Notice Board
Challenges of Working in London Driving 40,000 miles across London every year is exhausting. The introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods( LTNs) hasn’ t solved congestion but has instead pushed more traffic onto surrounding roads, making journeys longer. Parking is another issue— regulations have changed, with more areas becoming electric-vehicle-only or residents-only zones. In central areas like NW3 and NW6, parking between 8am and 8pm is nearly impossible without a ticket. My mum( my PA) helps appeal any fines we receive while out on jobs.
The rising cost of vans has also hit the business hard. A year ago, prices skyrocketed, and operational costs— parking, fuel, congestion charges— mean customers end up paying more for a standard service. Islington, for example, charges up to £ 16 per hour for diesel vehicles, plus congestion fees, which can add £ 80 to a job. It’ s tough because I want to remain competitive while covering costs, especially for lower-income households.
Work & Industry Growth Most of my work( 90 %) comes from word of mouth. In addition to locksmithing, I also fit fire doors. I learnt my fire door installation skills from a carpenter and have kept up to date with new regulations. I can’ t certify my work, but customers can bring in an inspector.
I only advertised my fire door service once, five years ago in a newspaper, but since then, word-of-mouth referrals have kept me busy. Property managers and letting agents have been a great source of steady work for me. Through letting agencies like Knights Residential, I’ ve built strong relationships over the past five years, with at least 35 ongoing clients coming from recommendations. A lot of them don’ t take commission on my work, which is a big plus.
One of my most interesting jobs was upgrading doors in a pre-WWII Victorian property while preserving its original look— finding ways to meet FD30 fire safety standards without altering aesthetics. This led me to train as a Fire Door Inspector, allowing me to certify inspections myself.
Since Grenfell, fire door work has increased from 20 % of my business to 50 %, alongside general locksmithing.
Business Plans
Keymakers is a highly respected locksmith business with a 40-year reputation in North London. I had the incredible opportunity to train and work alongside Mark Pescud and Malcolm McGrath— two of the most knowledgeable locksmiths I’ ve encountered over the past seven years. This experience helped me refine my skills in bench locksmithing, over-the-counter customer service, and
shop management, providing a wellrounded foundation in the.
At ALE Locksmiths, we’ re so busy, I’ m working 14-hour days … So, we’ re looking to take on another locksmith soon, preferably someone with experience who can hit the ground running and help us straightaway. The locksmiths I work with I must trust in every capacity to ensure our reputation of being reliable is maintained. To be successful you simply must put the time in and be able to react quickly. I rarely turn a job down; I will always find a way of helping.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
I live in Winchmore Hill, North London. London is special place, full of beauty, the good, bad and ugly. You need to look for the beauty and get used to the challenges of living and working in London; it’ s a‘ dog eat dog’ city. You need to be competitive and willing to sacrifice time for money. Working in any location has its challenges and it’ s what you make of it.
enquiries @ ale-locksmiths. com 07891 183326
FEBRUARY 2025
9
Issue Takeover locksmithjournal. co. uk