR, marketing, administration and compliance, freeing up her time to focus on the day-to-day operations and supporting our bereaved families to the best of her ability.
The Logistics
Liz and Andy decided it was the right time to move from part time to fully enjoy their retirement.
Rachel remains with us as Business Principal, with the full support of her husband Neil Aitken, Principal Funeral Director and said she trusted Funeral Partners to continue the legacy of the Greenwood’s, and the heritage begun by the founder Joseph Caldwell Knox in 1882.
Moving Forward
Rachel said: “I am honoured to have been entrusted to continue to run the business in the way our families expect, retaining our traditions and connection with our community. This transition will be a positive step in ensuring that Knox is able to continue serving our local community for years to come.”
Today, the business benefits from specialist support teams covering marketing, HR, finance, compliance, IT and training. This centralised support allows Rachel to focus more of their time on supporting families and developing their team, while having the reassurance that operational and regulatory requirements are supported by experts.
Dedicated marketing support has helped strengthen the business’s online presence and visibility within the local community through digital marketing, social media activity, advertising campaigns and website development. The team also benefits from ongoing training and professional development opportunities, helping colleagues build their skills while maintaining the highest standards of service and client care.
The Result
Rachel said: “I have been so pleased by the amount of investment from Funeral Partners, which includes enhancing our back of house facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and also recruiting new colleagues to join our original team, that stayed with us throughout the acquisition. Funeral Partners was the only serious option when it came to finding an acquisition partner, their ethos and professional standards mirrored everything that Knox already stood for.”
“Having now completed our first year in the Funeral Partners family, I don’t believe it could have gone any smoother. Our families are still receiving the level of service expected from such a long standing, experienced and reputable team.”
“My colleagues and I are working well within the regulatory and compliance guidelines afforded to us by being part of Funeral Partners, as well as receiving continuous training and progression opportunities to keep us at the top level expected by our local community and the families we have the honour of serving.”
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