Little did Alex Moore know that a temporary job with a funeral director was going to blossom into a professional vocation.

Marking time while making his application to join the Army’s elite Parachute Regiment, Alex Moore took a job as a funeral service driver to earn some extra cash.

“I didn’t know what to expect but I really enjoyed the work. said Alex, 34, from Birmingham, who decided to withdraw from the Army selection process.

“Ten years later I’m still working in the industry. Once I found my calling, I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I don’t regret my decision at all.

“Supporting people through the process is an honour and a privilege. It brings me an immense amount of job satisfaction.

“I sleep well at night because I know I’ve been helping people in the day.”

Alex, qualified as a funeral director in 2015 and now works as a funeral operations manager at Distinct Cremations, a leading provider of direct cremations.

“Witnessing clients’ grief is not easy. You need to be able to provide compassionate support, but also switch off when you are outside of work.

“Good listening and communication skills are key. The right person will be able to provide answers to people’s questions and offer comfort, as well as guidance.

“It can by physically and emotionally draining and I’m not sure you can train for it, but as in my case, when the profession finds you, then it’s the best job in the world.”

Alex says his skills were tested to the limit during lockdown when the phone rarely stopped ringing with people seeking help.

During that time, he says the industry saw a steep rise in direct cremations which typically take place with no service or mourners present.

“While some people opt for a traditional send-off because that’s right for them, others yearn for permission to do things differently and to be allowed to feel that it’s okay too,” says Alex.

“A direct cremation is the cheaper option, there is no getting around that, but it’s not a case of scrimping, it’s about what people feel is best for them or what they can afford. Rather it gives people permission to say: ‘I’m doing this the simple way’. ”