This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Sarah Jones, founder and managing director of Full Circle Funerals in Harrogate.

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does.

We provide funeral care for people who need to arrange a funeral, We also help people to pre-plan their own funeral, and help families to access bereavement support.

What does it take to be successful in business?

You need to have a clear sense of what it is you're trying to do, and you need to be very satisfied that you have the ability to do that.

You have to have the right culture, the right processes, and good people who are well trained and well supported.

It's also a good idea to always scan what's going on in the world so that you can adapt what you do to what's going on.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

I believe that what we do and how we do things makes a really big difference to the families we support. We work very hard to be the best we can be.

I also get joy from supporting my team and watching them grow professionally and get better at what they do.

I also like meeting other people in business, through networking events, sustainability events, or fellow B Corp businesses. We do funderal care, but we have a lot of the same concerns that other businesses do, such as building ethical supply chains and supporting the team. Small businesses can always learn from each other.

What’s been the toughest issue your business has had to deal with over the last 12 months?

There's been some really quite negative and alarming press coverage [about a criminal case involving alleged malpractice at a funeral business in Hull], which has understandably been concerning for people. In some respects, though, that's been an opportunity, because people have been asking more questions and want to know more about what we do and how we do it, which is a positive thing.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

Harrogate's Neom [the home fragrance company], which is a fellow B Corp. They're much bigger than us, but they do an awful lot for their team's well-being and work on their culture.

Wild & Co, the Harrogate accountancy firm, are also a great local business who I'm really glad to know.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

Sue Cawthray, CEO of Harrogate Neighbours, which offers care services for elderly people in Harrogate and the surrounding areas.

Sue has a really strong and passionate vision about making the lives of older people in Harrogate as positive, enjoyable, fulfilling and joyful as possible, and I was very happy recently to become a trustee of the charity.

What could be done locally to boost business?

Harrogate BID and Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce do a lot to support businesses in Harrogate, but for other businesses – particularly service businesses – it would be great to have more opportunties to support each other.

It's quite hard sometimes to determine which businesses are locally based and which are not, so it would be good to have a database of local businesses so that we could all choose to use each other.

Best and worst things about running a business from Harrogate?

The best thing is the quality of the friendships and networks that exist in Harrogate.

The worst for us is probably the roadworks, because they can have a really big impact on our plans.

In the funeral business, timing is essential, so we do a lot of risk assessment and planning to make sure we can be where we need to be on time.

Thanks goodness for Google Maps – it's usually updated very frequently!

What are your business plans for the future?

Even though Full Circle started in 2016, by funeral care standards we're still a very young business. We've opened four services relatively quickly – we're now in Bramley, Guiseley, Ilkley and Altrincham, as well as Harrogate – so we're just focusing on doing what we do and supporting the teams.

You don't need to be growing all the time. Sometimes, it's just good to sit back and settle in.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I like walking and enjoy yoga, I read a lot of books, and I throw pottery. I also have two school-age children, so I keep busy.

Best places to eat and drink locally?

I love Kitchen & Koffee on Otley Road in Harrogate. It's small but fabulous, and always busy. It's just a really nice place to be.

If you know someone in business in the Harrogate district and you'd like to suggest them for this feature, drop us a line at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.