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Cemetery worker

  • Hours

    30-40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £11,000 + per year

Cemetery workers (also known as gravediggers) are general ground maintenance workers tending graves and memorial sites. They work at cemeteries and crematoriums, and dig graves. If you like gardening and working with your hands, this could be the job for you.

To become a cemetery worker, you need to have a polite and respectful manner when dealing with the public. You need to be able to use mechanical digging equipment. You’ll also need to work outdoors in all weathers.

You do not need any qualifications to be a cemetery worker but you will usually need some reading and writing skills. You must be fit enough to cope with manual work. It will be useful if you have some relevant experience, such as gardening.



The work

As a cemetery worker you would:

  • measure and mark out grave spaces
  • use a mechanical excavator and hand tools to dig graves
  • prop up the sides of the grave with timber, using hydraulic equipment
  • keep graves tidy
  • check headstones for damage and remove those that are not safe
  • maintain grass and plants around the cemetery
  • work/liaise with other funeral and cemetery staff, including crematorium technicians, cemetery inspectors and superintendents, council officials and general gardening staff.

Hours

You will usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. You may also need to work at weekends and will be outdoors in all kinds of weather.

It can be physically demanding, and involve lots of climbing and bending. Some aspects of the job may involve the use of heavy machinery and chemicals. Suitable protective clothing is provided when appropriate.


Income

Salaries can be between £11,000 and over £17,000 a year.

Supervisors can earn up to £25,000.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You do not need any qualifications to be a cemetery worker but you will usually need some reading and writing skills.

You must be fit enough to cope with manual work. It will be useful if you have some relevant experience such as gardening.


Training and development

Once you start work you will receive on-the-job training. Your employer might also arrange for you to do training in the use of mechanical digging equipment and/or amenity horticulture.

You may be able to work towards Level 2 Award/Certificate/Diploma in Work-based Horticulture.

You could also join the Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme (COTS), which is run by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) at the Berkshire College of Agriculture or at your own workplace. The training includes:

  • a five-day certificate in Health and Safety and Burial Processes
  • the Excavator Operation Certificate.

The ICCM also runs the Crematorium Technicians' Training Scheme, and courses for managers, including the BTEC HNC in Cemetery and Crematoria Management. You can find more details on the ICCM website.


Skills and knowledge

To become a cemetery worker, you should have:

  • the ability to use (or learn to use) mechanical digging equipment
  • practical and gardening skills
  • the ability to work on your own and as part of a team
  • willingness to work outdoors in all weathers
  • the ability to follow instructions and work within set regulations
  • a polite and tactful manner when dealing with the public.

More information

LGcareers (Opens new window)
www.lgcareers.com

Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) (Opens new window)
www.iccm-uk.com


Opportunities

Look out for vacancies in local newspapers, in Jobcentre Plus offices and on the LGjobs website.

With experience, you might be able to progress to being a supervisor. If your job involves clerical duties, you could train for progression into cemetery administration.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The horticulture, landscape and sports turf industry is part of the environmental and land‐based industries, represented by Lantra Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: agricultural crops; agricultural livestock; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; equine; environmental conservation; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land‐based engineering; production horticulture; trees and timber; and veterinary nursing. The sector as a whole currently employs 1,126,000 people (approximately 4% of the UK workforce) in around 230,000 businesses. In addition, there are an estimated 500,000 volunteers working in the sector on a regular basis. Approximately 42% of the workforce is self‐employed.

The horticulture, landscape and sports turf industries cover: hard, soft and interior landscaping; sports turf maintenance and green‐keeping; private, heritage and botanic gardens; commercial grounds; plus public parks and green spaces. The landscape industries comprise both public and private sector businesses, which are involved in:

  • Local authority green space management
  • All forms of sports turf management and maintenance
  • State owned and private historic and heritage gardens

Key facts:

  • There are approximately 172,000 gardeners and grounds people working in the industry, in an estimated 16,650 businesses.
  • The industry employs around 15.3% of the environmental and land‐based sector’s total workforce.
  • 81% of businesses employ less than 10 staff.
  • 44% of the workforce is self‐employed.
  • 60% of the workforce has a level 2 and above qualification, 18% of the workforce has no qualifications.

Jobs in the industry include: allotment officer, grounds maintenance manager, arboretum supervisor, head gardener, woodland officer, head park ranger, assistant arboretum worker, arboriculturalist, landscape architect, machine plant operator, nursery worker, parks officer, garden designer, assistant greenkeeper, grounds person.


National and regional data

East Midlands – There are an estimated 12,000 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,200 businesses.

East of England – There are an estimated 19,000 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,250 businesses.

London – There are an estimated 23,300 employees in the regional workforce, in around 750 businesses.

North East – There are an estimated 3,250 employees in the regional workforce, in around 550 businesses. Landscape businesses are a significant employer in the region.

North West – There are an estimated 17,550 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,800 businesses.

South East – There are an estimated 30,950 employees in the regional workforce, in around 3,750 businesses.

South West – There are an estimated 18,850 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,800 businesses.

West Midlands – There are an estimated 15,600 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,250 businesses.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 13,900 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,250 businesses.

Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 1,400 employees in the regional workforce, in around 250 businesses.

Scotland – There are an estimated 9,100 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,250 businesses.

Wales – There are an estimated 7,000 employees in the regional workforce, in around 750 businesses.

Career paths


Further sources


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