The Locksmith Journal May/Jun 2019 - Issue 62 | Page 4

4 • FROMTHEEDITOR PROUD SPONSORS OF THIS PAGE I’ve seen the light Are You Corgi Registered? As the days get longer and the nights get lighter; the threat of thieves lurking in the darkness - under the cover of winter - may have decreased slightly. But, just because the clocks have gone forward an hour since the last issue of The Locksmith Journal, and security priorities may have altered slightly with them; the changing of the seasons merely brings some new issues and concerns to light… » » CORGI FENESTRATION has launched its Skilled Locksmiths Scheme in response to pressure to recognise excellence in the profession. Any locksmith – from sole traders to national companies – that has completed a CORGI Fenestration approved qualification can be registered on the scheme. Each job they complete has to be registered with CORGI Fenestration on its website, via its easy to use web page. Registered locksmiths will be issued with a CORGI Fenestration photo ID card and are CRB checked, will be able to market themselves using CORGI Fenestration branding, will be listed on the CORGI Fenestration Locksmiths Register (with customer search facility) and can be rated by their customers using the online ‘Rate Your Installation’ system – another valuable marketing tool. All registered locksmiths’ customers will receive a CORGI Fenestration Installation/Repair Certificate by email. “Each registered locksmith will be audited and the quality of their work monitored by inspections,” explained Jacqui Crawford, CORGI Fenestration COO. “We have been working with leaders in this sector MPL Locksmiths & Security Training and Train Locksmiths Ltd to create a scheme that recognises the skills and qualifications of the best locksmiths in the country and allow them to shout about the quality of their » » WE ALL LOOK FORWARD to the summer with many of us planning some time away, then working towards the most glorious of goals through the darker, colder months. But as summer approaches, both organised criminals and opportunist burglars look forward to the holiday season for very different reasons. Empty residential properties – sometimes full rows of them in July and August – provide the perfect fodder for thieves, while school and college buildings that will spend weeks deserted are just the ticket; full of tech and expensive equipment. For locksmiths and security specialists, the onus is on us to make sure customers are aware of their properties’ black spots and to provide adequate security measures and surveillance so that they return home with happy memories and not to any unpleasant surprises. The holiday market itself provides as much an opportunity for those working as those on vacation; with holiday homes, AirBnB-style rental properties, hotels and hostels all requiring unique security solutions and fire safety considerations depending on their purpose and patrons. I’d be interested to see your case studies for these types of projects if you’d care to share. Even for those planning a ‘staycation’, home and business owners often use the warmer months to schedule maintenance and improvement projects, or think about moving house; another time when the local locksmith needs to be on standby. I think what I’m trying to say here is that if you thought you’d get some time off this summer, you should perhaps think again. But if you do have time in between jobs, please get in touch, as I’d be especially interested to hear about how your work changes with the seasons, hints and tips for the hottest part of the year (for consumers and criminals), security trends that transcend the months, or anything else you think might be interesting... See you next time, Gemma, Editor LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | MAY/JUN 2019 Sponsored by Mul-T-Lock work. We are very excited that it is now launched” The cost of registering a job will be £5.00 and the Annual Registration Fee (through MPL) is £30 (all excluding VAT). For a full list of audit and inspection costs visit the website. Nicky England, MPL Locksmiths & Security Training, Managing Director commented: “MPL has been working with CORGI Fenestration now for nearly two years to promote skilled locksmiths and are pleased to see the development of this new company scheme to recognise qualified locksmiths. It was identified that the locksmith industry had no formal qualifications based on the national qualifications framework, thus in order for the locksmith industry to move into the 21st century, there needed to be a standardised approach to a formal qualification,” For a full list of the entry criteria and benefits of the CORGI Fenestration Skilled Locksmiths Scheme visit the website: corgifenestration.co.uk/ trade/locksmiths/