INDUSTRYNEWS
SPONSORED BY SECURITY HARDWARE
2016
‘the training was very relaxing and informative’
was very kind of both Adele and Keeley
to spare time to talk to me on the phone
about their experiences, which I found
extremely helpful.”
Asked if women locksmiths can bring
some specific skills to the trade – such
as multi-tasking, manual dexterity etc,
Karen, who achieved her City & Guilds
qualification after her training with
Bradford-based MPL, said, “I think
the skills would be slightly different,
perhaps interpersonal skills might
be better when it comes to a female
locksmith. It’s really difficult to say,
since I feel that someone, male for
female, can just ‘gel’ with a particular
customer.”
Commenting on her City & Guilds
success, she added: “I think I am
probably the only C&G qualified female
locksmith in the UK.”
After the stringent training to get her
hackney licence, how did she find the
locksmith training?
“I found the training quite easy going.
The courses that I attended with MPL,
Island Locks and UKLA, were all very
relaxing and informative.
“And actually, most of the men I’ve met
while on forums and while training have
To read more, visit www.locksmithjournal.co.uk
been really helpful and supportive.
Karen now runs Assist Locks (www.
assistlocks.co.uk) as a sole trader,
and also hopes to do some work for a
company in the future.
She is currently planning to undertake
some more training in non-destructive
mortice lock opening and uPVC lock/
door opening.
Asked about the lack of recognised
locksmith qualifications in the UK,
Karen told us:
“It does seem strange that there
is no single recognised locksmith
qualification or regulatory body in the
UK, particularly since I have come from
very highly regulated taxi industry,
into a security industry that has no
governmental regulatory body as yet.
Karen’s future plans are to continue
to develop her locksmith skills, to try to
get out and do as many jobs as possible
and develop some more experience. She
currently works in the domestic, rather
than commercial sector.
Karen is clearly a person who enjoys
a challenge and is determined to utilise
her technical abilities in the best way
she can. We wish her every success in
the future.
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THE MAY/JUN 2014 ISSUE
SPONSORED BY ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions
9