Blog » Beverly Brown

Beverly Brown

14th September 2016

Role: General Manager

Company: Funeral Services Northern Ireland

Track Record:

Leaving university early hasn’t held Beverley Brown back from fulfilling her career ambitions — or completing a Masters degree.

Give a brief outline of your career to date

I left school after completing my A-levels and started a part-time, temporary position in Next. I stayed with them for about 10 years and progressed my career after which I moved to London to work as their commercial sales manager in their flagship store on Oxford Street. Following this I had a short spell with LK Bennett, but decided I wanted to move out of the retail sector, which proved a little more challenging than I had anticipated. It seemed like a perfect time to take a career break so I travelled to Australia, where I spent a very enjoyable year away from any thought of my career. Then it was back to reality and considerations returned to what I was going to do. An opportunity to take a management role in what had been our family business, James Brown & Sons, arose and I was fortunate to secure the post. My dad, James Brown, had sold our business and we were now part of the Co-op. Over the last 10 years my role expanded and I am now General Manager of Funeral Services Northern Ireland which has 20 funeral homes throughout Northern Ireland.

What was your favourite subject at school?

Home Economics — I found it really interesting and we learned about lots of things as well as cooking. I remember my teacher, Mrs Anderson, very well. You did not turn up for her class without your homework done!

Did you go on to further/ higher education, if so what did you study and where?

I spent a spectacular one term at UUJ after I left school before I decided I would rather earn some money. Not my finest decision, but it has not held me back. I did subsequently complete a Master’s degree in Business Improvement, which I studied for while I was working. That was challenging and at times I thought I was never going to finish it, but to my surprise — and most defiantly my mother’s surprise — I finally passed.

How did you get into your area of work?

When I was younger and my father still owned the business it did not occur to me that this was something that I might like to do. Moving from retail into funeral services does not seem like an obvious move, but I was still managing people and in a client facing environment so much of what I learned in retail was transferable to my role in Funeral Services Northern Ireland.

Is this what you always wanted to do?

Honestly, no, but here I am and I find it a very interesting job. Mostly my job is supporting my team to deliver a caring service to the families who are bereaved, but it is rewarding to be able to support them in the difficult role that they carry out.

Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?

I think everything I learned in retail helped me in different ways when I moved into this working environment. You are still looking after your team and my primary role is to support them in doing their job.

Are there alternative routes into the job?

Yes, most people start with us much as I did in Next, in a part-time position and progress from there. You do not need any experience working in funeral services, it is much more important we employ people who will be able to help families though a very difficult time in their lives.

What are the main personal skills your job requires?

Asking a lot of questions, I must use the word ‘why’ dozens of times a day. I’m sure my team get fed up with me asking that.

What does a typical day entail?

A typical day includes me talking to people, chairing meetings, the never ending dreaded emails. I much prefer speaking to people, I find it far more productive than sending hundreds of emails which I don’t think half the people read. However, on other days, I am launching our annual national poetry competition, which offers a cash prize to local poets and is open for entry until 11 September, I’m attending recitals in our funeral homes or providing children’s grief materials to help bereaved families. Most recently we provided the then Health Minister, DUPs Simon Hamilton, with 100 Amy & Tom grief books for Libraries NI.

What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?

The best would be my team, we have a great relationship and I really enjoy working with them and seeing them develop as managers. The most challenging would be being faced with death on a daily basis, it’s a constant reminder to me of the frailty of life.

Why is what you do important?

We provide a vital service that people don’t understandably think about until they suffer a bereavement. We are here to support them in every way we can though the initial stages of their bereavement journey and beyond if they need help. It’s not an easy job, but it is extremely rewarding.

What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?

Be persistent, sometimes finding a role in funeral services can be hard, but if you are convinced you have something to offer do not give up.

If you could go back, what is the one piece of advice you would give yourself on your first day?

Don’t get worked up about the things you can’t change, focus on the things you can take control off and work will seem a lot less frustrating.

Describe your ideal day off

If I had a horse I would take it to a beach on the North Coast, there is nothing quite like cantering along beside the sea. That would definitely send me home with a smile on my face. I’m just about to embark on a lifelong dream and sail with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from Seattle to New York, so I have quite a few ideal days off planned this summer.

 


Back to Top