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through a lot together. Our son Darren suffered a brain haemorrhage just before lockdown and was critically ill. It was terrifying, but somehow, the business became a lifeline for all of us. Gerry was off during that time. I could work from home. It meant no one had to give up their job, and we all pulled together to keep things going. Darren is now studying law at Dundee University in his 3rd year and is smashing it!
“ A special mention goes to Douglas our lovely black labrador who helps Gerry on jobs by demanding affection from every customer we attend. He was almost banned from one of the garages we visit, due to all staff saying‘ hi’ to him instead of working!”
Behind the Calls: Carole-Ann Carole-Ann, who has worked alongside Kenny and Liz for nearly two years, brings a wealth of experience from the motor trade and now helps manage the office, dealing with customer queries, quotes, bookings, and payments for KG Key Services.“ It’ s a great company to work for, Kenny keeps things relaxed, updates me regularly, and we all get on really well.” she says.
Though she wasn’ t originally from a domestic locksmithing background, she’ s learned the ropes quickly, especially when it comes to the complexities of auto keys.“ There’ s a lot more to it than people think, it’ s a minefield! But I love speaking to people and helping them when they’ re in trouble.”
From Tools to Technology Kenny told us,“ When I started auto locksmithing, you could get away with a good file and a bit of patience. Not anymore. Now, you need around £ 50,000 worth of kit just to stay competitive- dealer-level diagnostics, laptops, programming devices, security authorisations. We’ ve spent a year getting full Mercedes approval. You need enhanced DBS checks, proof of trading, and licensing. There are login systems with triple sign-in protection that would make a hacker cry( hopefully).
“ We’ re dealing with vehicles right up to 2025 and beyond, replacing locks, keys switches, ECUs, and all sorts of modules. Most of it is electrical now. Work is never boring because no two jobs are ever the same. One minute we’ re out at 3am in the rain helping someone get back into their car, the next we’ re working with the police on a stolen vehicle case that’ s been missing over a year.
“ People think auto locksmithing is just about cutting keys. It’ s not. You’ ve got to diagnose complex faults, understand how modules talk to each other, and stay a step ahead of tech’ that changes constantly. If I could change anything, I’ d ban pushbutton starts, because they are way too easy to steal.”
Sometimes it’ s Hard Not to Laugh Locksmithing work can be stressful, and people get themselves stuck in awful situations and predicaments. Sometimes it’ s hard not to laugh. Recalling funny stories, Kenny told us,“ A drunk lady got locked out of her home, so decided to climb through a window, but also climbed through the venetian blind too and got awfully tangled in it. To top it off, she was had the key all along and was just using the wrong one.
“ I was called by the police to help a guy who was locked out of his property and had got his hand caught in the letterbox. All three emergency services were called to one guy who was stuck there for hours. His neighbour wrapped him in a blanket until the fire brigade came. That one stuck with me.”
Carole-Ann recalled a recent job where a customer’ s missing keys were eventually found on the roof rack after a ferry crossing, just one of many light-hearted moments in a job that mixes problemsolving with people skills.
We Never Chased Growth. It Just Found Us
“ I’ m turning 60 this year. We’ re happy with where the business is. Growing bigger just means more problems. We’ ve built something sustainable, something that supports our families and keeps us interested. That’ s a win in my book.
“ Everything that’ s happened- KG, our team, even becoming a specialist business in vehicle locksmithing, none of it was planned. It all happened by accident. But sometimes, the best things do.”
www. kgkeyservices. co. uk
JULY 2025
19
Issue Takeover locksmithjournal. co. uk