Notice Board
Turning Curiosity into Career:
Lockfit Wakefield
» WHEN JASON LAYNE CAME ACROSS the Lockfit opportunity in Wakefield, it was exactly what he was looking for: structured training, national backing, established systems and a reputable brand. At 56, after more than 30 years in senior finance roles within the motor industry, Jason wasn’ t chasing a job, he was determined to turn a long-standing hobby into a sustainable livelihood.
Now covering nine areas across Wakefield in West Yorkshire, he is only weeks into trading but already certain of one thing- locksmithing is far more involved than most people realise, even for someone who thrives on problemsolving.
A Brain That Needed Stretching I’ ve worked since I was 13. I started out as a Saturday boy in the motor trade, sweeping floors and emptying bins. Over the years I worked my way up into senior management in finance and leasing. On paper, it was a solid career, but I could do it with my eyes closed, and that was the problem.
It was stressful, yes, but it was the same situations, the same processes, the same conversations- my brain wasn’ t being stretched anymore. I’ m someone who enjoys solving problems and figuring things out; finding out how something works and why it fails.
Locksmithing started as curiosity. I’ d buy padlocks from B & Q and try to pick them. I’ d watch YouTube videos and think, right, how does that mechanism actually work? In my lunch breaks at work, I’ d sit there with a couple of padlocks and just practise. It started getting addictive and that’ s when the thought crept in: could I turn a hobby into a career?
Doing the Research Properly
Once the idea was in my head, I treated it like any major business decision. I researched every locksmith franchise opportunity I could find. I looked at reputation, structure, training, scale and long-term viability.
I kept coming back to Lockfit. Being the biggest locksmith franchise in the UK gave me confidence. If I was going to do this at 56, I wanted to do it properly and align myself with the right brand.
I reached out to Andy, the franchise director. When he told me Wakefield was available, it felt like it was fate on my side. I researched the number of residential and commercial properties in the area and the numbers stacked up. The opportunity was huge.
Over four months, I spoke to other franchisees to weigh-up my options. I wanted honest feedback on what it was liking being a Lockfit locksmith, so I went out on jobs with Matt from Lockfit Bradford and Hans from Lockfit Burton. Seeing locksmithing in action, live jobs, real customers and real pressure, that insight told me more than any joining pack ever could. Every time I weighed up the opportunity, I came back to the same conclusion and Lockfit just‘ felt right’.
From Porsche to Panel Van
Yes, I gave up my company car, Porsche, for a sign written van and went from wearing a suit every day to pulling on an all-black Lockfit uniform. From corporate boardrooms to UPVC doors in Wakefield I went! Parting with the
Porsche was hard, but it marked the end of one chapter.
I sourced my van through contacts from my previous leasing role, because I understood numbers, I wrote a business plan and took out a business loan. I’ ve set realistic goals and I’ m aiming to break even in year one. When you’ ve worked in finance as long as I have, you don’ t jump blind.
There’ s More to This Trade Than People Realise
I’ ve only been trading a couple of weeks and already I can say this: there’ s far more to locksmithing than most people imagine.
Customers say, it’ s not working, but that could mean dozens of things. Is it the cylinder? The multi-point? Door alignment? Worn mechanism? Snapped cam? You can’ t guess, you have to turn up and diagnose. That’ s what stimulates me; not just gaining entry but faultfinding.
Training has been key. The initial franchise training gave me the foundations. I’ ve also trained with the UK Locksmith Association. Going out on live jobs with experienced franchisees
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MARCH 2026
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