My Journey into Locksmithing

I got into locksmithing after my health forced me out of a high-level sales and marketing role. I was a Strategic Account Manager at an engineering company, but ongoing health issues— blackouts and sickness— put me under scrutiny from HR. I found myself‘ caught between a rock and a hard place’, eventually taking voluntary redundancy.

On holiday, while on a river cruise down the Danube in Budapest, I started reflecting on my future. For a while, I did nothing. I had fleeting ideas about becoming a locksmith, but my background was originally in mechanical engineering design. I completed an apprenticeship and an HNC in mechanical engineering design, working on exotic military and aerospace projects across Europe— this was one of the most enjoyable periods of my life.

Mid-career, I made a side move into sales and marketing to help my friend. What a

baptism of fire that was, overnight, I went from being a highly respected engineer to a“ bullshitting salesman,” dealing not with consultative engineers but transactional buyers who were always looking for an angle to disadvantage me. I wanted to prove I was a professional, so I earned a postgraduate degree in professional sales and an MA in sales management. All it got me was a promotion, which led to more stress and exposure to even more narcissistic people.

Locksmithing, in a way, is a branch of engineering— problem-solving, collaborating with people, and helping those in need. It’ s gratifying to assist someone in a stressful situation and receive positive reviews in return.

Becoming a Locksmith

When I decided to become a locksmith, I knew I wanted to do it properly, so I joined the Master Locksmiths Association( MLA), an organisation I had known about for years as an engineer.

I completed their five-day intensive beginner’ s locksmith course and strategically timed my first newspaper advert to coincide with the end of my training. I had my website live, and my ads running— it was all systems go! It was another baptism of fire from day one, but I found that my engineering background and specifically my four-year apprenticeship gave me a solid foundation and a competitive edge in some situations. I discovered that a lot of what I learned 40 years ago still applied.

I see life in seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter. With an average life expectancy of 80, at 60, I’ m entering the winter of my life, so I wanted a new challenge that would see me through to end, until the day that I chose to retire. Over the past seven years, I’ ve completed every MLA

training course relevant to my business, even taking some for academic interest rather than commercial gain. The MLA is a fantastic organisation that can alleviate some of the loneliness of being a locksmith. Their Facebook groups are invaluable in helping each other solve problems, source parts, and pitch ideas.

Advice for New Locksmiths

Join the MLA, they have the resources, reputation, and history to support you. Be wise— this is not the‘ land of milk and honey’. Be passionate, sensible, and reinvest your profits into your business. It’ s a tough market to break into and be successful, but with the right training and a solid reputation, you stand a chance. Work hard and do a good job.