Notice Board
Thinking Beyond Locks: Why Locksmiths Must Adapt
David Hill, founder of Thames Valley Lock & Safe in Witney, has spent over 40 years in locksmithing. From youth training in the 1980s to running his own MLA-approved business today, he believes adaptability is the key to survival.
Starting Out in the 1980s
When I left school, my dad knew a small one-man-band locksmith and thought it would be a good trade for me, but he couldn’ t take me on, so I wrote to Cooksons Masterlocksmiths. Geoff Cookson himself wrote back and invited me to meet with him. That’ s how I started. Back then, you could get onto a Youth Training Scheme- I did two years there. Geoff sadly passed away this year, but I’ ll always be grateful to him for setting me on this path.
I then moved on to Smiths Security Services in Oxford, where I worked for 18 years under Ken Bryan. Ken was heavily involved with the Master Locksmiths Association( MLA) having been both chairman and president. Through him I did lots of training, went to MLA meetings, and two years later I passed the entrance exam to become a full member in 1991. I’ ve never let my membership lapse, even when I stepped away from locksmithing for a few years. It’ s the gold standard in our industry.
From Employment to Independence
After nearly two decades at Smiths, I tried different paths, including senior roles at Chris Lewis Fire & Security and Salto, the Spanish access control company. I was covering 40,000 miles a year as a sales manager with Salto, with a young family at home. It was too much. After a long conversation with my wife, I knew it was time. I’ d always wanted my own company, so in July 2016 I set up Thames Valley Lock & Safe.
Like many who make the leap to self-employment, the early days were
tough. You don’ t realise how much there is to set up: websites, supplier accounts, advertising, getting your name out there again. But when you’ re self-employed, every bit of effort you put in benefits you, not someone else, and that sharpens your focus.
The Trade is Changing
I’ ve seen the locksmith trade evolve dramatically over four decades. Years ago, lockouts were bread and butter. Now, they’ re a smaller part of the work. Customers today often want surveys, quotations, and security upgrades, not just someone to get them back in. You can’ t just rely on emergency callouts anymore. Add in the rogue‘£ 49 locksmiths’ paying huge Google fees, and the industry has shifted. We’ re picking up jobs after they’ ve gone wrong, which reinforces the value of doing things properly.
For locksmiths trying to survive in a crowded market, my advice is to be adaptable and don’ t stick rigidly to one thing. The locksmith industry isn’ t static, it’ s always moving. If you’ re not learning new skills and looking at complementary services, you’ ll fall behind.
Diversifying Beyond Locks
At Thames Valley Lock & Safe, I would say that diversification has been the key to growth. We’ re 60 % domestic and 40 % commercial, though I’ d like to push the commercial side further. I like commercial clients because they plan ahead, which gives you time to order materials and schedule jobs properly.
Safes have become a strong revenue stream. I work with Burton Safes because you can’ t manhandle some of these units on your own. Partnering with specialists means I can still offer the service without taking on too much. It’ s not weakness to ask for help, it’ s good business.
High-security doors and window filming are two more areas that have grown. Burton Security doors are excellent. Customers are increasingly asking for them, especially after breakins. Window film is another one, which is applied to the inside, it’ s invisible, but if someone smashes the glass it holds it all together. We are looking at offering it on shopfronts, French doors, and domestic properties, because it’ s cost-effective, discreet, and strong. Customers love it because it adds safety
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DECEMBER 2025
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