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Carving His Own Locksmith Path: The Lock Doctor
In the world of locksmithing, every professional has their own unique path. For Malcolm Green of The Lock Doctor, the journey began not with locks but with wood. A trained carpenter and joiner, his eye for detail made the step into locksmithing a natural progression.
» ALWAYS PROFESSIONAL AND KIND and willing to help people, such as the elderly with small jobs, Malcolm has built a strong reputation that continues to bring in more work. He also refines his craft through continuous practise and ongoing learning with trusted trainers.
Finding My Way into Locksmithing
By trade, I’ m a carpenter and joiner. I did a full apprenticeship back in the 1980s, and I worked for a maintenance company that always seemed to have lock issues. Gaining access to buildings with old mortice locks was tough when you had little experience, but I was always the kind of person who liked to sit at home and take things apart. I’ ve always been about planning, making life easier, finding out the challenges and then figuring out how to overcome them.
My boss noticed this and eventually sent me on a locksmithing course. That was it. I loved it. I learned new skills, better ways of working, and I was hooked!
At this point, I looked around and thought there were so many joinery vans everywhere. With so much competition, I wasn’ t sure if that trade was where I wanted to stay, so I started doing locksmithing part-time, self-employed. I went on courses with Jason Hillier and the MLA, slowly building up my knowledge.
My focus was simple: Do a professional clean and tidy job and remember the customer always comes first. If something goes wrong, replace it. Above all- always be nice! Work began to increase, and I went to all the locksmith shows, talking to people and soaking up all the knowledge I could.
Carving Out a Reputation
Slowly, I built up a lot of five-star reviews on Google. Helping local people and businesses in my area had a big impact for me, especially the elderly because once you help them, they tell everyone they know. I once cut a single key for a customer and someone told me it was a total waste of my time and diesel, but that little job turned into more work. That’ s the way it goes. If you do right by people, it comes back to you twofold.
Craig Andres from The Perspicacity Life( TPL) has been a massive influence. I met him and straight away realised he had the same vision as me. I could talk to him for hours. He gave me ideas and guidance on Google, marketing, with practical tips to help me reach more customers and work more efficiently.
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NOVEMBER 2025
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