Notice Board been someone I can call if I’ ve got a problem.
Same with others in the trade, whether it’ s advice on a tricky job or sourcing something unusual, there’ s always someone willing to help if you’ ve built those relationships. If I’ m honest, without those connections early on, I don’ t think I’ d have carried on. It’ s hard being on your own out there.
A Different Kind of Work Stress Before this, I was doing 16-18 hour days in telecoms. High stress, constant pressure, and I missed a lot of time with my older kids growing up. Locksmithing is still 24 / 7, it doesn’ t stop, but it’ s a different kind of stress. It’ s more flexible. I’ ve been able to be around more for my two younger girls, which means everything.
I also spent seven years as an on-call firefighter with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, so I’ ve always been used to being hands-on and dealing with pressure situations. That probably helped more than I realised when I moved into locksmithing.
Now, my wife Kayleigh is involved in the business as well, handling admin, bookings, accounts. It’ s very much a family operation. Long term, I’ d love one of the kids to take it over. That’ s part of what I’ m building.
Blending Brands: Retail, Trade & Franchise
We run two sides to the business. Secure Choice is our shop, key centre, trade counter, and online operation. That’ s where we focus on key cutting, hardware, and trade supply.
Alongside that, we’ ve got vans on the road under the Lockfit brand. I took on a Lockfit franchise because I wanted a recognised brand behind the mobile side of the business. That combination works well, having a reputable brand presence on the road, and a strong local and national offering through the shop and online services.
Embracing Growth & Technology We’ re authorised key centres for multiple systems: APECS, ABS, Ultion, Mul-T-Lock, Yale. That gives us flexibility and credibility, especially when dealing with trade customers.
Smart locks are another area we’ re keeping a close eye on. There’ s a lot more out there now than there used to be, and the quality is improving all the time. We’ re working with several manufacturers, including newer systems like BlackX. It’ s definitely an area that’ s going to keep growing.
Scaling for the Future
Right now, the focus is on developing the key centre and trade counter further. We want to increase what we can cut and produce in-house, streamline processes, and continue building the online side.
Over the next couple of years, the goal is to move into a bigger unit with more stock capacity. We’ ve got a solid team in place; Shop management, engineers on the road, and marketing support. Now it’ s about refining and scaling.
Advice to New Locksmiths
If you’ re starting out, my biggest advice is to remember that it’ s a slow burner. Don’ t expect it to happen overnight and more importantly, don’ t try to do it on your own. Focus on building connections and speak to other locksmiths- learn from people. That’ s what puts you in a position to take on more jobs and grow your confidence. Without that support network, it’ s a tough industry to break into.
More info Secure Choice is a Huntingdonbased locksmith and security specialist offering a unique combination of retail, trade, and mobile services. Operating from Unit 19, Halcyon Court, the business provides a fully equipped key cutting centre, trade counter, and online key-to-code service for customers and locksmiths across the UK.
With multiple vans on the road, strong links to the Lockfit network, and a growing focus on smart security solutions, Secure Choice continues to expand its footprint in both the local and national market.
01480 718320 | 0333 4040 956 info @ securechoice. co. uk www. securechoice. co. uk
APRIL 2026
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Issue Takeover locksmithjournal. co. uk