Business | Posted on July 14th, 2025 | return to news

Major award for Dorset funeral directors

Douch Family Funeral Directors has been recognised by Family Business United, beating hundreds of other companies.

A Dorset company has received an impressive accolade.

Douch Family Funeral Directors has been named the best family business in the South, South-West and Wales.

The fifth-generation family business, which runs seven funeral branches and a funeral plan, beat hundreds of other firms across the region.

Run by Family Business United, the Family Business Of The Year Awards celebrate the five million family businesses throughout the country.

The ceremony was held at the Royal Geographical Society in South Kensington, London, and Nick Douch, manging director, received the award.

He said afterwards: “It was a wonderful surprise to have won this award that covers a wide region.

“It is down to our wonderful staff – not just those employed today, but those who have contributed to the business for more than 100 years.

“Family businesses are special and like us, most are deeply embedded in their communities.

“With one of my daughters – Lakeisha – now involved, we have another generation learning the ropes.

“Succession planning is one of the things that we spend time considering because we aim to be around for another 100 years to serve the communities we are based in.”

Paul Andrews, founder and CEO of Family Business United, said: “Family businesses care and want to be seen as doing the right thing, doing business the right way.

“These awards were created to make families in business appreciate the significant impact they have, whether they are large or small, first generation or multigenerational, and to recognise the collective importance they have to the economy and communities the length and breadth of the nation.

“Crowning the winners was great and it remains a pleasure and a privilege to run an organisation that has these businesses at our core, businesses that make a difference and have a real sense of purpose, community, a narrative and real authenticity.

“We have been delighted and somewhat overwhelmed, once more, by the response and impact that these awards have had, and whilst celebrating the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, [we] are already excited about what the future and 2026 Family Business of the Year Awards have in store.”

Douch Family Funeral Directors runs branches in Wimborne, Ferndown, Wareham, Poole, Swanage, Corfe Mullen and Blandford.