Adaptation gives funeral industry new lease of life | Interview with Scott Munn

To those not in the industry, working as a funeral director may seem like an unusual choice. After all, dealing with death and grieving families every day isn't for the faint-hearted. But for Scott Munn, director of Scott Munn & Co Funeral Directors, his two-decade career working in funeral homes has proved "hugely" rewarding.

"When a family tells you how much of an impact we've had on them, how we've helped them, that's the most rewarding part," he explains." We almost become like counsellors, friends, someone that people can sit and cry with if they want to. It's such an important responsibility, to care for people during that time."

Mr Munn started his career aged just 15 in his family's funeral firm - washing the cars, building the coffins and helping to care for the deceased. After their business was sold, he worked at different funeral directors across Glasgow, before setting out on his own three years ago. "I think I was quite frustrated, not having the freedom to do what I thought was right for the company I was working for. I knew I was ready to take that to the next level in terms of my own entrepreneurial journey, running the business as opposed to doing it for somebody else." He wanted to do things differently, embracing modern technology, curating unique services, and bringing a fresh approach to the industry.

"I think there's a big misconception that the funeral industry is very traditional and old-fashioned, that we walk about all the time with a top hat and a glum face- it's not the case. In actual fact, in order for the business to survive, it's got to adapt and be quite modern.

"My business has seen a considerable amount of growth in the first couple of years - largely due to being able to adapt to what each family needs. It differs so much. Every single life is unique and it's no different when it's a funeral." Some of the more unusual funerals that Mr Munn has organised include arranging a coffin to be carried in a motorbike sidecar for a biking enthusiast, or getting a spray of flowers made in an exact replica of a much-loved electric guitar. Technology has also proved to be an important part of his funeral services, helping to create a more "meaningful farewell".

"When we set up the business, it was a big focal point for us to make sure we had the resources to utilise technology. We've got the facility to have digital visual tributes in the funeral home, and we also use artificial intelligence (AI). A family recently wanted to have a poem about their loved one in the order of service, but they had no idea where to start. "We asked the family loads of questions about their loved one: what she liked to do, her favourite place to go on holiday, her favourite flower. Then with the help of AI, were able to create a really nice poem, something personable to the lady that wasn't just generic and taken off Google."

Mr Munn prides himself on his links to the local community in Rutherglen, where his business is based, which includes supporting charities and community groups. Establishing himself as a figure of trust is particularly important, he explains, following recent scandals about missing ashes from a Glasgow- based funeral director. "It's been a real talking point across the sector, and rightfully so, around some of the terrible things that were happening. When we set the business up, our key focus was to make sure that everything was done above board. We wanted to have complete transparency with our clients." But whatever challenges Mr Munn is faced with, his involvement with Entrepreneurial Scotland's peer support network has proven to be "invaluable".

"With the unique nature of my job and the business that I've got, I wouldn't have thought I could share my problems or get advice from other sectors. But Entrepreneurial Scotland showed that couldn't be further from the truth. Talking to different business from a wide range of sectors has been so valuable for me, that's where I get my solution to problems."