Independent funeral director Full Circle Funerals is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, marking a decade of helping families across Yorkshire “make a difficult time easier”.
Founded in 2016 by Dr Sarah Jones, Full Circle has grown from a small independent funeral director into an established and well-known part of the communities it serves, with funeral homes in Ilkley, Guiseley, Harrogate and Broad Lane, Bramley.
To mark the milestone, Full Circle will be holding a special 10th birthday celebration at its Guiseley funeral home on Friday, 4 September, from 4pm to 7pm.
The event is an opportunity for the team to say thank you to the families, friends, colleagues, community organisations, local businesses, suppliers, supporters and partners who have played a part in Full Circle’s story over the past ten years.
Everyone who has helped Full Circle along the way is warmly invited. Book here.
The anniversary also marks a significant moment in the history of the business.
After ten years at the helm, founder Dr Sarah Jones has decided to step away from Full Circle, with ownership of the business transferring to three long-standing and trusted members of the Full Circle team.
Anne Jackson, David Billington and Jade Westgarth have completed a Management Buy Out (MBO) of Full Circle Funerals, with Anne becoming Managing Director with immediate effect.
Sarah will remain involved during a flexible transition period and will continue to be available to Full Circle throughout the remainder of 2026 and beyond as needed.
Speaking about the decision, Sarah said: “After ten years I have decided that it is time for me to leave Full Circle. Over the last few years, the whole team have taken more responsibility, and I have done myself out of a job.
“Two out of three of them have been with me from the very start and I am confident that they are all the right people to take Full Circle into its next ten years.
“I have had the most incredible ten years and am so proud and grateful for everything that FCF has become. I have been lucky to meet so many super people and I really hope that many of you will remain contacts and friends as I work out what on Earth I might do next!”
Mew Managing Director Anne Jackson said the change in ownership represents continuity as much as it does change.
Anne has been part of Full Circle for several years and has worked closely with Sarah and the wider team to develop the organisation’s approach, values and ethics.
She said: “It feels incredibly special to be taking Full Circle into its next chapter alongside Dave and Jade. We have all worked alongside Sarah for many years, and the values that underpin Full Circle are values that we have helped to shape and live by throughout our time here.
“Sarah has created something really quite special over the last ten years. Full Circle has always been about doing things differently – putting people and families first, being compassionate and honest, challenging the traditional funeral industry where we think it needs challenging, and making sure that people have genuine choice in how they say goodbye.
“Those principles aren’t changing. Full Circle will remain independent, locally rooted and female-led, and our commitment to our families, our communities, our colleagues and the environment will remain at the heart of everything we do.
“We are incredibly proud to be taking the business forward and to have the opportunity to build on the foundations Sarah has created. There is a huge amount to celebrate, but we’re also excited about what the next ten years might look like.”
Since opening its doors in 2016, Full Circle has supported more than 1,600 families, while developing a reputation for its personal approach to funeral care, environmental responsibility, community involvement and commitment to giving people meaningful choices.
The business became the first funeral director in the UK to become a Certified B Corporation, reflecting its wider commitment to balancing people, community and environmental impact alongside running a successful business.