About

Originally published in 1921 as the BUA Monthly, the black and white magazine was dubbed the "official organ of the British Undertakers' Association". In newspaper style, albeit smaller in size, it carried a series of reports on key national and regional Association meetings, general industry updates and members’ news, while advertising was in the form of undertakers’ and carriage masters’ professional and trade cards.

There have been numerous developments over the years. When, in 1935, the British Undertakers Association became the National Association of Funeral Directors, the magazine changed its name to The National Funeral Director, while July 1942 saw a move to a smaller size and, in January 1982, Funeral Director, as the publication was then known, switched to standard A4 size with a greater display advertising content.

The Funeral Director Monthly emerged in August 1998 – the new name and design helping to highlight the magazine’s growing classified advertising section and regular features – and by January 2000 it was benefitting from extensive colour throughout. Following its repositioning as a business publication, as opposed to a trade journal, the magazine’s editorial focus has switched to general business issues such as employment law, health and safety, VAT and bad debt, while a greater emphasis is now placed on opportunities for professional development.

Today, Funeral Director Monthly addresses the interest and information needs of a variety of people working in the profession, – not only qualified funeral directors, new entrants to the industry and those looking to develop their skills, but also British Institute of Funeral Directors' tutors, humanist celebrants, the clergy, cemeteries, crematoria and manufacturers and distributors. It is at the very heart of industry-specific matters, carrying regular updates on the National Association of Funeral Director’s campaigns – including its meetings with the four Parliamentary funeral groups, MEPs and senior European Union officials – along with regular features on education and professional development, sector news and the latest products and services.

Maintaining its tradition of keeping members of the National Association of Funeral Directors up to date, each issue of Funeral Director Monthly carries news from member firms and a meetings/events calendar, while tradition is served through a regular From the Archives feature, which looks back at how the magazine has evolved while retaining its primary aim of keeping the profession informed.