Notice Board
From Installation Manager to Independent Locksmith:
Killick Locksmiths
» ROBIN KILLICK IS STILL RELATIVELY new to locksmithing, but doors, windows and mechanisms have been the backbone of his working life for more than two decades.
After 26 years in the double-glazing industry, working his way up from labourer to installation manager, Robin launched Killick Locksmiths to add a complementary, more specialist service, to his skillset. Based in Swanley, Kent, his business blends deep practical experience with a growing reputation for thoughtful, repair-led locksmithing.
A Career That Started at 16
I left school at 16 and got into double glazing through my neighbour, who worked for Focus Windows. He asked if I wanted a bit of work just to see what working life was like. That turned into a career.
I started as a labourer and worked my way up to installation manager. I began in 1999 and spent 26 years in the trade, mainly around Swanley in Kent. Even now, I still do some work for Focus. Double glazing has been a huge part of my life, and it’ s given me a proper understanding of doors, windows, and how buildings really function day to day.
What it also gave me was a fascination with how things work. When you’ re fitting and adjusting doors for years, you start noticing where systems fail and how often problems get brushed aside.
Why Locksmithing Made Sense Locksmithing felt like a natural next step. In double glazing, we’ d often come across lock or mechanism issues, but the solution was usually‘ replace and renew’. New door, new unit, move on.
I started thinking there had to be another way. Locksmithing appealed because it’ s more specialised and requires a different mindset. It’ s not just about swapping things out, it’ s about repairing, adjusting, and extending the life of what’ s already there.
Friends in the trade encouraged me as well. They said it was good work and, as you get older, you don’ t really want to be lifting heavy windows forever. Locksmithing wasn’ t totally out of my comfort zone, but it definitely pushed me to think differently.
Repair Over Replacement
At the moment my work is roughly 70 % double glazing and 30 % locksmithing, and they complement each other nicely.
The biggest difference is perspective. In double glazing, replacement is often the default. In locksmithing, repair comes first. My focus now is on fixing the door properly and maintaining its longevity, rather than immediately replacing components.
That problem-solving element is what I enjoy most. Understanding why a lock
or mechanism has failed, making the right adjustment, and getting it working smoothly again is far more satisfying than just fitting something new.
Stepping Into Self-Employment
Although I’ d been in the trade for years, self-employment was new to me. Suddenly I was responsible for everything- paperwork, invoicing, marketing, social media- on top of the actual work.
I’ ve kept things deliberately local. I work within about a 25-mile radius of Swanley. The M25 can be a nightmare, and there’ s no point losing hours to traffic. It gives me a decent patch to cover, and importantly it’ s not oversaturated with locksmiths. I did my research before starting and made sure I wasn’ t stepping on anyone’ s toes.
I’ ve actually made friends with other locksmiths locally, like Ben from Armoured Security. That support network makes a big difference when you’ re working on your own.
The Challenge of Switching Off One of the hardest parts of being a sole trader is knowing when to switch off. Out-of-hours work can be a challenge,
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FEBRUARY 2026
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