The Locksmith Journal 119 April 2026 | Page 51

AUTO LOCKSMITHS EXTRA entry exams and practical assessments that are still used today, ensuring that membership reflects real competence.

The organisation has grown to around 100 vetted members, all active in the trade, with strict requirements including DBS checks, practical assessment, and ongoing participation.

Growth, New Members & International Reach

While rooted in the UK, the ALA has steadily expanded its reach.

In recent years, new members have joined from across Europe, including Portugal, Iceland, Denmark, and Ireland, with connections extending to Italy and the USA. These international relationships, often built through shared training and collaboration, reflect the growing global relevance of the association.

Events such as the world’ s first autoonly locksmith convention in Manchester, which attracted over 400 attendees from 28 countries, demonstrate the ALA’ s influence beyond the UK.

Key contributors to that success included John Bodley and Tim Hart, alongside a dedicated team of members who invested their own time and resources to deliver the event.

Legislation, Responsibility & the Modern Locksmith

As vehicle security becomes more sophisticated, so too does the regulatory environment. One of the most significant developments affecting auto locksmiths across Europe is the introduction of SERMI( Secure Repair and Maintenance Information).

SERMI is a Europe-wide scheme designed to ensure that only independent operators who have been properly vetted and authorised can access security-related repair and maintenance information for vehicles. This includes sensitive data and functions such as key programming, immobiliser systems, and other anti-theft components. Under SERMI, both businesses and individual technicians must undergo an approval process carried out by accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies. This process includes:

• Verification of business legitimacy

• Criminal record checks

• Validation of professional activity within the automotive sector

Once approved, locksmiths and other independent operators are granted access to manufacturers’ security-related information via a standardised and controlled system.

For auto locksmiths, SERMI represents a major shift:

• It formalises access to critical vehicle data

• It introduces consistent rules across participating European countries

• It reinforces the importance of operating transparently and professionally

While SERMI creates new administrative requirements, it also helps protect the trade by ensuring that access to high-security vehicle systems is restricted to vetted professionals only.

In an industry where trust, legality, and responsibility are paramount, schemes like SERMI underline the direction of travel: tighter regulation, greater accountability, and higher professional standards across the board.

Chairman’ s Perspective: Continuing the Momentum

Current chairman Kenny Grant emphasises that the ALA’ s strength lies in its ability to keep members moving forward as the trade evolves.

“ Thirty years on, the goal hasn’ t changed, it’ s still about helping auto locksmiths improve, stay current, and do the job properly,” Kenny says.“ The technology keeps moving, whether that’ s diagnostics, EEPROM work, or tools like SEMIE. Being part of the ALA means you’ re not trying to figure it out alone, you’ ve got a network of experienced professionals sharing real-world knowledge.”

Kenny also highlights the importance of the people behind the organisation:

“ I’ m proud of what the ALA has become, and that’ s down to the committee members, past and present, who’ ve given their time to keep it going. It’ s never been about individuals; it’ s about the collective effort to keep standards high and the trade moving forward.”

Still Run by Working Locksmiths

One of the ALA’ s defining strengths is that it remains run by active professionals.

The current committee continues the association’ s focus on training and development, supported by experienced members who contribute knowledge from real-world jobs.

“ The goal’ s always been to keep it professional,” as former chairman Andy Morgan explains.“ If someone’ s got the ALA symbol on their website, they should know what they’ re doing.”

Looking Back & Forward

Paul Souber stepped back from the committee after five to six years, confident that the organisation was on solid foundations. Reflecting on 30 years of the ALA, he remains proud, but characteristically modest:

“ I’ m very proud, but I can’ t take any credit. It happened because the right people came together at the right time and addressed the problem. If we hadn’ t done it, what would have happened to the profession?”

Full Circle: Back to Nottingham

As members( old and new) gather once again in April, they all reunite to celebrate the amazing 30-year milestone of ALA. From a single flyer and a hotel booking to a thriving international organisation, the ALA’ s journey is a testament to what can be achieved when a trade unites with purpose.

30 years on, its mission remains unchanged: It’ s an association run by members, for members: keeping auto locksmithing professional, connected, and ready for the future.

www. autolocksmiths. net