Dignity plc () is a funeral-related service provider in the United Kingdom, and the only publicly listed company within the country's funeral sector.
History
The business was created in 1994 through the merger of Plantsbrook Group and Great Southern Group, both of which companies had been acquired by Service Corporation International Inc earlier that year. In 2002 the merged business was the subject of a management buyout from Service Corporation International Inc. The merger brought together a number of funeral service businesses.
There are currently 795 Dignity Funeral Directors across the UK. Several mergers and organic growth have brought together a number of historic funeral businesses, private cemeteries and crematoria over the years, including:
George S Munn, Glasgow – 1812
Francis Chappell & Sons, London – 1840
J Rymer, York – 1848
Ginns & Gutteridge, Leicestershire – 1855
Lawrence Funeral Service, Halifax – 1857
E Finch & Sons, Aldershot – 1857
Beckenham Cemetery, Kent – 1876
J H Kenyon, London – 1880
Frederick W Paine, London – 1884
Perry Barr Crematorium, Birmingham – 1903
John Bardgett & Son, Newcastle upon Tyne – 1914
Jonathan Harvey, Glasgow – 1928
South London Crematorium – 1930
Seaford & Newhaven Funeral Service, East Sussex – 1950
In January 2023, the board agreed to accept an offer for the company from a consortium of investors including SPWOne V Ltd, Castelnau Group and Phoenix Asset Management.
Operations
Dignity provides funeral services, cremations and pre-arranged funerals UK-wide through three separate brands: