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North West Emergency Locksmiths Ready for the Main Event: 2025 Award Finalist
Five award nominations, one bold entrepreneur, and a locksmithing business built on grit, guts, and‘ going all in’.
» WHEN NORTH WEST EMERGENCY Locksmiths Ltd was announced as a finalist in five categories at the 2025 UK Locksmith Competition Awards- including Locksmith of the Year and Director of the Year- it marked more than just a milestone for founder Mark Funston. It was proof that bold decisions, community roots, and a relentless drive to do things differently still matter in today’ s trade world.
“ To be shortlisted for five awards? It’ s unreal. It’ s an honour, but we’ ve earned it. We’ ve grafted for years, taken lots of risks, and never cut corners,” says Mark.
From Redundancy to Recognition Mark’ s locksmith journey began in 2008 after being made redundant from Lock & Key Master, where he completed his apprenticeship. Rather than sit still, he threw himself into launching his own company, armed with little more than industry know-how, ambition, and one van.
“ I started with nothing but belief. I knew I could offer a reliable and honest service to the community.” 17 years later, North
West Emergency Locksmiths operates with four fully equipped vans, a flagship shop in New Brighton, and contracts with major clients like The AA, Halfords, Wirral Council, Cadent Gas, and more.
A Business Born from a Haircut
The decision to open the New Brighton shop in 2024 came out of nowhere, literally!
“ I was getting my haircut, and the barber said he was shutting up shop in two weeks. I asked him what the rent was, and it just clicked,” Mark recalls.“ I used to work in shops years ago, it felt like going back to my roots, no pun intended!”
“ That spur-of-the-moment move turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ ve made. The shop’ s become our workshop, showroom, and even a bit of a local hub. It’ s made things so much easier, we don’ t need to carry lost of stock in the vans, the base holds the stock and is a place where we can do more specialist jobs.”
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AUGUST 2025
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