Ecclesiastical Planning Services
Ecclesiastical Planning Services is a UK FCA-regulated provider of pre-paid funeral plans, selling directly and through a network of 850+ funeral director outlets as a subsidiary of the charitable Benefact Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersGloucester, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ecclesiastical Planning Services does
Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited (EPSL) is a UK-based, FCA-regulated provider of pre-paid funeral plans, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Benefact Group, a charitable-owned family of specialist financial services businesses. The company sells plans that lock in today's funeral costs and document personal wishes, distributed through two channels: direct to consumers via the funeralplans.co.uk website, a UK freephone contact centre (0800 055 6503), and email; and indirectly through a national network of over 850 funeral directing outlets plus affinity partners, with EPS deliberately not competing with its funeral director partners for end customers. Plans are underwritten by whole-of-life assurance policies provided by Royal London, Reliance Mutual, or affiliated Ecclesiastical Life Limited, and customers can pay in a lump sum, via monthly instalments over 1 to 5 years (with an additional charge for terms of 2 years or more), or via hybrid combinations.
The business operates from a single headquarters at Benefact House on Gloucester Business Park with 51 to 100 employees and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under Firm Reference Number 958152. Revenue is generated primarily through plan sales with embedded recurring instalment income, and the company supports its partner channel with operational tools including an Instalment Calculator, an Editable Price Guide for funeral directors, and standard plan literature. EPS does not appear to operate outside the UK and does not disclose a proprietary technology platform; its competitive position rests on regulatory standing, the breadth of its funeral director distribution network, and its affiliation with the charitable Benefact Group, which donated over £100m to good causes in the five years to 2021.
Ecclesiastical Planning Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ecclesiastical Planning Services
- Legal name
- Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited
- Website
- https://funeralplans.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ecclesiastical Planning Services is a UK FCA-regulated provider of pre-paid funeral plans, selling directly and through a network of 850+ funeral director outlets as a subsidiary of the charitable Benefact Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ecclesiastical Planning Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pre-paid Funeral Plans
- SIC
- Life Insurance (6311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Final Expense / Burial Life Insurance (FSAIABAF)
Keywords
Where Ecclesiastical Planning Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gloucester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ecclesiastical Planning Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Pre-paid Funeral Plans: The company generates revenue through the sale of pre-paid funeral plans. Customers can pay either in full via a one-time payment, or spread costs over 1-5 years through monthly instalments. There is an additional cost for paying over 2-5 years. Plans are linked to whole of life assurance policies from providers such as Royal London, Reliance Mutual, or Ecclesiastical Life Limited.
- Instalment Payment Plans: Revenue from monthly payment plans where customers spread funeral plan costs over 1-5 years. Additional charges apply for extended payment terms. Eligibility criteria apply for instalment payments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Pay in full option |
| Subscription | Monthly | Pay monthly over 1-5 years |
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Combination payment |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Ecclesiastical Planning Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ecclesiastical Planning Services sells pre-paid funeral plans to UK residents, allowing individuals to plan and pre-fund their funeral arrangements in advance. Plans can be paid in full, by monthly instalments over 1-5 years, or via a combination of an upfront lump sum and monthly payments, and are backed by whole-of-life assurance policies from Royal London, Reliance Mutual, or Ecclesiastical Life Limited. Distribution is via a network of 850+ UK funeral directors and direct channels (phone, website, email).
Product overview
Ecclesiastical Planning Services offers a single core product: pre-paid funeral plans that allow UK residents to plan and pre-fund their funeral arrangements in advance. The offering includes various payment options (pay in full, pay monthly over 1-5 years, or combination payments) and covers funeral director costs plus allowances for third-party costs such as cremation and officiant fees. The company also provides supporting tools and literature including an Instalment Calculator, Editable Price Guide for funeral directors, and informational documents like the Funeral Plan Brochure, Generic Plan Summary, and Terms and Conditions. Plans can be personalised to include special wishes such as song choices, readings, and eulogy information.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pre-paid Funeral Plans
Companies that use Ecclesiastical Planning Services
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ecclesiastical Planning Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ecclesiastical Planning Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Royal LondoncoreWhole of life assurance policy provider linked to certain EPS funeral plans. Royal London provides the underlying insurance product for some pre-paid funeral plans offered by Ecclesiastical Planning Services.
- Reliance MutualcoreWhole of life assurance policy provider linked to certain EPS funeral plans. Reliance Mutual provides the underlying insurance product for some pre-paid funeral plans offered by Ecclesiastical Planning Services.
- Ecclesiastical Life LimitedcoreWhole of life assurance policy provider linked to certain EPS funeral plans. As part of the Benefact Group, Ecclesiastical Life Limited provides the underlying insurance product for some pre-paid funeral plans offered by Ecclesiastical Planning Services.
- Benefact GroupcoreParent company of Ecclesiastical Planning Services. Benefact Group is a family of specialist financial services businesses that gives its profits to good causes. In the five years to 2021, the group has given over £100m to charity, making it one of the UK's largest corporate donors.
- 850+ Funeral Director OutletscoreNational network of over 850 funeral directing outlets that introduce customers to EPS pre-paid funeral plans. Funeral directors are partners, not competitors, as EPS does not solicit their customers directly.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Ecclesiastical Planning Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Co-op Funeralcare: Major UK funeral services brand offering pre-paid funeral plans alongside its own funeral director operations. Direct competitor with significant brand recognition and national scale.
- Royal London: One of EPS's underlying whole-of-life assurance underwriters and a major UK mutual insurer that also offers its own funeral plans. Comparable as a partner-competitor with overlapping product and customer base.
- Rest Assured Funeral Plans: UK specialist pre-paid funeral plan provider selling through independent funeral directors. Direct competitor with similar partner-channel model and customer demographic focus.
- Dignity plc: Vertically integrated UK funeral services and pre-paid funeral plan provider. Competes head-to-head with EPS in the UK pre-paid funeral plan market through its own funeral director network.
- Foresters Financial: UK-friendly society offering pre-paid funeral plans as part of a wider financial services and member-benefit proposition. Comparable to EPS in offering whole-of-life-backed funeral plans to UK consumers.
- Golden Charter: One of the UK's largest specialist pre-paid funeral plan providers, distributing through a national network of funeral directors. Direct competitor to EPS in the same channel and product category.
- Safe Hands Funeral Plans: FCA-regulated UK pre-paid funeral plan provider offering plans through funeral director partners and direct channels. Direct competitor with comparable product and regulatory positioning.
- Perfect Choice Funeral Plans: UK specialist pre-paid funeral plan provider distributing primarily through independent funeral directors. Direct competitor with similar partner-led distribution model.
Emerging players
- Distinct Cremations: Direct cremation provider targeting cost-conscious UK consumers. Represents an emerging alternative to traditional pre-paid funeral plans and a partial substitute for EPS's offering.
Broad incumbents
- Wren Sterling (parent of Golden Charter): Broader financial services group that owns Golden Charter, the UK's leading funeral plan specialist. Comparable as a larger incumbent combining wealth management with funeral plan distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ecclesiastical Planning Services social profiles
Digital presenceEcclesiastical Planning Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Ecclesiastical Planning Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ecclesiastical Planning Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ecclesiastical Planning Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ecclesiastical Planning Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ecclesiastical Planning Services
What does Ecclesiastical Planning Services do?
Ecclesiastical Planning Services sells pre-paid funeral plans to UK residents, allowing individuals to plan and pre-fund their funeral arrangements in advance. Plans can be paid in full, by monthly instalments over 1-5 years, or via a combination of an upfront lump sum and monthly payments, and are backed by whole-of-life assurance policies from Royal London, Reliance Mutual, or Ecclesiastical Life Limited. Distribution is via a network of 850+ UK funeral directors and direct channels (phone, website, email).
Is Ecclesiastical Planning Services a public or private company?
Ecclesiastical Planning Services is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ecclesiastical Planning Services founded?
Ecclesiastical Planning Services was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ecclesiastical Planning Services based?
Ecclesiastical Planning Services is headquartered in Gloucester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Ecclesiastical Planning Services make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Pre-paid Funeral Plans are the primary driver. The others are instalment Payment Plans.
Who are Ecclesiastical Planning Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Co-op Funeralcare, Royal London, Rest Assured Funeral Plans, Dignity plc, Foresters Financial, Golden Charter, Safe Hands Funeral Plans and Perfect Choice Funeral Plans. Distinct Cremations is listed as an emerging player. Wren Sterling (parent of Golden Charter) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ecclesiastical Planning Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ecclesiastical Planning Services.
What industry is Ecclesiastical Planning Services in?
Ecclesiastical Planning Services's product category is Pre-paid Funeral Plans. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAIABAF, Final Expense / Burial Life Insurance. Its SIC code is 6311.