HASTINGS, UK. October 21st, 2026 – For women looking to make a fresh start later in their careers, celebrancy is emerging as an appealing option. Training provider Match & Dispatch says it is attracting substantial numbers of women over 50 who want to move into work that makes use of their existing skills while bringing a stronger sense of purpose to their professional lives.
Women represent approximately 88% of Match & Dispatch trainees, and the founders believe that up to 80% of participants are aged over 50.
Those entering training have worked across a diverse range of fields, from teaching and healthcare to counselling, corporate HR, marketing, training, care services and business management. Others have backgrounds in self-employment, hospice and end-of-life support, lecturing and music.
Their reasons for retraining vary. Redundancy and burnout have prompted some to reconsider their options, while others feel ready to leave behind stalled careers or pursue something more personally rewarding.
The challenges facing older jobseekers are reflected in research by the Centre for Ageing Better, which found that 36% of people aged 50 to 69 feel their age puts them at a disadvantage when applying for work.
Match & Dispatch began operating in April 2025, following the work of founders Kate Tym and Kate Dyer. Since 2022, they have helped around 350 aspiring and practising celebrants develop their skills, initially through their funeral education platform Coffin Club and subsequently through Match & Dispatch.
Both women began their own celebrancy journeys in their late 40s. They believe their experiences demonstrate how skills developed over many years can provide a strong foundation for a second career.
Kate Dyer, co-founder of Match & Dispatch, said: “We’re seeing significant numbers of people coming to us in their 40s, 50s and 60s who have huge amounts of professional and life experience, but who may feel overlooked or undervalued in the workplace.
“Many have been made redundant, are burnt out or dissatisfied, or simply want the next stage of their working life to feel more meaningful.
“What is so interesting about celebrancy is that the things which can sometimes work against you elsewhere, your age, a long employment history and decades of experience, can become enormous assets.
“People skills, confidence, resilience, judgement, writing and communication skills and life experience all matter enormously. Having a few years under your belt can actually work in your favour.”
Co-founder Kate Tym said: “Celebrancy is a fulfilling and deeply meaningful job. It’s been a joy to me to discover that all those years of life experience were actually my greatest qualification, and I get as much joy helping other women discover the same thing.”
Jacquie Knox, aged 54, is among those who have taken this route. After spending a quarter of a century in IT in the oil and gas sector, she was made redundant and began exploring alternative careers. She subsequently completed celebrant training with Match & Dispatch and now works part-time in the profession.
Jacquie said: “Celebrant training surprised me in the best way. It brought out my creative side, a part of me that had been quietly sitting in the background while I focused on systems, delivery, and operations. I loved the writing, the storytelling, the human connection, the craft of shaping something meaningful for people.
“Being over 50 isn’t a barrier; it’s an advantage. I bring life experience, emotional intelligence, and a level of calm that only comes from having navigated real challenges. Redundancy didn’t end my career, it redirected it. And the celebrant training with Match & Dispatch has become one of the most joyful, unexpected parts of that new direction.”
Match & Dispatch offers free online Discovery Meet-ups every week for people who would like to learn more about becoming a celebrant. Visit matchanddispatch.com/webinars for details.
ENDS
