Notice Board
‘ I’ m proud of the work I do and of the trust customers place in us. To be recognised by the industry in this way is incredibly special’
couldn’ t attend in person. I received the award through the post instead and opening that package was a special moment.
“ Winning Female Locksmith of the Year genuinely means so much to me. I’ m proud of the work I do and of the trust customers place in us. To be recognised by the industry in this way is incredibly special.”
A Collective Achievement
“ Gary John, Managing Director of Gloucester Locksmiths, was really pleased and genuinely proud. For him, it wasn’ t just about me individually, but about what it said about the company and the team. Gloucester Locksmiths are proud to have achieved a workforce comprised of 50 % female staff which is a significant milestone for us. This reflects our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion within the trade.
“ As a collective, my colleagues bought me a present to celebrate. That’ s the kind of environment we have here, very supportive and collaborative. I work in isolation, but we’ re one big team. When one of us does well, it reflects on all of us. The award wasn’ t just mine; it represented the standards we uphold every day as a business.”
Always Learning, Always Improving
“ I’ m always open to taking on new skills and our systems change regularly. Products evolve, security standards shift, and that means I’ ll keep learning. I’ d like to gain a formal qualification of my own. While I’ ve had extensive inhouse training, it would be good to have something officially in my name.
“ I’ d also love to learn more about what the engineering locksmiths do on site. Understanding that side of the business in more depth would round out my knowledge even further. I’ m keen to see the full lifecycle of a lock, from pinning bench to final installation.”
Precision, Pride and the Future of the Trade
Hazel Oakley’ s story is one of precision, consistency, and professional pride. In many ways, it represents the evolving face of locksmithing. For the locksmiths and security professionals reading this, Hazel’ s journey is a reminder that excellence in this trade isn’ t confined to the van or the front door. It can exist in the workshop and people who work behind the scenes can also achieve recognition.
Nearly ten years after walking into Gloucester Locksmiths looking for a job, Hazel Oakley has become an awardwinning professional at the heart of a respected security business.
More info Gloucester Locksmiths is a long-established, MLA-approved locksmithing company based in Gloucestershire, providing domestic, commercial and specialist master key solutions. With a strong focus on training, technical excellence and customer care, the business has built longstanding partnerships with leading manufacturers and commercial clients.
www. gloucesterlocksmiths. com 01452 306 824 hazel @ gloslocks. co. uk
MARCH 2026
11
Issue Takeover locksmithjournal. co. uk