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Fair Reliable Service Always on My Watch :
East Cleveland Lock & Key
Scott Ward of East Cleveland Lock & Key took up locksmithing after being made redundant from the oil service industry . With a childhood passion of becoming a Rolex watch repairer , locksmithing was the easier choice .
My Journey into Locksmithing
My journey into locksmithing began after I was made redundant from the oil service industry – I worked offshore in Norway . I had always been fascinated by intricate , detailed work and had once considered becoming a Rolex watch repairer . However , locksmithing proved to be a more accessible career choice . After watching a few YouTube videos , I found it to be attainable and soon found myself immersed in the world of locks and keys .
I went on a five-day locksmith course , which ignited my passion even more . Eager to learn , I bought a van , got it professionally stickered , and started marketing myself . I joined WhatsApp groups , filled with locksmiths helping each other , that became an invaluable resource for me . A big shoutout to Jamie Kettyles from AL Security for his brilliant , highly supportive , WhatsApp group .
The first year was tough , and I only made £ 6,500 , which was a significant drop after leaving my well-paid job . Thankfully , I had some savings to fall back on . By the second and third years , my work began to pick up as my name became known in the community .
The Highs and the Lows
Being self-employed offers me the flexibility I cherish , especially when it comes to problem-solving . I love the challenge of fixing things that aren ’ t working and the satisfaction that comes with it . My customers ’ gratitude makes my job even more rewarding – 99 out of 100 customers are wonderful . I find that quick fixes that allow me to say “ it ’ s free of charge ” give me immense job satisfaction – it ’ s not all about the money . I am proud to be a local locksmith in my local community , where people get to know me and rely on me . As a local locksmith , not part of a national firm , I pride myself on excellent customer service where my goal is to
provide fair , reliable , and friendly service , or just some advice . All prices are discussed upfront to avoid surprises .
Of course , there ’ re downsides , like getting called in the middle of the night , but the positives far outweigh the negatives . For this reason , I no longer offer a 24-hour service and say ‘ no ’ to the out of hours jobs .
To manage the workload , my partner Sophie now handles the phone calls for me . I found that I was missing out on jobs because it felt rude to take calls while working on another job . It ’ s difficult to come across appropriately while engaged in an intricate task .
Clanger Alert !
A few weeks ago , I dropped a clanger ! A guy who had bought a property at an auction asked me to change the locks . When I arrived , I saw the front door was already tampered with and mangled , so I headed around the back of the property . I thought the address was number 11 , but as I walked through the back gate
14
DECEMBER 2024
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