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Turning His Back on the Gold Watch: Lockfit Lancaster
Steve Leighton didn’ t set out to be a locksmith. A former BT engineer, he spent his early career climbing telegraph poles, handling niche engineering tasks, and dreaming of a life beyond the corporate rat race.
» TODAY, STEVE RUNS LOCKFIT Lancaster, a trusted local locksmith service covering Lancaster, Morecambe, Kendal, Windermere, Heysham, Ambleside, and Barrow-in-Furness.
Offering emergency lockouts, lock repairs, and full-scale hotel lock replacements, Steve has carved out a business built on reliability, professionalism, and a simple principle: control your work, serve your clients, and live your life on your terms.
But his story isn’ t just about locks and keys. It’ s about leaving the safety of a large company, learning a new trade, and discovering that every locksmith has a story worth telling.
Why I Left the Big Company Life
I didn’ t want to work for a big company anymore. I didn’ t want to hand over my life, retire with a gold watch, and just be a number that nobody remembered. At BT, I loved the engineering work- climbing poles, solving problems- but there was zero flexibility. I remember not being able to take a day off to attend a funeral. I knew I wanted control over my own business and my future. I wanted to choose my hours, decide when to take time off, and actually be there for my family when it mattered. That was the driving force behind looking at locksmithing seriously.
Finding the Right Franchise Fit
So, I started Googling locksmith franchises to see what was out there. My engineering background meant I was comfortable with tools and problemsolving, so locksmithing felt like a natural fit. I kept coming back to Lockfit.
What I liked about Locfkfit was that they weren’ t pushy. No hard sell, no‘ I’ ll ring you tomorrow.’ I could weigh things up, see what the business would involve, and make a decision on my own. It took me three months, but the desire to be independent and in control was too strong to ignore. I handed in my notice, and a month later I was on the Lockfit training course.
One-to-One Training That Works
The course was brilliant. It was oneto-one because I happened to be the only trainee that week. Everything was tailored to me, and I came away feeling confident. My first real job as a locksmith? Was a Yale night-latch lock-out. It was straightforward, just slipping the latch with a little plastic card. A dream start!
Since then, I’ ve done everything from small domestic callouts to replacing every lock in an entire hotel and installing master key systems. The variety keeps it interesting, and the work never feels repetitive.
Lessons From the Tough Jobs
I won’ t sugarcoat it, I’ ve had my share of challenging moments. I’ ve been threatened, had chairs thrown at me, and faced some terrifying situations during warrant work. That kind of work put me off for a while. But over time, as the business grew, I was able to choose the jobs I took. Now, I mostly work with hotels and private clients.
The key lesson? Stick with it and build a solid base of customers. Eventually, you’ ll attract the right kind of work for you. Don’ t rush into things or take unnecessary risks early on.
Family Comes First
I’ ve got three boys aged 19, 14, and 8. My eldest is in the Navy. I didn’ t become a locksmith to make millions; I did it for
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SEPTEMBER 2025
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