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INDUSTRYNEWS
THE FUTURE
LOOKS BRIGHT FOR
LOCKSMITHING
INDUSTRY
In this article for The
Locksmith journal, Dr
Steffan George, development
director of The Master
Locksmiths Association
(MLA), looks at what 2015
will hold for the MLA and for
the locksmithing industry
The past year has been a
really successful one for the
MLA and its members. One of
the highlights has undoubtedly
been the launch of our UK-first
locksmith-specific apprentice
scheme – we have welcomed
two intakes of apprentices so
far and more are expected in
2015.
Our aim was to help
companies who would like to
take on staff and have them
trained and assessed to a
minimum standard, and to
boost the credibility of our
industry so that locksmithing
is seen as a ‘proper job’ We
.
have already made good
progress and will continue to
develop the programme, and
we’re looking forward to taking
on a third set of apprentices in
the new year.
During the last year we have
also significantly ramped up
promotion for our members.
Our public relations campaign
has continued to convey the
importance of using third
party, local, professional
locksmiths, with press
coverage concerning the
activities of and advice from
the MLA reaching more than
four million people in the
last 12 months alone. This
has been spread across a
variety of national, regional
and specialist press, raising
awareness of the MLA and its
members among homeowners,
tenants, landlords and
facilities managers around the
UK.
Additionally, we have again
seen a considerable increase
in hits to our website – www.
locksmiths.co.uk – and
members’ pages. The amount
of visitors to the site has
doubled in 12 months and
hopefully this upward trend
will continue into 2015. It
has been great to receive a
lot of positive feedback from
members, who are telling us
that they’re getting significant
amounts of work thanks to
their MLA membership. This
proves the effectiveness of the
promotion we’re doing and
shows how locksmiths can
really benefit from being part
of the MLA. The deal we have
recently struck with Numark
(a group of independent
pharmacies), whereby MLA
companies are checking
minimum security levels are
required and certificating
the premises for the insurer,
are a demonstration of the
commitment the MLA has to
benefiting its members.
Of course, we’re very much
looking forward to the return
of the MLA Expo (proudly
sponsored by ERA) in
October 2015. Judging by the
record stand sales – almost
a year in advance – this will
be another great event at
which you can not only the
chance to get your hands
on the latest locksmithing
tools and equipment, but
also benefi Ё