Questions for the UK lads.

[Iron Man]

Hi, i am coming to the end of my Army career and have decided on a locksmiths course for my resettlement. I understand that there is a lot more to this game that meets the eye. I have spent the last 6 months thinking about a new career in this field. I have contacted the British legion and they have said that they may help me out with an interest free business loan to fund my set up.
I am living in Oxfordhsire but hope to up sticks and set up somwhere in the north of Scotland.

Anyways, my main question is this, what training course did you guys use in the UK. I have looked at a few and its confusing to be honest. After reading some of this forum its clear that there are a lot of cowboys operating in the training sector, and i need to make sure that my money is well spent.

I intend on getting in as much training as i can, practice for a few months then finally set up a business ( with the help and advice from this forum)

I apologise if this info is elswhere on the forum, i tried to find it and failed.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[UWSDWF]

welcome.... check out the business info section as that may put you a little closer to your answer.....

best training is an apprentiseship.... if you think you have the skills to start up and operate a business with a few months training, I wish you the best of luck but many persons try and fail with the same mindset.

Cheers

[Iron Man]

welcome.... check out the business info section as that may put you a little closer to your answer.....

best training is an apprentiseship.... if you think you have the skills to start up and operate a business with a few months training, I wish you the best of luck but many persons try and fail with the same mindset.

Cheers

There are tons of info in there for me to use, cheers mate.

I am under no illusions that i can just wander into this game. After getting in as much training as i can. I intend on plenty of practice and hope to attach myself to proffesionals, where i will work for free to get the proper training and experience. I also intend on working part time in other areas to bring in some money while gaining experience.
I will be in on this for the long haul, i can assure you of that.

[Bump]

I took the same route about 2 years ago. All this info is available on this site but as synopsis I offer:

Don't even consider franchise.

Don't bother writing to local Lockies for apprenticeships/mentoring etc most aren't getting enough business of their own to be able to bother with you. You might get an invitation to look around but I doubt it.

Be careful about the C&G scheme the Resettlement boys offer, the qualification is irrelevant and isn't anywhere near the skills or understanding required.

PM me if you want recommendations for courses but I do suggest you search the pages and see who gets the regular big-ups for training.

Do be prepared to shell out at least £15000 on tools, advertising and transport just to set up; money you will never see again for at least 2 to 3 years. Once you have mastered the basic skills, about a year, you will need to find another £5k for tools and training to be able to do warrant work which is where you will just about earn enough to pay a mortgage.

There is no quick or easy money to be made no matter where you reside. Unless you strike lucky and are the only Locksmith in a vast area (Scotland you say) like 79 Commando you are going to be faced with competition, especially from the big corporates who can afford to spend £5k on advertising your little effort onto the back pages of the listings.

If you have a family and a mortgage to support I suggest you look elsewhere for permanent employment with an eye to doing this sort of thing part-time until you have the skills and equipment to do otherwise.

[Iron Man]

Thanks for the info Bump.

I understand the level of comitment this type of work takes and will work part time in other areas to make ends meet, but i am determined to make it happen, regardless of the time it takes etc.

Thanks again mate.

[lockey1963]

The only good advice i can give on training , is one course isnt going to do it for you, despite many of the wild claims made, you need to get a number of courses under your belt from respected proven experts in their field, my advice;

1) Look for a respected trainer in non destructive entry methods for the lock out part of your training and basics of lock fitting.

2) Look for a good UPVC course covering strip replacement and repair, toe and heel, glaze and deglaze , general fitting and repair, 2 exist, DG supplyline or the better value don braidwood in swansea.

3) Take a part time course at a college in basic woodwork, for lock fitting door hanging and frame repair plus boarding up.

4) approach chamber of commerce and business link agencies for book keeping and marketing training.

This will get you started with a chance of survival, once buying stock and in the trade, access control firms like paxtons offer free training courses on the fitting and servicing of their product, some pvc firms such as mila and window parts offer free training sessions on their products, all free and invaluable training, but you must be in the trade to access them.

Important factor for you to consider is suitable research, form a business plan, what does your area need, where is it over run what can you offer different and better ? all important aspects, plan and discuss with others your marketing stratagy, as this is where many fail, this should be in place before commiting any money in training and set up, can you make a living in your area? or are you happy to move to an area where you do have a chance.

Avoid at all costs;

1 ) as bump says , avoid the city and guilds scheme, its worthless and in most cases a con by those running it, the only good thing with it is to access the ongoing elc funding, in most cases you get little for your time and money, many see the military gratuity and elc money as easy pickings, so spend it wisely.

2) avoid any trainer that tells you in their ad or in person that you will be qualified in a few days following their course. avoid the trainers that tell you its easy £1k a week plus, avoid those that claim a shortage of locksmiths in uk, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

3) avoid anyone telling you that you will be opening all locks in a few days

4) be carefull , talk to other ex servicemen about there experiences

get good honest training from an honest proven trainer in their respective field, if you do the leg work then the honest ones will become evident.

But before even considering training, do the research not just on trainers, but the area you intend to work in, budget and business plan, and ensure that you have enough natural ability to make it, as its not for everyone, as good as the trainer is, they can only teach how, its you that must perfect and do this, and it suits you or it doesnt, use this forum to make some tools, buy some locks and have a play, you will soon know if it floats your boat and suits you.

good luck and best wishes, its a tough road to follow if doing it right, but worth it if you succeed.

[Iron Man]

Thanks very much for all of your comments lockey1963. I will be sure to keep all of them in mind.

Thanks again mate.

[chip]

iron man,

When i first started up i was lucky to have someone to call, and still do, when i got a bit stuck.

It's a bloody hard slog to get known in an area with lots of time and effort put in just getting your name about.

Before this though, as lockie1963 says, you need to find a trainer that can give you the best start on offer, and one that will be honest with you. A good NDE trainer will be one that would invite you to take your own locks with you for them, and you, to pick.

Get as much training in all aspects of the job, fitting, opening etc. I sat for evening after evening looking at locks, taking locks apart, rebuilding them then opening them. You need to know how they work before anything.

it's not all about just opening locks. get the best understanding on all aspects of locks and fitting. It take years to build a good business, esecially one where there's so much to learn and understand.

One last thing, Try to find a job that you can do to run along side you training. Firstly, Itll pay the bills and hopefully give you a little extra to put towards the tools.

The cost when i first started was about 12K, but this was only because i had a lots of carpentry tools and a van already, I was surprised to find i had spent nearly 2K just on the first order of locks.

Good luck, just don't go in half cocked, keep realistic about it and you should do just fine.

[Iron Man]

Thanks chip, i appreciate you taking the time.

I hear what you are saying about the other job. That will be one of my first things to do. The practice thing sounds great as well.

Cheers mate.

[toomush2drink]

Iron man you need to really do your homework as its not all about opening locks.Firstly discover your market and what you think will be your niche, remember many others are already doing what your about to do and many have stacks of cash to advertise and market with.Im 3 years in now and doing fine but the moneys not great yet. You ask all you want about advertising etc but there is only one way to find out what works in your area and thats to spend the money and experiment. Someone may say this works or that works but ive tried many things and found many not to work in my area yet other ways are very successful. You will end up wasting a stack of cash but thats how it is, no one how ever nice is going to help their direct competition.
You need to concentrate on woodwork skills (splitting an expensive door could be costly to you) and learn about many more things than lock opening.What about door closers,digital locks,various additional security products,upvc multipoints etc etc. No one course does all this.
You need to want to work long hours and cover wide geographical areas to have any chance of getting somewhere.You also need people you can ring for backup and advice.A big wad of cash is essential or you will struggle.

I attended a job today and the customer had already called out 2 "lockies" previously from a big company yet both couldnt do the job. One said he didnt have a lock and the other didnt have the tools. The job was only to open a 3k74 fitted on the right, nothing too hard if you know what your doing. As one was only a driller with little skill (from the sounds of it) he knew he could end up drilling off the bolt tail so he left it.The other didnt even have a lock !!
Now if your fully stocked and equipped this isnt a problem you just decode the lock and open it nde then rearrange the levers and cut new keys (the keys were lost). Now im on the books of a big letting agent and the other 2 bods are probably still scratching about for work.
This sort of story is common as the lockie market is flooded by dreamers with no skill, tools or stock. Every weekend more and more come off a course and give it a go taking a job here and there from the established ones, be under no illusions its hard to get established but not impossible but it need a lot of thought first.
When i started 3 years ago competition was stiff but now its even worse especially as there are now a few more big companies on the scene driving out the little guys with their huge advertising budgets.

[Shrub]

Ive taken this out the trash and removed the spam from it as there is some good points on here that i felt arent said often enough,

For the mod who removed it i hope this is ok with you,

[Tyler Durden]

Iron Man,

I did exactly the same as you.

PM me if you want any advise on anything.

All the points above are good and shouild be beared in mind.

Like TooMush says, Its gona be astruggle. You'll learn not to listen to the ones who say you'll never make it.

Every business struggles at first.

Good Luck

[capt.dunc]

get some hands on experience before attending a course, buy a small set of picks or better yet make some, get yourself a couple of locks to have a go at, and disassemble/reassemble etc. there's a wealth of info on here to look through as well. you'll get more out of a course with some background picking in place.
ps welcome to the site.