Bryon Ferguson, the new regional manager for Westerleigh Group in Scotland, says his ambition is to “take service delivery to the next level”.

Since the group already prides itself on providing exceptional levels of service and care, it’s a tough target but Bryon has three decades of experience in the industry to draw on.

Following the retirement of George Bell at the end of 2021, Bryon has been appointed as the new regional manager for Scotland, which will see him work closely with the teams at West Lothian, Borders and Stirlingshire crematoria.

Early dreams of becoming a footballer gave way to engineering; Bryon studied for his City & Guilds in engineering at British Shipbuilders before becoming an engineer, like his father and older sister.

He said: “A very close friend introduced me to the funeral industry all those years ago; he was a crematorium attendant at a very busy facility.

Inspired, Bryon embarked on his career in the sector, which has seen him work for the two largest funeral directors in the country.

He said: “I have advanced through the ranks, but never lost the ethos of treating every family as if they were my own.”

This is his first role with Westerleigh Group, but he is relishing the opportunities it offers him.

He said: “Having worked with bereaved families for around three decades, I see this as an opportunity to learn new skills and also pass on my experience of providing the highest standard of end-of-life service possible.

“I look forward to cementing relationships with families and funeral service colleagues alike in this exciting new role for me.

“My aim is to contribute and build upon the excellent service we already provide; my ambition is to take service delivery to the next level, listen to what people want and expect from us, and grow the business.

“I truly believe that our crematoria are second to none, but we cannot afford to sit still. We need to be continually aiming to improve further and meet evolving expectations of bereaved families.

“Over the decades, I have heard many people recollect their fondest memories of their loved ones at cemeteries and crematoriums, so although they may be sad occasions, we are honoured to have heard so many great stories through the years.

“I often use this as an example when I attend school career days; we are truly privileged to be in this profession.”